Appointment of Chief Executive of Ministry for the Environment
4 June 2008
The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, today announced the appointment of Dr Paul Reynolds to the position of
Chief Executive and Secretary for the Environment, Ministry for the Environment.
Dr Reynolds is currently the Deputy Director General (Policy) at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, a position he
has held since 2002.
"Dr Reynolds’ leadership, policy development, and management experience, together with his intellectual capability and
personal qualities, will assist him to successfully lead the Ministry through its complex work programme.
"His work at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry developing strategies for major initiatives such as water
allocation and quality policy and the proposed climate change Emissions Trading Scheme, together with his sound grasp of
environmental and sustainability issues, means Dr Reynolds has a very good understanding of the sector and the issues
that the Ministry for the Environment faces.
"Dr Reynolds has ten years’ experience in senior management roles and leading policy development in the Public Service
and has successfully led and managed very large teams. He has more than ten years’ experience in leading and managing
scientists and other professional staff and has credibility in the scientific sector," Mark Prebble said.
Prior to taking up his current role, Dr Reynolds spent four years as the Chief Policy Adviser in the Ministry of
Research, Science and Technology. From 1992 to 1998 he was the Science Manager, Immunomolecular Plant Biology, at the
Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand. Prior to this, Dr Reynolds was the Section Leader, Immunology
and Plant Molecular Biology at the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR), where he commenced his
career in the Public Service in 1985 as a Scientist.
Dr Reynolds has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) and a PhD in Plant Biochemistry from the University of Otago. In 1990 he
was awarded a Commemoration Medal for his contribution to New Zealand Science and in 1996 he received the Watson Victor
Award for Biochemistry.
Dr Reynolds takes up his appointment on 21 July 2008.
ENDS