David Smol

David Smol is the chair of GNS Science and is a director of Contact Energy, NZTA, and the Cooperative Bank.

David has over 40 years of experience in the public and private sectors in New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

David is currently the chair of GNS Science, and a director of Contact Energy, NZTA, and the Cooperative Bank. He chairs the Risk and Audit Committee of the Ministry of Social Development, and the External Advisory Committee of the Department of Internal Affairs. He is a member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

David was chief executive of the Ministry of Economic Development between 2008 and 2012 and was the inaugural chief executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment from 2012 to 2017.

He has an MPhil in Economics from the University of Cambridge and was made a Companion of the Queen’s Service Order in 2018.

Current term

18 June 2024 to 17 June 2028

Number of terms

One