New chair for Climate Change Commission

Former Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy has been named the new chair of the Climate Change Commission.

Her appointment was announced by Climate Change Minister Simon Watts and will take effect in February 2025.

The Commission is an independent Crown entity which provides advice and monitoring to support New Zealand’s transition to a low-emissions, climate-resilient future.

“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,” Watts says.

Reddy served as New Zealand’s 21st Governor-General from 2016 to 2021. Her career includes being named a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2014 for services to the arts and business, and later a Dame Grand Companion of the Order for services to the state in 2016. She currently chairs the New Zealand Rugby Union and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Foundation and is a trustee of the Malaghan Institute and Aspen Institute New Zealand.

Her appointment follows the conclusion of Dr Rod Carr’s term as chair, which ends in early December.

Commissioner and deputy chair Lisa Tumahai will serve as acting chair until Reddy assumes the role.

New commissioners

Alongside Reddy’s appointment, Watts also announced two new commissioners, Felicity Underhill and Devon McLean, who will join the Commission from December 2024 until September 2028. They will replace 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,” 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,” he added.