The Aotearoa Circle wishes to acknowledge and thank Penny Nelson and Laurissa Cooney for their years of contribution to our kaupapa as Guardians, but also contributors to multiple workstreams.
Between them, they have championed The Circle's work across public and private sectors in conservation, tourism, banking, aviation and property, helping enable systems-level action to restore our natural capital for future generations.
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Laurissa Cooney (Te Āti Hau Nui a Pāpā Rangi), Director of Air New Zealand, Rabobank NZ, Goodman Property and Metlifecare
"Don't underestimate what's possible when governance experience meets genuine conviction."
That's the parting message from Laurissa Cooney, whose tenure as a Guardian of Aotearoa Circle spans six years, including three years as co-Chair. A chartered accountant and experienced director, Laurissa has brought governance rigour to a kaupapa close to her heart, one long guided by a Whanganui proverb: Ko au te awa, ko te awa ko au - I am the river, the river is me.
During her tenure, Laurissa contributed to key workstreams of The Circle and its partners as the co-Chair of the Tourism Sector Climate Change Scenarios and Adaptation Roadmap with Penny Nelson. She also championed the Circle’s Task Force for Nature Related Financial Disclosure Workshops, with each of these initiatives helping to shape companies’ nature strategies.
Laurissa has repeatedly championed the value of our legal guidance through Chapman Tripp, to ensure New Zealand directors, trustees and companies continue to be aware of their evolving nature-related legal duties and obligations. She also remains a vital member of a regional champions group formed through The Circle’s Natural Capital Regional Resilience (NCR2) report on the Bay of Plenty.
“I’m hugely inspired by the workplan the group has created following the release of NCR2 by The Circle. The Bay of Plenty is an incredible region, with equally incredible people committed to seeing the region, and its environment thrive. I’m proud to be contributing to this amazing mahi and excited by the potential for both the region and our country.”
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Penny Nelson, Former Director-General of the Department of Conservation (DOC)
"New Zealand cannot afford to treat the restoration of its natural capital as aspirational rather than essential."
That's the message Penny wants incoming Guardians (and other leaders) to carry forward adding their support will be critical in ensuring the incoming Chief Executive of The Aotearoa Circle can continue to empower business and public sector leaders to act to meet the headwinds of today.
Penny's connection to The Circle goes back to its founding. She was part of the mighty team that helped to establish it in 2019 alongside Sir Rob Fenwick, Sir Jonathon Porritt and Vicky Robertson before returning as a Guardian in late 2024 in her role leading DOC.
A highlight of her time as a Guardian, and the work she's proudest of, is the Tourism Sector Climate Change Scenarios and Adaptation Roadmap, which she co-chaired in 2022. This work went onto help shape how DOC and tourism operators plan for climate change adaptation.
Penny also points to our recently released Natural Infrastructure Plan and case studies as important, practical, cross-sector work that The Circle continues to produce. She encourages business leaders across the country to use the tools and resources that have come out of this plan to help them tackle the complex environmental challenges that remain ahead of us.
Circle co-Chair James Palmer, on behalf of the wider Board and Circle team, sincerely thanks these two steadfast and vocal champions of The Circle for their significant work towards our vision of enduring prosperity for New Zealand.
“As they pass the mantle to incoming Guardians, we acknowledge the legacy they each leave while also looking forward to welcoming new leaders to our Board.”
