Danette Olsen

Danette Olsen is an accomplished leader with a robust background in research and strategic management, currently serving as General Manager at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment since March 2023. Previously, Danette held the position of Director of the Research Office at Victoria University of Wellington, where the focus was on enhancing research performance and income. Danette has extensive governance experience, having served as Chair of the NZ Rivers Trust and as a Board Observer at the Bragato Research Institute. Other notable roles include Manager of NSC and Strategic Investments at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, General Manager Science - Seafood Technologies at the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd, and Group Manager at the Cawthron Institute. Danette holds a Master of Science in Zoology from the University of Canterbury and a Graduate Diploma in Science, Psychology from Massey University.