Leadership team
Dr Paul Reynolds – Chief Executive
Paul joined the Ministry for the Environment as its Secretary and Chief Executive in July, 2008. Before that, from 2002-2008, he was the Deputy Director General Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Previously he was with the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology (1998-2002) as Chief Policy Adviser.
Before arriving in Wellington, Paul had a scientific research career. Following a period overseas at the University of Missouri, he worked at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (1985-1992) and then in the Crown Research Institute, HortResearch (1992-1998). He holds a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Otago.
Guy Beatson – Deputy Secretary Policy
Guy’s responsibilities include policy advice on resource management, environment and economy, climate change, hazardous substances and new organisms.
Guy began his policy career in the Treasury and worked in senior policy roles for several governments internationally. In 2001 Guy joined the Ministry of Economic Development as Chief Economist. Subsequently he was appointed by the Ministry as its Economic Counsellor at the New Zealand High Commission in Canberra, Australia.
Guy graduated from the Australian National University in 2005 with an Australia and New Zealand School of Government Executive Master of Public Administration. He also holds a Masters degree in economics from the University of Canterbury.
James Palmer – Deputy Secretary Strategy
James is responsible for developing strategy and building relationships across the natural resources sector, in particular working with other agencies through established forums, such as the regional council chief executives' environment forum.
Prior to this role James was Director Strategy, Systems and Science Policy at the Ministry for Primary Industries and Director Strategy at the former Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Between 2005 and 2008 James served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and earlier as Senior Private Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister. Prior to this he worked as a policy advisor across a range of portfolios, including an internship in the British Prime Minister's Strategy Unit.
James holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Otago University and was a recipient of the Chevening Hansard Scholarship to the London School of Economics.
Mark Sowden – Deputy Secretary Organisational Performance
Mark’s division is responsible for developing and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to operate the Ministry. The division is also responsible for corporate functions and external and internal strategy.
Before taking on the Deputy Secretary role, Mark was Director, Natural and Built Environment Policy at the Ministry, where he led reform programmes on water, resource management and marine issues. Before this, Mark spent most of his career at the Treasury where he held a mixture of externally and internally focused roles.
Mark has worked on a number of different subject areas in addition to environmental policy, including macro-economic and fiscal policy, labour markets, welfare and public sector management, as well as three years running the Budget process. He has a Masters in Commerce from Canterbury University.
Te Hapimana (Chappie) Te Kani – Tumuaki
Ko Horouta, ko Tainui ko Mataatu, ko Takitimu oku waka. Tēnei te mihi mahana o Te Manatu Taiao ki ngā iwi huri noa i te motu. Ko Te Hapimana Te Kani tōku ingoa. Tena Koutou Katoa,
Chappie is the Tumuaki for the Ministry and leads Kaahui Taiao. Kaahui Taiao provides strategic advice on Māori and Treaty of Waitangi issues relating to environmental and resource management policies. Kaahui Taiao also works with the Ministry to build strong strategic partnerships with Iwi/Maori. Chappie began his work at the Ministry in 2004 in the Bioethics Council after working for the Waitangi Tribunal, and the Ministry of Justice. He holds a BA LLB from Victoria University.
Last updated:25 January 2013
