Chief Executive Update February 2022

An important element of that ‘looking ahead’ was initiated a year ago when the organisation kick-started a process of long-term strategic planning. Unfortunately, progress was curtailed by further COVID-related constraints and, of course, a change in Chief Executive!  We are now picking up that work and taking the opportunity to imagine afresh the role of our organisation out to 2040, being the biennial of the signing of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.  Our new Strategic Plan will seek to articulate our role in the future of our country, drawing on the great breadth and depth of expertise we have available to us, and our ability to bring together a diversity of approaches and perspectives that strengthen our ability to be of relevance to contemporary and future challenges.  The strategy will by necessity be a relatively high-level document and I look forward to being able to share more with you in coming months as that thinking evolves.

Staying with the future looking theme, consultation on Te Ara Paerangi Future Pathways Green Paper 2021 continues and the Society is engaging with this work from several perspectives, including the workshop phase which is getting underway at the time of writing.

COVID-19 remains front and centre in every aspect of our lives as we navigate the Omicron variant, and 2022 is likely to be as uncertain as last year was for many of us.  Notwithstanding, the work of the Society continues apace, even if we are having to remain agile in the way we manage the meetings and events elements of our work.  Activities currently underway include:

• The Fellowship Selection Committee met on 16-17 February 2022 and we look forward to welcoming new Fellows into the Society at the end of April 2022. Alongside new Fellows, the call for nominations for Companions has now opened and we look forward to receiving your nominations.  For more information, please see: How Companions are awarded
   
• The call for nominations for medals and awards is also now open and further information on this can also be found on our website: 2022 Medals and Awards  

In considering the safety and wellbeing of everyone involved, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2021 Research Honours Aotearoa events that were planned for March. We are hoping to be able to host an in-person event for the 2022 Research Honours Aotearoa in October 2022.

As I am sure you are all aware, Sir Peter Gluckman has recently taken over as President of The International Science Council (ISC).  Our own President, Brent Clothier, and I attended a virtual ‘meet and greet’ meeting for ISC members with Sir Peter last month and are excited by the ISC’s programme of work for the coming year, and the opportunities that our association with the ISC can offer.

Thank you for your continued support of Royal Society Te Apārangi and, as I start to plan various visits around the country to meet with our Constituent Organisations, Branches, and other stakeholders, I look forward to the opportunity to meet many of you.

Ngā manaakitanga,

Paul

Paul Atkins
Tumu Whakarae Chief Executive
Royal Society Te Apārangi