New leadership at the United Nations Association of New Zealand
The United Nations Association of New Zealand (UNA NZ) welcomes the appointment of Mr Peter Nichols as the new National
President of the United Nations Association of New Zealand. Peter was appointed National President at the recent Annual
General Meeting on 19 May 2018, following the presidency of Mrs Joy Dunsheath J.P. for the past two years. Mrs Dunsheath
will continue her involved with the UNA NZ as immediate past President on the National Executive and Special Officer for
Liaison with the World Federation of UNAs – WFUNA. “We thank Joy for her inspired leadership and enormous time and
effort expended throughout her Presidential terms, and realise the challenges she had met to sustain the organisation
which is reliant on the energy of its volunteers and paid part-time staff, prudent financial management, and raised
public profile via news media, and new ventures”, Peter says about his predecessor. He was also pleased to inherit a
vibrant organisation in a healthy financial state with a bright future.
Besides his new presidential role, Peter works at the Environmental Protection Authority. He has worked overseas in a
variety of countries including in Australia and Asia. He took a keen interest in issues in East Timor leading up to its
independence and worked as a team site leader in 1991/92 to implement the peace accords with the United Nations Angola
Verification Mission ll. He led a team as part of New Zealand’s Provincial Reconstruction team in Afghanistan in
2005/06. In New Zealand, Peter has worked for 2 Governors General, worked in the Department of Prime Minister and
Cabinet in the Domestic and External Security Group, has managed teams of 100 plus on several occasions, been
responsible for security at Parliament and managed the Otaki Children’s Health Camp. He has a first-class honours
Master’s degree in Strategic Studies, is an Associate Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Management, and is a
graduate of the Australian and Indonesian Command and Staff Colleges. He is a past Chair of the Wellington Branch of the
New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, a member of the New Zealand Indonesia Association and Council, and has
been actively involved in the Scouting movement. Mr Nichols is married to Dr Ruth Nichols and they have two adult
children, Emma and David. He enjoys walking, plays golf, reads and enjoys family time.
Peter has been joined on the National Executive (NX) by two new Vice Presidents, Dr Kennedy Graham, Director of the New
Zealand Centre for Global Studies and former Member of Parliament, and Dr Clark Ehlers, who holds a doctorate in
microbiology and a law degree and is also the Wellington Branch President. Arielle Tracey joined UNA NZ as an intern
last year and was elected Secretary at the recent AGM. Dr Mere Skerrett is from Ngai Tahu, Te Arawa, Mataatua and
Waikato Maniapoto, and is a Senior Lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington. She was appointed National Council
Representative on the NX and also holds the new position of Special Officer Tangata Whenua. Pauline McKay and Paul
Oliver continue their positions as Vice President and National Treasurer respectively. Peter Cowley will replace Paul
Oliver later this year.