18 February 2009
Standards New Zealand announced the winners of the 2008 Meritorious Service Awards today at an Awards breakfast in Wellington. Guest speaker, Minister of Commerce Hon. Simon Power, reinforced the importance of recognising excellence in voluntary contribution to Standards development activity by committee members.
Each year, the Standards Council and Standards New Zealand honour the 2,000-plus Standards development committee members for their work over the previous year and celebrate the winners of the Meritorious Service Awards.
Meritorious Service Award Winners 2008
'We are delighted to announce the 2008 winners,' says Richard Westlake, Chair of the Standards Council.
'Congratulations to Richard Bean, Brian Davey, G Charles Clifton, Peter Gilbert, Vern Goodwin, and Ian Moreland. These individuals have shown true dedication, and their exceptional, and voluntary, hard work, has enabled us to continue our role of producing high quality Standards that assist New Zealanders in their lives.'
Richard Bean
Richard has over 30 years experience in traffic engineering, research, and road safety policy development, with the New Zealand Transport Agency, and its predecessors. Richard has served on several Standards development committees over the past 15 years, helping to develop Standards for dangerous goods, management of agrichemicals, and model general bylaws for traffic.
G Charles Clifton
Charles is an associate professor of civil engineering at the University of Auckland. He has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to steel structure, loadings, and related Standards, for over 20 years. As Chair of the committee for the New Zealand steel structures Standard since 1986, Charles wrote the first draft of that Standard, and he has also served on other Standards development committees.
Brian Davey
Brian joined the New Zealand Fire Service 35 years ago as an operational firefighter. Now National Manager, Operational Standards, his role focuses on standard operating procedures and safe firefighting techniques. Brian has served on six Standards development committees, and chaired two of those committees. He brings invaluable, in-depth industry knowledge to his work with Standards.
Peter Gilbert
Peter is Executive Director of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association, and he started his career many years ago at British Gas. He has a vast knowledge of the legislative and regulatory considerations for natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), with 40 years experience. Peter is a staunch advocate of Standards. He has been a member of six development committees, and chaired two of these, and has helped develop several gas Standards.
Vern Goodwin
Vern joined the Ministry of Health's noise advisory service in 1991. He advises the Ministry and public health services, and represents the Ministry in policy development for environmental noise. He has 35 years experience in environmental acoustics and has helped develop several Standards covering environmental noise and sound since 1985.
Ian Moreland
Ian joined IBM in the 1960s as a customer engineer and his involvement with Standards development started in 1985. His work ensured New Zealand's requirements for safety, electromagnetic compatibility, and telecommunications connection were understood and implemented by IBM. He has very effectively applied a broad knowledge of these topics to the development of international information technology (IT) and audio-visual Standards. Ian recently retired from both IBM and Standards development.
Further Awards breakfasts will be held in Auckland (20 February), and Christchurch (27 February) over the coming two weeks. Guest speakers at each event (respectively) are Hon. Maurice Williamson and Mayor Bob Parker.
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Background
Standards New Zealand and Meritorious Service Awards
Standards New Zealand is the peak national Standards body and the operating arm of the Standards Council. Together we are part of New Zealand's standards and conformance infrastructure. Standards provide information, establish measurements, and set quality and safety levels, delivering benefits and clarity for both the public and private sectors. They enable a less prescriptive regulatory environment to operate, encourage stakeholder participation, and help eliminate unnecessary business compliance costs.
Standards New Zealand uses a robust and recognised process that relies on expert committee consensus and widespread consultation with affected parties, including public input. Our Standards are formally approved by the Standards Council (in accordance with the requirements of the Standards Act 1988).
To recognise the outstanding contributions of individual development committee members, Standards New Zealand presents Meritorious Service Awards each year, at forums held in Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington. The Awards recognise the exceptional hard work and dedication that individuals have contributed to high quality Standards that assist New Zealanders in their everyday lives. Award winners are nominated by their peers and judged by a panel including representatives from the Government, Standards New Zealand, and the building, energy, consumer, safety, and health sectors.
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