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Job title: Chief executive Greater Wellington Regional Council

Barry Harris' overseas travel after graduating with a Massey honours degree in agricultural science taught him something many Kiwis don't learn until they go away: that the New Zealand environment is precious and better managed than in many countries that trumpet their natural beauty.

"Travelling overseas created a strong belief that we had something special," says Harris. "In so many places I went, that was not the case."

It's a sentiment Harris has carried into his work. He is leaving the top Environment Waikato job for Wellington, his CV a long list of environmental protection posts.

Among them are two years as natural resources adviser on the Pacific island of Kiribati ("I could see senior management positions coming up and thought I was too young for that, and needed another adventure"), a flood management role with the former Waikato Valley Authority and the top job at the South Waikato District Council, before joining Environment Waikato.

Levin-born Harris, 48, also has a masters degree in natural resource economics, gained after his first OE.

He relishes the prospect of a change from country to town. "Wellington is an attractive place for us to move to, and I was looking for new and different challenges. It's a much more metropolitan council and there are lots of issues around transport, bulk water supply and social development."

Harris, his wife, Wendy, and youngest of three children, 13-year-old Megan, are leaving a 14ha "toy farm" with only mild regrets. "Life's about new experiences and new places," he says, adding wryly: "I have never lived in Wellington - but I spend a lot of time there with this job, and know some of the restaurants and hotels quite well."