New Chair and Commissioners announced
Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts has announced Dame Patsy Reddy, Felicity Underhill and Devon McLean will join the board of the Climate Change Commission.
9 December 2024
Minister of Climate Change Simon Watts has announced the new Chair of the Climate Change Commission, along with two new Commissioners.
Rt Hon Dame Patsy Reddy has been appointed as the new chair of the Climate Change Commission.
Dame Patsy’s appointment will take effect in February 2025. In the meantime, Commissioner and Deputy Chair Lisa Tumahai will be acting chair. Dame Patsy’s appointment follows the conclusion of Dr Rod Carr’s term, which ends in early December.
“I’m pleased that Dame Patsy is joining the Commission. As former Governor-General, she will come to the role with an extensive and distinguished career in law and governance,” Mr Watts says.
Mr Watts has also appointed Felicity Underhill and Devon McLean as Commissioners from December 2024 until September 2028, replacing Catherine Leining and Professor James Renwick.
“Ms Underhill has worked in the energy industry for over twenty years and will bring significant experience in decarbonisation of the energy, transport and industrial sectors. She has also been actively involved in future fuel transition programmes around hydrogen,” Mr Watts says.
“Mr McLean has had a long executive and governance career in the forestry and conservation fields. The Commission Board will benefit from Mr McLean’s forestry industry experience and governance expertise.”
Minister Watts also thanked Dr Carr, Ms Leining and Professor Renwick for their service to the Commission over the past five years.
The Climate Change Commission was established in 2019 to provide independent, expert advice to government on emissions budgets, risk assessment, and progress towards New Zealand’s legislated climate targets. Board members are chosen to form the necessary mix of expertise to tackle the many challenges of climate change.