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AgVetLink: Number 63, August 2007

Operations and Staff Update

Approvals and ACVM Operations Unit

Since February this year we have been working to develop an Approvals and ACVM Operations Unit to harmonise the systems for approvals across all legislation administered by the Group (ACVM, Animal Products, Food and Wine Acts). This project affects all employees who perform operational activities and tasks in pre- and post-approval processes.

A milestone was achieved this month when all Group members who work on approvals were brought together into one operational team. Pictured are Maree Zinzley (Programme Manager), Mary Alexander, Helen Connor, Eve Menzies, Erin O’Brien and Hugh Meek (absent: Alice Palmer). Erin and Hugh come from the Production and Processing area, and they work in the administration of approvals under the Animal Products Act.

Generic approvals

Development of a generic approvals process is well underway, and we hope to have it operational in October. In the meantime, there will be no change to the way applications are processed. Multiskilling of staff across the Operations Unit will take place after the generic approvals process is implemented and resources are in place to manage all of the workloads.

ACVM applications

At present, Operations Unit members working on ACVM applications are Mary Alexander, Alice Palmer and Helen Connor. However, Alice will be leaving on 31 August to attend a Flight Controllers training course in Christchurch. We wish Alice all the very best in her new career. Alice's replacement in the Advisors team is Eve Menzies who has been promoted from the position of Co-ordinator. The Co-ordinator's role has been advertised.

In the technical area, we have farewelled two Veterinary Advisors. Ana Zdravkovich has accepted a position with NZFSA Verification Agency, and Lucy Johnston has taken maternity leave. Both positions have been advertised.