DR CAROL DIEBEL APPOINTED AS TE PAPA'S DIRECTOR OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT /PAPATUANUKU
Te Papa's Chief Executive, Dr Seddon Bennington, announced today the appointment of Dr Carol Diebel as Te Papa's
Director of Natural Environment/Papatuanuku. This is a new position that will provide leadership for Te Papa's important
natural environment research, curatorial and collection management teams.
Te Papa holds large and significant collections encompassing archaeozoology, birds, botany, entomology, fish, mammals,
molluscs and other marine invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians.
Dr Bennington said today that Carol Diebel brings a wealth of experience to the role not only in terms of her impressive
academic and research background but also in the areas of people and systems management and communications.
"With her wide experience and contacts, Carol will also strengthen Te Papa's relationships and collaborative
opportunities with other related organisations and communities. She will also work closely with the directors of the
other collection areas in Te Papa on joint initiatives - including exhibitions - to enhance the strengths of the
different collections", said Dr Bennington.
Dr Diebel has a Ph D in Biological Oceanography from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution Joint Programme in Oceanography, and was most recently Curator of Marine Biology Collections
at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. She has also held positions in the United States including research roles at the
University of Washington and the University of Florida.
Carol Diebel has wide-ranging experience in research and museum management and the development of marine biology
collections as well as communicating science to diverse audiences. Dr Diebel has published widely and has a number of
awards, prizes and fellowships. She is currently a member of the editorial board of the journal of the Royal Society of
New Zealand and the Biodiversity Research Advisory Group for the Ministry of Fisheries.
ENDS