New General Manager Appointed

Forest and Bird, Issue 311, 1 February 2004, Page 48

New General Manager Appointed

The new general manager of Forest and Bird, Niki Francis, began working alongside the retiring manager, Lyn Bates, in time for the November council meeting. She became general manager when Lyn Bates moved to Tauranga just before Christmas. Asked for an introduction to members, Niki Francis writes: ‘T have lived in cities in the United Kingdom, Germany and Iraq, and while I loved those experiences they increased my appreciation of the natural beauty of Aotearoa/New Zealand, in particular the seashore and the bush. I welcome the opportunity to be part of working to keep Aotearoa/New Zealand beautiful through my year’s contract with Forest and Bird. ‘I was first introduced to conservation issues while at Epsom Girls’ Grammar when I was taught biology by Rosemary Bellamy, whose husband Prof. Dick Bellamy was one of the first scientific directors of the Environmental Defence Society. We heard much about Forest and Bird as well as the EDS and were encouraged to actively participate in conservation issues. ‘T have been an intermittent member of Forest and Bird and my children grew up in the Kiwi Conservation Club. ‘My family is currently regenerating bush on our quarter-acre in Wadestown, Wellington. We are fortunate to have some very large kanuka, said to be over 200 years old, together with mahoe, ngaio, ponga, rangiora, kawakawa and others too numerous to name. They provide habitats for tui, kereru, fantails, morepork all of which we enjoy sharing our place with. My work experience has been broad with several years as chief executive officer of the Veterinary Council of New Zealand which is the statutory body responsible for the registration of veterinarians and the maintenance of professional standards; as programme manager with the New Zealand Management Development Consortium;

and in human resources work at Amnesty International’s International Secretariat in London. ‘T have also worked as spiritual carer/chaplain at Mary Potter Hospice in Wellington, Niki Francis says. ‘I am a member of the national board of the Churches’ Agency on Social Issues which addresses some environmental issues in its work. ‘T look forward to meeting as many Forest and Bird members as possible in the year to come, and to enjoying a happy and productive relationship with the organisation.