NZ Institute of Architects announces new Chief Executive

27 March 2012

New Zealand Institute of Architects announces new Chief Executive

The New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA), the professional organization representing more than 90 per cent of New Zealands registered architects, has appointed Teena Hale-Pennington as its new Chief Executive.

Announcing the appointment, NZIA President David Sheppard said Ms Hale-Penningtons background in local government and resource planning would be invaluable in assisting the architectural profession meet its current challenges.

Our new Chief Executive also has a strong track record as a strategist in sustainable development and the provision of affordable housing, two areas of immediate concern, especially in New Zealands major cities.

Ms Hale-Pennington was formerly Wellington City Councils Director of Strategy, Planning and Urban Design. Prior to that she was Manager of Strategy for Auckland City Council, where she prepared the Councils submission to the Royal Commission on Auckland Governance.

In her earlier career Ms Hale-Pennington held strategic planning and project management positions in the private sector and in the New South Wales public service. She was educated at Griffith and Wollongong Universities in Australia.

Im very much looking forward to assuming the chief executive role at the NZIA, Ms Hale-Pennington said. The work of the NZIAs members is integral to the making of the high quality urban environments that New Zealanders want and that this country needs.

Public awareness of the importance of architecture has never been stronger, Ms Hale-Pennington said, and the challenges architects confront have seldom been more complex.

The rebuild of Christchurch, housing affordability and the related debate about more intensive urban development, and the regulatory environment affecting the construction industry are some of the issues facing New Zealands architects.

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NZ Institute of Architects announces new Chief Executive