Minister of Conservation, Hon Willow-Jean Prime, has appointed Alan Livingston as chair of Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII) for a term of two years. This follows the retirement of Bruce Wills on completion of his maximum 9-year term as a director. Two new board directors have also been appointed, and one existing director has been reappointed.

Alan comes from the Waikato and is a current QEII board member of three years. He is the former Chair of the Waikato Regional Council and was Mayor of Waipa District Council for 12 years. Alan and his family farm on the slopes of Mt Pirongia, 35km southwest of Hamilton and they have two QEII covenants on the property. He has served on the Waikato River Authority, Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, Waipa River Catchment Committee and numerous Joint Management Committees with Waikato-Tainui, Raukawa, Maniapoto, Tuwharetoa, and Te Arawa. Alan was awarded the ONZM in 2014 for services to the community and to sport.

Alan Livingston is enthusiastic about his appointment as chair and looking forward to continuing his involvement with QEII in a new role.

“It is an honour and a privilege to be appointed as chair of the QEII board. QEII’s aim is to support and inspire landowners to protect and enhance special areas of biodiversity and cultural heritage on their properties. As awareness of the need to protect our valuable biodiversity on private land increases, QEII’s proven partnership with landowners will play a crucial role. There are over 5,000 QEII-protected areas across Aotearoa New Zealand and there is an excellent opportunity to do even more to preserve these important areas on private land.”

“I look forward to working alongside an experienced and committed board with a wide range of expertise. We also have a small but passionate management and head office team who, along with our regional reps, provide excellent support and have good working relationships with current and potential covenantors,” said Alan.

The Minister of Conservation also appointed three directors. Current director Karen Schumacher (Taranaki) has been reappointed for a two-year term and there are two new appointments – Distinguished Professor Philip Hulme and Professor Richard McDowell (both from Canterbury) have been appointed for three-year terms.

Alan Livingston is looking forward to working with the new board.

“These new appointments bring a diversity of skill and experience with them to the QEII board.  Richard and Philip are leading authorities in land and water management, and biosecurity respectively and represent a major injection of environmental science capability on to the board. I look forward to working with them and the rest of the board,” said Alan.

Alan replaces Bruce Wills as chair and recognised the outstanding role that Bruce has played throughout his nine years as a director, including the last three as chair, and also acknowledged outgoing board member Neil Cullen for his input.

“QEII has benefitted enormously from Bruce’s leadership and dedication, and I would like to formally acknowledge him for his contribution to QEII. His large circle of connections and achievements have been invaluable for QEII and he leaves big shoes to fill. I also sincerely thank Neil for his commitment and sage input as a landowner and covenantor, especially in his particular area of expertise, farm forestry. I wish them both all the best for the future.”

The QEII National Trust Board comprises six members, four appointed by the Minister of Conservation and two elected by QEII National Trust members. The two member-appointed board members, elected in 2022, are Donna Field and Graham Mourie.

Biographies

• Mr Alan Livingston of Hamilton was first appointed to the QEII Board in 2020. He has extensive governance experience and is the former Chair of the Waikato Regional Council and was Mayor of Waipa District Council for 12 years. Alan and his family farms on the slopes of Mt Pirongia, 35km southwest of Hamilton and they have two QEII covenants on the property. He has served on the Waikato River Authority, the Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust, the Waipa River Catchment Committee, and numerous Joint Management Committees with Waikato-Tainui, Raukawa, Maniapoto, Tuwharetoa, and Te Arawa. He also offers skills in financial acumen with over 20 years of experience preparing, consulting, approving, and monitoring large budgets. Alan was awarded the ONZM in 2014 for services to the community and to sport.

• Prof Philip Hulme of Christchurch is a Professor of Plant Biosecurity at Lincoln University and will bring significant scientific knowledge to the Board. Philip has over thirty years’ experience in delivering underpinning science to support conservation action, as well as familiarity with key legislation such as the Conservation Act 1987 and the Biosecurity Act 1993.

• Prof Richard McDowell of Lincoln has a strong science, research, and ecological background, with 25 years’ experience in science and the practice of environmental conservation. Currently working at AgResearch and Lincoln University, Richard has also been Editor in Chief of the Royal Society of New Zealand Journal, involved in the Our Land and Water National Science Challenge, and member to several environmental programmes and advisory boards.