Nā Te Tumu Whakarae | Chief Executive update
Kia ora koutou.
As I prepare to step down from my role as Chief Executive on 30 September, this is my last opportunity to write to you through THE LINK newsletter. I would like to start by saying what a great privilege it has been to have had the opportunity to hold this leadership role in the Society for the past four years.
At my welcoming powhiri almost four years ago, I quoted some words from Professor Johan Rockström, Scientific Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. He said we have “entered the decisive decade for humanity’s future, because this is the turnaround point”.
We are now half-way through the decade. Our world continues to change in all sorts of ways and at breath-taking pace, and the need for decisive action to turnaround the negative impacts we are seeing remains as strong as ever. When we look at the many facets of climate change, along with biodiversity loss, impacts on social cohesion, loss of trust in science, mis and dis-information, disparities and inequities in health and education – the list goes on – it is clear the challenges are even greater than they were at the turn of the decade.
I talked about this four years ago in the context of the important contribution the Society plays within the broader science and research sector, and its public interface. How the work we do is part of a much larger system that can make a difference. As we went about the extensive consultation that led to our 20-year strategy, one of the very clear messages we received from all our Members and stakeholders was for the Society to play a leading role in providing benefit to the wider world in which we live. So, it is no surprise that our long-term strategy states our purpose as: Growing pathways of knowledge to enable science and research to be shared for the benefit of all.
Although I am leaving the role as Chief Executive, I retain the professional membership of the Society that I have held for many years, and look forward to remaining close to this important, outward looking, work of the Society.
My successor, Justine Daw, will take over the reins in early January 2026. In the meantime, I am delighted to say that James Henry, our Chief Operating Officer, will take on the role of Acting CEO in the interim. James is well known to most of you, having been in the COO role for a number of years. I am grateful to him for agreeing to step-in during this period.
Finally, one of the commitments we made to our Members recently was to keep you informed of the non-confidential discussions and decisions being made at our Council meetings. The first of these summaries is provided later in this newsletter. I hope you find it helpful.
With my very best wishes.
Ngā manaakitanga,
Paul Atkins MRSNZ
Chief Executive
Royal Society Te Apārangi