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AgVetLink: Number 51, August 2005

Staff update

As a result of NZFSA restructuring, some ACVM Group staff members have shifted position within the organisation.

NZFSA’s Science Group, which provides the Executive Director with scientific inputs into standards for food and food-related products, including risk assessments, has gained two ACVM Group members as principal advisers who are recognised as experts in their fields:

•         John Reeve is now Principal Adviser Toxicology.  Although his new position is more a reflection of the work he has been doing than a real change, he is no longer directly linked to the ACVM Group.

•         Paul Dansted is now Principal Adviser Chemicals.  This position is designed to provide an overview of food safety and suitability in terms of chemical hazards that may be present in food or that may be introduced throughout the food chain.

There have also been changes within the ACVM Group itself.  Additional responsibilities have been added to the positions of the following staff members as the ACVM and Approvals Group merges with the Animal Products and Domestic and Imported Food Approvals teams respectively:

•         Chris Boland is now Senior Programme Manager (Approvals and ACVM Standards). His work has been expanded to include Approvals across the NZFSA spectrum, from animal products to wine.

•         Warren Hughes is acting in the position of Programme Manager (ACVM and Non-food Assessment). 

•         Maree Zinzley has the new title of Programme Manager (ACVM and Non-food Products).

More changes

Gill Wilson, who was Debbie Morris’s Executive Assistant, has moved across into the Communications and Infrastructure team under the same title but working mainly as executive support for Andrew McKenzie, NZFSA’s Executive Director.

Laurence Clear, who worked as an Advisor (Web Development) supporting the ACVM Group, is now working under the same title within the Communications and Infrastructure Group and doing projects across a number of business groups.

Sheryl Robertson has also moved to the Communications and Infrastructure Group, and will have administration duties across all NZFSA groups. Sheryl has been an employee of the ACVM Group for 35 years and we are glad that she is still part of the organisation.

However, as we keep a long-serving member, we farewell one of our advisers, Claire Truscott. Many of you will remember Claire from her stint with the ACVM Group before she ventured on her OE.  Claire returned to us in 2004 and has just accepted a new role within the New Zealand Police Department.  Her jovial and enthusiastic nature will be missed.  We wish her well in her new endeavour.  

After reading the above, you may realise that this leaves us in a difficult position in regards to Advisors.  Please bear with us as we go through interviewing, training and rebuilding the team.