Al Morrison joined the Department of Conservation in 2002 and was appointed as
Chief Executive and Director General in November 2006.
Al began his working life as a teacher, graduating from the Dunedin Teachers
College. He then moved into journalism, spending several years in newspaper in
reporting, commentary and management positions before joining Radio New Zealand
in 1996, where he became Political Editor.
Al is a graduate of Otago University, where he studied philosophy and education.
During his time as a journalist he spent a post graduate year under a Rotary
Foundation Fellowship studying science writing at the University of Columbia,
Missouri. He is an alumni of the public service Executive Leadership Programme.
He has contributed to several journalism texts on the issue of objectivity,
reporting the news and commentary and opinion writing, and to political texts
on the issue of reporting under MMP, and the 2002 General Election.
Al is 61 years old and is married with four adult children and two
grandchildren.