New Executive Members

Forest and Bird, Issue 297, 1 August 2000, Page 43

New Executive Members

he national executive of Forest and Bird has two new members following the annual council meeting and elections in Wellington. Diane Menzies of North Canterbury Forest and Bird is a consultant specialising in rural, landscape and waste issues. Her wish is to increase public awareness of New Zealand’s biodiversity, through a stronger Forest and Bird. She is interested in forging partnerships with other organisations to achieve conservation goals. Diane Menzies previously served two terms as a member of the executive but stood down while completing a doctorate in philosophy at Lincoln University near Christchurch. Jocelyn Watkin of South Auckland Forest and Bird is a sales and marketing manager.

Her particular interest is in fundraising: ‘the Society needs streams of sponsorship money if it is to grow and effectively confront the conservation problems of the future’, she says. ‘Declining membership has heightened the pressure on Forest and Bird and more resources are required to fund the work on the many and divided fronts that exist already, she says. Both of the new executive members include among their qualifications, Masters degrees in Business Administration. Following the election, the national president, Keith Chapple, paid tribute to Christine Henderson of Southland, a former member of the executive, thanking her for her work and contribution during the past seven years.