Environment Minister Penny Simmonds has announced a major refresh of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) board with four new appointments and one reappointment.
The new board members are Barry O’Neil, Jennifer Scoular, Alison Stewart and Nancy Tuaine, who have been appointed for a three-year term ending in August 2027.
“I would like to welcome the new members joining the EPA board. They bring a wealth of experience in the horticultural and agricultural science fields, as well as sound governance experience,” Ms Simmonds says.
Paul Connell, who has served as a board member since August 2021, has been reappointed as both a board member and as acting interim chair, following chair Colin Dawson’s term ending.
“I want to thank Paul for his continued service. His extensive industry experience and strong commercial insight are invaluable to the EPA board,” Ms Simmonds says.
“I intend to make one further appointment later in the month.”
The EPA is New Zealand’s national environmental regulator, playing a vital role across the entire economy.
“It’s critical to have timely decision making for the agriculture and horticulture sector, alongside ensuring positive environmental outcomes. EPA decisions impact the daily lives of all New Zealanders,” Ms Simmonds says.
From overseeing the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme to ensuring the safety of chemicals used in a range of industries across the country, the EPA fosters confidence in investing in New Zealand.
“I would like to thank the outgoing Board members, including past chairman, Colin Dawson, and board members, Tīpene Wilson, Andrea Byrom and Heather Simpson. I would especially like to acknowledge the various contributions Tīpene Wilson has made over the past 20 years.
“I look forward to working with the new members as they begin their terms,” Ms Simmonds says.
Notes to editors:
- Mr Paul Connell is a chartered accountant and professional director. He was until recently the chair of Accreditation New Zealand and is the chair of subsidiary Telarc Ltd. He is a director of WEL Networks and ETEL Limited, an independent chair of the Auckland Council Audit and Risk Committee and a member of the Waikato Regional Council Audit and Risk Committee. He was recently appointed to the boards of Plant & Food and WorkSafe New Zealand. Mr Connell has served one term of three years as a director on the EPA Board and chairs the audit and risk committee.
- Mr Barry O’Neil is director of his own consulting company, Keronlea Ltd. He was previously the chief executive of Kiwifruit Vine Health and held several leadership positions in the public service. During his time at the then Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, he established Biosecurity NZ, which aligned their policy, regulatory and operational biosecurity activities. A veterinarian by training, he was also their chief veterinary officer. Mr O’Neil currently chairs Horticulture NZ, Tomatoes NZ and the Diversity of Kiwifruit breeding programme.
- Ms Jennifer (Jen) Scoular is a chartered accountant and was the CEO of NZ Avocado from 2011 to 2023. She was previously consul general and trade commissioner for NZ Trade and Enterprise in Germany and a commercial manager at Zespri International. She is the chair of House of Science and a director of the International Fresh Produce Association and previously had a number of governance roles in the horticulture sector. She was recently elected to Tauranga City Council where she now serves as deputy mayor.
- Dr Alison Stewart has been the chief executive of the Foundation for Arable Research since 2018. Prior to that, she was the general manager forest science at Scion and chief technology officer at Marrone Bio Innovations. Dr Stewart has a PhD in plant pathology and is emeritus distinguished professor of plant pathology at Lincoln University. She held various roles at Lincoln University since 1994, most recently as the director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre from 2003 to 2011. She is a member of Farm Performance Monitoring (MPI), the NZ Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre, and Growers Leading Change (MPI) and she chairs the Forest Growers Research Tissue Culture Partnership. She has previous experience as the deputy chair of Plant & Food Research and various other governance roles relating to agriculture and biosecurity.
- Ms Nancy Tuaine is the chief executive officer of Ngā Tāngata Tiaki o Whanganui, the Whanganui iwi entity responsible for implementing the Te Awa Tupua Act 2017. She was previously running her own consultancy and was a manager and chief advisor at Te Puni Kōkiri. Prior to that, she was the CEO of Te Oranganui Iwi Health Authority. Ms Tuaine was an appointed member of the Whanganui DHB from 2008 to 2013.