Penny Nelson appointed as new director-general of Department of Conservation

Tuesday, 31 August 2021

Penny Nelson has been named as the new Director-General of Conservation, starting on November 1.

Penny Nelson has been named as the new director-general and chief executive of the Department of Conservation.

Nelson will take the reins in November and will be the first woman to head the conservation agency.

She takes over from current director-general Lou Sanson, who is set to finish on September 13. She has been appointed for five years.

Nelson is currently deputy director-general of Biosecurity New Zealand at the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), a role she has held since 2019.

Nelson pictured in 2019, in her role at Biosecurity New Zealand, presenting the Ko Tātou This Is Us Biosecurity award to former Stuff journalist Gerard Hutching. (File photo)

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She comes with a wealth of experience behind her.

Before her position at MPI, Nelson was deputy director-general of policy and trade at MPI, and deputy secretary of environmental performance, innovation and climate at the Ministry for the Environment.

Before this, she was executive director of the Sustainable Business Council.

“Ms Nelson has broad experience in the environment, biodiversity and science sectors,” Deputy Public Service Commissioner Helene Quilter said in a statement. “She is a respected and proven leader in the public service with a track record of delivering against key government priorities.”

“She has considerable experience spearheading partnerships between government, business, iwi, NGOs and communities of interest.”

In her role as deputy director-general of biosecurity, Nelson was responsible for a significant annual budget and 1500 staff, and oversaw management of biosecurity risks offshore, at the border and within New Zealand – including significant responses to pests and disease.

Bruce Parkes will be the interim acting chief executive from September 14, until Nelson steps into the role.

DOC is the Government’s lead agency for conserving the natural and historic heritage of Aotearoa, with stewardship of 8.6 million hectares of land, 44 marine reserves and 8 marine mammal sanctuaries, with more than 2000 staff across the country.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the Department of Conservation appointed Nelson. Public service chief executives are appointed by the Public Service Commission. (Amended September 1, 2021, 11.30am)