Connections: Nelson

Justin Allen

Current location: Wellington
Telephone: 04 439 8575
Email: Justin.allen@mfat.govt.nz

Justin is currently in the Economic Division of MFAT, where he is primarily responsible for coordinating New Zealand’s relationship with the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Justin was born and raised in Nelson.  He attended Waimea College before leaving Nelson to study overseas.  Returning to New Zealand in 2001, Justin has since worked in Wellington in a variety of policy-related roles, mostly in the field of international relations.  He joined MFAT in 2010.

Justin continues to have strong links to Nelson through family and is a regular visitor to the city and its surrounds.  Justin says that building on existing international linkages and creating new ones is important for the growth of Nelson’s industries and the region as a whole.  He looks forward to helping connect MFAT’s work with Nelson’s interests.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Connections point for Nelson, Justin will:

• Be a contact point in the Ministry for Nelson residents with international interests, whether in business, services, arts or other areas.
• Provide information, both to and from the Ministry, on topics that he knows to be of interest to his contacts in Nelson.
• Maintain an interest in Nelson throughout his career and bear in mind its interests while he is posted abroad.
• Visit Nelson for discussions with contacts at least once every year while he is based onshore, before leaving to go on posting, and during leave to New Zealand while based offshore.