Heather Simpson appointed Deputy Chair of Antarctica New Zealand
The former chief of staff to Helen Clark steps up on the board as the agency works through a testing period for the Scott Base project and New Zealand’s Antarctic programme.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has appointed Heather Simpson as Deputy Chair of Antarctica New Zealand, effective 1 April.
Peters said Simpson’s promotion reflects her contribution since joining the board in 2024 and her grasp of Antarctica’s strategic importance. She will support the chair and board as the agency navigates a period he described as both strategically and operationally challenging.
Antarctica New Zealand is the Crown entity that runs the national Antarctic programme, including oversight of Scott Base and support for scientific research and environmental stewardship. Its Scott Base Redevelopment Project has been under review in recent years amid rising costs and programme uncertainty.
Simpson is a long-serving public policy figure. She was chief of staff to then–prime minister Helen Clark and later advised Clark at the United Nations Development Programme. She led the Health and Disability System Review completed in 2020 and has held a range of governance roles.
The ministry did not provide further detail on the term or any changes to board membership beyond Simpson’s elevation.
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