Standards Council of New Zealand appointments

Commerce Minister Pete Hodgson today announced two new appointments and one re-appointment to the Standards Council of New Zealand.

“I am pleased to appoint Vaughan Renner and Michael Wallmannsberger as new members of the Council. They are both respected leaders and managers with strong business and community-based connections. These links should prove valuable to the Council in its work.”

The Minister also re-appointed Professor John Hannah of the University of Otago. “The Council stands to benefit from the continued membership of Dr Hannah who has a sound understanding of standards issues in relation to the education sector.”

The Minister also acknowledged outgoing members William Simmers and Arthur 'Francis' Small for their time and expertise.

The Council is the governing body of Standards New Zealand, the national organization with statutory responsibility for the development and adoption of standards and related products. Through the voluntary participation of about 2,000 New Zealanders on its boards and committees, the Council is able to draw on the knowledge and expertise of many sectors of the population in carrying out its work. Professional and consumer bodies are also able to nominate members to the Council ensuring a broad representation of membership. Christian Judge, press secretary, 04 471 9707 / 021 670 349 christian.judge@parliament.govt.nz

BIOGRAPHIES Vaughan Renner Vaughan Renner is a business consultant for small to medium enterprises. He has 13 years of senior management experience with South Pacific Tyres NZ, being its Chief Executive from 1998-2004. He has a sound knowledge and understanding of standards and the proven ability to manage and develop organisations and businesses. He has a good appreciation of governance and working with government agencies having been a Member of the Ministerial Panel on Business Compliance Costs and a Deputy Chair of the Implementation Advisory Panel under the Health and Safety in Employment Act. He is currently a board member of the Employers and Manufacturers Association and Positively Wellington Business.

Michael Wallmannsberger Michael Wallmannsberger is an e-commerce systems specialist with ASB Bank and has held similar information technology (IT) roles with Auckland City Council and the New Zealand Trade Development Board. He has the leadership and management capabilities and also the IT skills and experience which the Council requires.

He has a good grasp of governance issues and standards issues in relation to trans-Tasman and international settings. He is Secretary and Councillor on the Council of InternetNZ, a non-profit incorporated society that manages and operates the NZ domain name registry. Dr John Hannah Re-appointed for a term of two years is Dr John Hannah, Professor and former Dean of the School of Surveying at the University of Otago.

The Council has a need for good representation of academics on standards development committees, and Dr Hannah’s experience in and appreciation of Standards NZ’s role and functions will be of significant assistance in promulgating standards. He is President elect of the New Zealand Institute of Surveyors and past President of the Australasian Survey and Mapping Lecturers’ Association.

He was also a member of the Antarctic Drilling Project, Greenland Ice Sheet Programme, and Antarctic Mapping Programme; and has provided advice to government and the private sector on many climate and sea-level monitoring projects.

ROLE OF THE STANDARDS COUNCIL

The Council is a Crown entity under the Standards Act 1988. The primary functions of the Council are to develop standards and to promote, encourage and facilitate the use of standards in New Zealand with the object of:

improving the quality of goods and services; promoting standardisation in industry, trade and commerce while encouraging industrial development; encouraging and facilitating industrial development, trade, or commerce; and promoting public and occupational safety, health and welfare.

The Council is a user-funded Crown entity. It does not receive public funding for its operation.

APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE COUNCIL

The Standards Act requires the Council to have up to twelve members. Of the twelve members:

up to two members may be appointed by the Minister of Commerce; up to eight members may be appointed by the Minister of Commerce from nominations made by professional or consumer bodies; and the Council may appoint two members in its own right.

In appointing members of the Council, the Minister must have regard to candidates’ knowledge of, and experience in, management and the development and use of standards.

CURRENT MEMBERSHIP

Members can be appointed for a term not exceeding three years and may be re-appointed. The Council is currently comprised of:

Mr Richard Westlake as Chair Mr John Albertson Mr Bruce Cottrill Mr George Richard Gibbons Mr John Hannah Mr John Douglas Matheson Mrs Ellen Ramsay Mr Vaughan Martyn Renner Ms Carol Stigley Mr Michael Franz Wallmannsberger Mr Roy Wilson

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