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New Zealand Food Safety Authority announces launch of NZFSA Academy

6 July 2005

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority is pleased to announce the launch of the NZFSA Academy.

The Academy brings together some of New Zealand’s leading experts in food safety related areas and has been set up to broaden NZFSA’s access to a range of expertise and knowledge in technical areas to supplement the skills already present within the organisation. It will ensure the best advice and help is available when specific issues arise, or in emergency situations.

Its experts in science and other relevant disciplines will complement NZFSA’s science strategy as well as the other areas of work that NZFSA is involved in.

The Academy’s members are taken from a range of scientific fields including epidemiology, nutrition, microbiology, primary production, irradiation, toxicology, medical science, food processing and public health.

Members have also been selected on the basis of criteria in relation to their field of expertise. These include:

• acknowledgement as leaders by their peers

• nationally and/or internationally recognised

• active in their areas of specialisation

• integrity and impartiality

• a willingness to make their view and positions public

• a keenness to assist.

At the Academy’s inaugural meeting on 23 June 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.

“Its work will be immensely useful to us in the future and I would like to thank members for agreeing to join with us. NZFSA is very much looking forward to working with such an esteemed group.”

Academy members are:

Associate Professor Robert Scragg, School of Population Health, Auckland University (epidemiology)
Vice-chancellor David Skegg, Vice Chancellor at Otago University (epidemiology)
Professor Jim Mann, Otago University (nutrition)
Dr John Monro, New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Ltd (nutrition)
Professor Nigel French, Massey University (microbiology/food safety)
Dr Lindsay Pearce, Fonterra (microbiology/food safety)
Dr Andrew Hudson, Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (microbiology/food safety)
Professor Ian Shaw, University of Canterbury (toxicologist/food safety scientist)
Dr Graeme Jarvis, Meat and Wool New Zealand (primary production)
Dr John Hellstrom, Consultant in primary production (primary production)
Dr Peter Roberts, Consultant in irradiation (irradiation)
Dr John Fountain, National Poisons Centre (toxicology)
Dr Wayne Temple, National Poisons Centre (toxicology)
Dr Lynne Lane, University of Auckland (public health)
Professor Boyd Swinburn, Deakin University, Victoria, Australia (medical science)
Dr Michael Baker, Wellington School of Medicine, Otago University (medical science)
Dr Tim Blackmore, Wellington School of Medicine, Otago University (medical science)
Dr Laurie Melton, Auckland University (food processing)
Dr John Brooks, Massey University (food technology/science)

Members will meet on an ad hoc basis and will come together annually to discuss current areas of interest with NZFSA staff. The appointments are for a term of two years and each fellow will receive a nominal annual fee as part of their membership.

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For more information contact Diane Robinson (Senior Communications Advisor): 04-463 2528 or 021 193 6405.

For further comment contact Carole Inkster (Director, Policy): 01-463 2505 or 021 241 2455