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The Standards Approval Board welcomes new members

Late 2022 saw the Ministerial appointment of five new members to the New Zealand Standards Approval Board, supporting the independent decision making and checks and balances of our robust standardisation process.

Standards Approval Board logo

Providing independent decision making 

Providing independent decision making the Standards Approval Board (SAB) is an independent statutory board set up under the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015. Rather than a traditional governance role, board members support Standards New Zealand’s robust development process with independent decision-making and checks and balances. Functions include the appointment of standards development committee chairs and members, ensuring diversity, skills, knowledge, experience and sector representation. They also ensure due process has been followed in the development or revision of standards, and ultimately approve the publication of new or revised standards. 

The board members’ function provides one of the fundamental benefits of standards produced by Standards New Zealand, in ensuring standards are consensus built, avoid bias, undue commercial or vested interests or monopolies and work for all those who use them. SAB members are senior professionals who meet monthly and commit to a two-year term demonstrating leadership and good judgement while remaining objective and independent. Further information on the role and function can be found in sections 11-14 of the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015.

Standards and Accreditation Act 2015 Section 11(external link) 

In December 2022 the Hon David Clark Minister for Commerce and Consumer Affairs appointed five new board members and renewed two existing members to the SAB. Their new terms commence 1 February 2023. The new SAB members include highly experienced professionals from a diverse range of sectors:

  • Mechanical engineer Fiona van Petegem brings over 20 years of experience in manufacturing and product development across NZ, China and Europe, along with experience on committees for joint Australian/New Zealand and German standards development committees. 
  • Award-winning digital technology and IT entrepreneur Victoria MacLennan brings a keen focus on equity and inclusion. As an experienced CEO, managing director and trustee chair she has been actively championing and connecting the digital sector with government.
  • Brian Watson, a senior business leader and scientist has held more than 12 directorships in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. 40 years working in the sciences including testing, inspecting and certification demonstrate an excellent understanding of the benefits and needs of standardisation.
  • Fa’asalele Simona Malo, business director and architect, brings experience in construction quality assurance and certification, the Building Code and NZ Standards compliance.
  • Susan Iversen has over 30 years of experience in digital health, data analytics, data management and workplace health and safety. This included participation in the development of several health information standards. 

Existing board members whose terms have been renewed include

  • Richard Merrifield
  • Peter Gilbert

Farewell and thank you

Former SAB Chair Vaughan Renner, and members Vicki Lee, Peter Stevens, Samantha Sharif and Faye Sumner all generously gave time and expertise beyond their original terms, each supporting Standards New Zealand for many years. Their terms officially ended 31 January 2023. We thank them for their service and extraordinary contribution to New Zealand’s standards and conformance system and the various sectors that benefit from the use of standards.  

At Standards New Zealand we look forward to a productive, collaborative and effective working relationship with the new board and maintaining the high degree of trust, quality and credibility that NZ standards represent.