Issue 5 | September 2026

At the end of July, Te Whatu Ao Earth Sciences New Zealand was pleased to welcome Ben McFadden into the role of National Manager, Pacific Strategy and Partnerships. Ben will lead our Pacific-facing strategy, helping to strengthen relationships with Pacific partners and support more coordinated access to Aotearoa New Zealand’s weather, climate, ocean, hazard and environmental science capability. Many partners will already know Ben through his leadership of MetService New Zealand’s International Development, where he has supported long-standing relationships and initiatives that help build resilience across the Pacific. He brings strong experience in international development, strategic growth, partnership development and working across science, government and funding systems to deliver practical value for Pacific communities.

While he’s already familiar to many partners in the Pacific, over the last few months Ben has been busy getting to know the team across Earth Sciences NZ.  He shared the following reflections:

“I’m excited to be stepping into this role and to be at the helm of such an amazing team. This is a critical time for Te Whatu Ao Earth Sciences across the Pacific, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to provide leadership, help build the Pacific programme in partnership with our regional stakeholders, and support the team and wider organisation as we continue to grow. I’m deeply grateful for the mahi that has brought us to this point and for the strong relationships, trust and expertise already in place. I look forward to working alongside our partners and colleagues to strengthen what we do, grow our impact and better serve Pacific communities.”