Rob Fenwick

Sir Robert George Mappin Fenwick KNZM KStJ (5 May 1951 – 11 March 2020) was a New Zealand environmentalist, businessman and professional director.

For other people with similar names, see Robert Fenwick (disambiguation).

Sir Robert Fenwick

KNZM KStJ
Born
Robert George Mappin Fenwick

(1951-05-05)5 May 1951
Auckland, New Zealand
Died11 March 2020(2020-03-11) (aged 68)
OccupationBusinessman
Known forSustainable business development, Antarctic preservation, New Zealand conservation
RelativesFrank Mappin (grandfather)
George Fenwick (great-grandfather)

Fenwick co-founded the organic composting service Living Earth Ltd, the NZ Natural bottled water brand and Te Matuku Oysters[1] and held a number of board and advisory panel positions. His conservation and sustainability work included leadership roles in the Predator Free 2050 movement, co-founding the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development and several leadership roles in Antarctica.[2]

Fenwick was knighted in the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours for "significant contributions to New Zealand’s sustainable development, wildlife protection, waste minimisation, environmental science and Antarctica, and iwi development over the past 30 years".[3] A year earlier, Fenwick received the 2015 Blake Medal, with the Sir Peter Blake Trust acknowledging him as "New Zealand's foremost statesman of sustainability and the environment, and an exceptional leader and motivator in business and governance".[4] Fenwick was a finalist for the 2016 New Zealander of the Year Award and was inducted to the New Zealand NZ Business Hall of Fame in 2016.[5]

Early life and family history

Fenwick was raised in Auckland, New Zealand, son of ophthalmologist George de Lacy Fenwick (d. 1994), MD,[6] (son of ophthalmologist George Ernest Oswald Fenwick (1878–1955) OBE)[7][8] and Ethel Thorpe, daughter of philanthropist Sir Frank Crossley Mappin (6th baronet).[9] His great-grandfather was the newspaper proprietor and editor Sir George Fenwick.[10][11] Fenwick attended King's College.[12]

Arms

Fenwick was granted armorial bearings from the Royal College of Arms in 2008.

Notes

Arms were granted to Sir Frederick Thorpe Mappin Bt on 23 August 1886; and Arms were also granted to Sir George Fenwick on 27 April 1921.

Blazon

Quarterly first and fourth Fenwick, namely Per fess dancetty Argent and Gules in chief three Martlets Sable; second and third Mappin, namely Azure on a Bend engrailed between two Boar’s heads erased Argent three Lozenges Azure. The Crest of Fenwick is Upon a Wreath of the Colours In front of a Phoenix Sable rising from Flames proper four Mullets Argent.

Career

Fenwick began his career as a journalist with the Auckland Star and Radio Hauraki[10] before co-founding the Public Relations firm Allan, Fenwick, McCully.[13] In 1987, Fenwick co-founded NZ Natural Water Ltd, bottling New Zealand water for export.[10] Fenwick (and partners) established Living Earth Ltd in 1994, New Zealand’s first commercial organic waste to compost operation and responsible for diverting 1 million tonnes of waste from landfills for re-use as compost (as of 2010).[14]

In 2000, Fenwick and wife Jennie founded Te Matuku oysters on their Waiheke Island property, situated in the Te Matuku marine reserve, of which Fenwick was an advocate in partnership with the NZ Forest & Bird Society.[15] The oysters are sustainably farmed, supplied to local restaurants and have won critical acclaim.[16]

Directorships and advisory roles

In 1990, Fenwick commenced a series of consulting roles and professional directorships providing corporate strategy, government relations and communications advisory services to a range of organisations, generally focussing on sustainability and environment issues management.

Notable positions include:

  • Chairman, Mai FM Media (1990–2001). A role Fenwick calls his proudest business success for promoting the Maori language.[17]
  • Senior Fellow, NZ Institute of Directors (1995 – present)[18]
  • Deputy Chairman, TVNZ (2004–2010)[19]
  • Chancellor, Order of St John NZ (2006–2008)[20]
  • Chairman, Antarctica New Zealand (2008–2015)[21]
  • Director, Whai Rawa Ltd the commercial arm of Ngati Whatua o Orakei (2012 – present)[22]
  • Member, Air NZ Sustainability Advisory Panel (2015–present)[23]
  • Member, Westpac NZ Sustainability & Community Panel (2016–present)[24]
  • Director, Te Papa Tongarewa (2016 – present)[25]

Politics

Fenwick was appointed leader of the Progressive Green Party in 1996 and campaigned to create a Maritime Park in the Hauraki Gulf.[10]

In 1998, he was a founding member of the BlueGreens, an environmental policy group within the New Zealand National Party.[11]

Fenwick was involved in the development of New Zealand’s waste minimisation strategy and campaigned for the enactment of the Waste Minimisation Act 2008. He was the inaugural chair of the Ministerial Waste Advisory Board, from 2008 to 2014.

Conservation, sustainability and humanity initiatives

Fenwick was highly regarded in the New Zealand conservation space.[17] He was credited with inspiring the Predator Free New Zealand 2050 movement[26] and was chair of the Predator Free New Zealand Trust – an organisation committed to supporting volunteers involved in pest control. He also chaired The Kiwi Trust, a group dedicated to protecting the kiwi bird from extinction and sat on the board of Predator Free 2050 Ltd,[27] the company overseeing crown investment as it pertains to Predator Free 2050 research and project support.

Fenwick also undertook conservation efforts specific to his home town of Auckland, New Zealand. In 1992, he and others founded the Motutapu Island Restoration Trust[28] and in 2008 the Fenwick family covenanted their 360 hectare coastal property to expand the Hauraki Gulf Marine Park,[29] of which Fenwick was a key proponent.[15] A forested portion of the Fenwick property was also donated to the Auckland Council as a public walkway.[29]

From 1998 to 2007, Fenwick was director and chairman of the Crown Research Institute Landcare Research, during which time the institute developed the carboNZero emission certification program, of which he was later a director.[30] From 1997 he co-founded and later chaired the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development (later the Sustainable Business Council).[31]

Fenwick’s other notable conservation, sustainability and humanity work included:

  • Trustee, World Wildlife Fund New Zealand (1985–2005)[32]
  • Trustee, Air New Zealand Environment Trust (2010–present)[32]
  • Special advisor to the Director General, New Zealand Department of Conservation (2010–2015)[33]
  • Chairman, Fred Hollows Foundation (2010–2014)[34]
  • Trustee, Motu: Economic and Public Policy Research (2011–2015)[35]
  • Board member, NEXT Foundation (2014–present)[36]
  • Chairman, Sustainable Seas National Science Challenge (2015–present)[37]
  • Board member, Deep South National Science Challenge (2015–present)[38]

Antarctica
Sir Rob Fenwick, then Chairman of Antarctica NZ.

North & South Magazine wrote that “Rob Fenwick has had more impact on Antarctica than possibly any other New Zealander”.[39]

In 1993, Fenwick launched an international campaign to preserve the Scott and Shackleton Antarctic huts. He was later elected and served as chairman of the Antarctic Heritage Trust from 1996 to 2007. Following the completion of the project, Fenwick was invited to chair the board of Antarctica New Zealand. During his term the agency constructed wind powered turbines to supply energy to the New Zealand and US research stations and the Hillary Science Centre was completed at Scott Base.[40] In 2012 he established the privately funded Antarctic Research Institute – partnering with research agencies to expand climate change research on the continent.[4]

The Fenwick Ice Piedmont was named in his honour by the New Zealand Geographic Board in acknowledgment of his efforts.[41]

Honours and awards

Personal life

In 1974, Fenwick married firstly Juileen Adams; they had a daughter and, later, divorced in 1986. He married secondly Jennifer ("Jennie") Anne Beatty, a yoga teacher, with whom he had two more daughters.[9][17] He and his family lived on Waiheke Island.[46]

References
  1. "Our Story | Te Matuku Oysters". www.tematukuoysters.co.nz. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  2. "Rob Fenwick – New Zealander of the Year Finalist". nzawards.org.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  3. "The Queen's 90th Birthday Honours List 2016 – Citations for Knight Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit". The Queen's 90th Birthday Honours List 2016 – Citations for Knight Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  4. "Sir Peter Blake Trust". sirpeterblaketrust.org. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  5. "NZ Business Hall of Fame: Rob Fenwick Q&A". Stuff. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  6. International Biography and Bibliography of Ophthalmologists and Vision Scientists, Part I: A- K, ed. Jean-Paul Wayenborgh, 2001, p. 239
  7. https://livesonline.rcseng.ac.uk/client/en_GB/lives/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ASSET$002f0$002fSD_ASSET:377547/one?qu=%22rcs%3A+E005364%22&rt=false%7C%7C%7CIDENTIFIER%7C%7C%7CResource+Identifier
  8. Eye Surgeons and Surgery in New Zealand, Dr Bruce Hadden, Random House, 2012, Chapter 5- Auckland: The Entrepreneurs
  9. Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage, 145th edition, ed. Patrick Montague-Smith, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2008, p. 630
  10. "Rob Fenwick: Giving Earth". The New Zealand Herald. 12 October 2001. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  11. "Michele Hewitson interview: Rob Fenwick". The New Zealand Herald. 8 May 2015. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  12. "KCOCA Old Collegians'". Potentiality Online Communities. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  13. "Television New Zealand and Transmission Holdings Ltd boards appointed". The Beehive. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  14. "Living Earth – Our Story". www.livingearth.co.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  15. "Saving our shoreline". The New Zealand Herald. 11 April 2002. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  16. TVNZ. "Episode 31: Precious Bounty". TVNZ.co.nz.
  17. "Medal-winner links eco values with economics". The New Zealand Herald. 26 June 2015. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  18. "Branch event". www.iod.org.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  19. @CTrevettNZH, Claire Trevett, By: Claire Trevett Deputy political editor, NZ Herald claire trevett@nzherald co nz (30 October 2005). "Fraser quits TVNZ over 'meddling'". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  20. St John NZ. "2017 Annual Report" (PDF).
  21. "Rob Fenwick's last season at Antarctica". Newshub. 26 September 2015. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  22. "Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei Whai Rawa Limited – Annual Report 2015". issuu. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  23. "Sustainability Advisory Panel – Sustainability – About Air New Zealand | Air New Zealand". www.airnewzealand.co.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  24. "Westpac New Zealand sustainability governance". www.westpac.co.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  25. "Board". Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, NZ. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  26. "Sir Rob Fenwick: The war on predators". Newsroom. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  27. "Predator Free 2050 Ltd board appointed". The Beehive. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  28. User, Super. "Who Are We?". www.motutapu.org.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  29. "Owner adds private land to Hauraki Gulf Marine Park". The Beehive. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  30. Management Magazine. "Exec's move".
  31. "Queen's Birthday Honours 2016: Sir Robert Fenwick". The National Business Review. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  32. "Trustees » Air New Zealand Environment Trust". airnzenvironmenttrust.org.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  33. "Fenwick appointed to Conservation Department role". The National Business Review. 9 June 2010. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  34. "2011 Fred Hollows Annual Report" (PDF).
  35. "Rob Fenwick". Motu. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  36. "NEXT Foundation". NEXT Foundation. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  37. "Board". Sustainable seas. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  38. "Governance Board". Deep south science challenge. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  39. "Antarctica's Unsung Hero – North & South". Noted. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  40. Antarctica NZ. "Scott Base Anniversary Book" (PDF).
  41. "Rob Fenwick". Antarctica NZ. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  42. St John NZ. "St John Yearbook 2014" (PDF).
  43. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2008". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  44. "Former Honorary Doctorate Recipients – Lincoln University Alumni & Development Office". alumnilinc.lincoln.ac.nz. Retrieved 18 October 2017.
  45. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, NZ Government. "Queens 90th Birthday Honours List".
  46. Fenwick & Avery (2005). Legacies of a Young Land. Lasting Memories.
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