Dr. Kayla Kingdon-Bebb

Kayla Kingdon-Bebb is a well-known environmental policy leader and advocate. She believes Aotearoa’s most crucial (and undervalued) asset is nature – and has a particular interest in seeing our ocean and fisheries restored to a state of health and abundance.

Prior to joining WWF-New Zealand (“the pandas, not the wrestlers”) as Chief Executive, Kayla served in New Zealand’s public service – first at the Ministry for the Environment, and subsequently as Director of Policy for the Department of Conservation.

Kayla read double degrees in commerce and international development studies at Queen’s University in Canada. After a spell working at KPMG, and then in venture capital, she went on to complete both a Master’s and Doctorate in land economy at the University of Cambridge in the UK. 

Kayla is a subject matter expert in Treaty law and natural resource management policy. 

Outside of work – and often as a means of commuting to work – Kayla is an avid trail runner, having completed several ultramarathons over the past few years. She is downright evangelical about Wellington’s town belt and feels grateful every day to get to live in such a wonderful, vibrant city.   

Kayla is driven by a strong ethic of community service and, having found herself and her husband so kindly welcomed, has a deep desire to give back to New Zealand.