Pāmu, Landcorp Farming Limited CEO Mark Leslie pays tribute on behalf of the State Owned Enterprise, to director and chairperson, Dr Warren Parker, who suddenly passed on Friday 29 December.
CEO Mark Lelise said: “A great tree has fallen. Dr Warren Parker was a highly respected primary sector leader and as Pāmu board chairperson, he made significant contributions to our organisation over his five years of dedicated service.
“It was an honour for me to have had Warren as a lecturer while at Massey University nearly 30 years ago and then have the opportunity to work shoulder-to-shoulder with his guidance and support when I joined Pāmu as CEO just under two years ago.
“Warren will be remembered for his vision, wisdom, and experience as well as his kindness which together have ensured a strong culture and clear strategic path for our organisation.”
Dr Warren Parker was appointed as Chairman of the Pāmu Board on 1 January 2019. Warren is a former chief executive of Scion (the NZ Forest Research Institute) and Landcare Research and was previously chief operating officer of AgResearch.
He held several board roles including on Predator Free 2050 Ltd, Farmlands Co-operative Society, Genomics Aotearoa and was the chair of the Forestry Ministerial Advisory Group. He was also chair of the New Zealand Conservation Authority and recently appointed independent chair of Quayside Holdings.
Warren had a PhD in animal science and was previously a Professor of Agribusiness and Resource Management at Massey University, where he spent 18 years in various roles, including supervising the 9,000 stock unit Riverside Farm in the Wairarapa.
“As we mourn Warren, we will also work together to ensure continuity. Deputy chair Nigel Atherfold will step in as chairperson in the interim period,” Mr Leslie said.
