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Name |
David Penman |
| Role at GBIF |
Chair of the Governing Board |
| Nationality |
New Zealand |
| Current contact details |
College of Science
University of Canterbury
Private Bag 4800
Christchurch 8020
New Zealand
Tel.: +64-3-364-2312
Fax: +64-3-364-2490
e-mail: david.penman@canterbury.ac.nz
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David Penman is an entomologist and agricultural scientist who earned his PhD from Washington State University in 1973. He has held a number of positions at Lincoln University in New Zealand, including Pro Vice Chancellor for research direction.
Dr. Penman's own research career focused on developing the basis for using "integrated pest management" in New Zealand. This involved a variety of research projects on the ecology, physiology and behaviour of the pest insects to be controlled.
Later, his career moved into policy analysis and strategies for putting to use the biological knowledge he had discovered.
In 1994 Dr. Penman joined Landcare Research, a New Zealand government-owned research institute, where he managed biodiversity and ecosystem-related research. In 1999 he became Landcare's overall Research Manager.
Dr. Penman now leads a 12-year research programme called 'Defining New Zealand's Terrestrial Biota' that combines taxonomy of plants, insects and microbes with biodiversity informatics.
Honors that Dr. Penman has held include a Fulbright Fellowship and a Senior Canadian Commonwealth Fellowship. He serves as a trustee for several organisations, and has held a number of senior management and governance positions.
Dr Penman represented New Zealand at the working group on Biological Informatics of the Megascience Forum of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which recommended the formation of GBIF in 1999. Beginning in 2001, he served as Chair of the GBIF Budget Committee until he was elected Chair of the Governing Board in 2005.
Dr. Penman is married with 3 grown children. His personal interests include mountain-biking, hiking and other physical pursuits, and creative activities such as painting.
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