8 January 2024

Kua hinga te tōtara o Te Waonui a Tāne - a mighty tōtara in the great forest of Tāne has fallen.

Like many of our friends and colleagues in the primary sector we are mourning the loss of Dr Warren Parker. Warren was our CEO from 2011 until he announced his retirement in 2016, and we remember him for his vision, expertise, and kind and compassionate leadership. Warren led Scion through a positive period of change, and his legacy underscores the importance of forestry and the bioeconomy for the prosperity of regional economies and in helping iwi meet their development aspirations.

After he departed Scion, we are grateful for how he continued to champion our research and serve as an advocate for the forestry sector.

We join others in expressing our sorrow at Warren’s passing, and our heartfelt condolences to his family.

Read more tributes to Warren from Scion and Pāmu on our LinkedIn page. Warren was the chairman for Pāmu and held various governance roles.

Warren passed away on 29 December 2023.