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NZFSA Academy – pool of independent technical expertise and knowledge

The NZFSA Academy provides NZFSA with access to a wealth of external technical expertise and knowledge from people who are familiar with NZFSA’s business. The members of the Academy are invited by NZFSA to be participants and are all recognised experts in food safety related areas. They broaden and complement the range of skills within NZFSA.

The NZFSA Academy ensures that the best advice and help is available when specific issues arise, or in emergency situations. The Academy is an immediate point of contact for NZFSA in such situations.

Academy members are independent from NZFSA and their views are also independent. Although Academy members and other experts may be invited by NZFSA to undertake contractual work from time to time, this is always subject to declaration of any potential conflict of interest.

Members of the Academy:

• respond to occasional questions from NZFSA staff

• keep up to date on NZFSA activities

• attend the Academy’s annual meeting

• take part as invited in working group activities – either on topics determined at the annual meeting, or as a response to emerging issues.

Report of the Academy's 2008 annual meeting

Origin of the Academy

At the Academy’s inaugural meeting on 23 June 2005, NZFSA Executive Director Andrew McKenzie said: “The Academy is a first for NZFSA and a great step forward for us in terms of bringing together New Zealand’s expert knowledge based on a wide range of areas associated with food safety, suitability systems and processes.”

Launch of NZFSA Academy - 6 July 2005, media release

Role of the Academy

The Academy’s role is set out more fully in its Terms of Reference.

NZFSA Academy terms of reference

Academy members

The current members of the NZFSA Academy are: