James Palmer is the Secretary for the Environment and a Co-chair of The Aotearoa Circle.

Since 2017 he has been Chief Executive of the Hawke's Bay Regional Council, having previously served as the Council’s Group Manager Strategic Development, responsible for regional planning. During this time James has been involved in national policy development on freshwater and resource management reform, a member of the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group and a board member of the Sustainable Seas and Deep South national science challenges.

Prior to working at the Council, James was Deputy Secretary Sector Strategy at the Ministry for the Environment and Director Strategy at both the Ministry for Primary Industries and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry before that. Between 2005 and 2008 James served as Chief of Staff to the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity and was an advisor in the Labour-led government between 1999 and 2003 including on resource management, climate change and energy policy.

Laurissa is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, and a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand and a Co-chair of The Aotearoa Circle. She has previously held senior manager, auditing and consulting roles with Deloitte in New Zealand and Deloitte Touche in London and was the Chief Financial Officer for Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi.

Laurissa is an Independent Non-Executive Director for Air New Zealand, Goodman Property Ltd, Accordant Group Ltd. Laurissa is also a Committee Member of the Chapter Zero NZ Steering Group and Chair of Ngā Tāngata Tiaki Audit Committee. She was also a 2017 recipient of the Institute of Directors Emerging Director Award.

Laurissa is of Te Āti Hau Nui a Pāpā Rangi (Whanganui) descent.

Her work in the regenerative space is inspired by the Whakatauki (proverb) from her iwi: “Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au.”

Translation: “I am the river and the river is me.”

Volker is the Chief Executive of Cawthron Institute. He has had a distinguished international career in the seafood industry spanning more than 30 years. Volker was formerly the President of Nippon Suisan (USA), and President and CEO of King & Prince Seafood Corp (USA), before joining Sanford as CEO from 2013 - 2020. He has also held senior executive roles in Tokyo, Namibia, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and holds a Master of Science from the University of Stellenbosch.

Jane is a barrister, professional director, and independent hearings commissioner, with a 40-year career in law, accountancy, and finance.

Jane is currently the Deputy Chair of XRB. She is a Director of OTPP New Zealand Forest Investments and the Aspen Institute New Zealand.

Carolyn , is the CE of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) Hīkina Whakatutuki, the agency responsible for economic development, particularly focussing on business, innovation, research and technology, infrastructure, energy, and a transition to a low emissions future. 

Carolyn has over 20 years' experience leading large, complex service delivery organisations, and substantial change management programmes. She has headed MBIE since July 2017 and was previously Chief Executive and Comptroller of the Customs Service and earlier a Deputy Commissioner at Inland Revenue and Head of Human Resources and Organisational Change for Air New Zealand.

As well as her Chief Executive responsibilities, Carolyn is Chair of the Public Sector Auckland Career Board, and a member of the Victoria University of Wellington Business School Advisory Board.

Having joined Beca in 1987, David is currently Group Executive Chair. Over this time, he has played a key role in driving Beca’s long-term strategic direction with a focus on professional excellence and sustainability amongst others.

Throughout his career at Beca, he has filled a wide range of technical, management and executive roles, including Chief Technical Officer, Asia Regional Director, Australia Managing Director, Group Director Health and Safety, and Managing Director of Corporate Operations.

Outside of Beca, he is a director of Meridian Energy Limited, a trustee and Chair of The University of Auckland Foundation. He is also a member of The University of Auckland’s Civil and Environmental Advisory Board and has held a range of other governance positions, including Chair of the Hutt Valley Water Services Ltd Board, Chair of the Wood Beca Board, a board member of Leadership Development Corporation and past President of the Auckland University Engineers Association. He was also a founding board member of the Sustainable Business Council and sat on the Advisory Board of NIWA (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research).

Passions outside of work include sailing and skiing. With three young children, his weekend are suitably full.

Toitū te marae a Tane-Mahuta, Toitū te marae a Tangaroa, Toitū te tangata.

Simon was appointed Chief Executive of Indevin Group Limited in early 2024. He is responsible for leading the company, the delivery of strategy and financial performance, and engaging with customers, staff, suppliers, and shareholders.

Simon comes with deep commercial experience in the food, manufacturing and service sectors both here in New Zealand and in several of the key international markets in which we operate.

Penny Nelson started the role of Director-General on 1 November 2021.

Before starting at DOC Penny was Deputy Director-General for Biosecurity NZ. Penny joined the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) in 2018 as Deputy Director-General Policy and Trade, where she led work shaping the future of the primary sector – enhancing the sector’s sustainability and growth.

Penny has worked across a range of areas of government, including the environment, economic development, and social development. Prior to joining MPI, Penny was Deputy Secretary at Ministry for the Environment where she was responsible for climate change, the marine environment, environmental reporting, and the science system.

She has also worked within the private and science sectors including roles at DairyNZ, the Sustainable Business Council, and Landcare Research.

Penny holds a Masters of Science in Resource Management (Honours) from Lincoln University and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the University of Otago.

Izzy spent the last year as the Engagement Director for The Aotearoa Circle, creating more opportunities for our partners to engage with the workstreams and align their mahi with our Kaupapa. During that time, Izzy was also on the Leadership Group for the Low Carbon Energy Roadmap and part of the secretariat for the Mana Kai Roadmap. Izzy was also recently awarded a fellowship with the Next Foundation enabling her to continue focussing on creating more intergenerational opportunities for Aotearoa. 

With a background in psychology, design-thinking and corporate communications, Izzy’s skills and interests sit at the intersection of human behaviour and corporate performance. Raised by one of New Zealand’s leading environmentalists and businessmen, and co-founder of The Aotearoa Circle, the late Sir Rob Fenwick, Izzy has been surrounded by thought leaders in this domain for years.