New GM for Quarantine Service

20 November, 2002

New GM for Quarantine Service

Fergus Small has been appointed the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's new General Manager of the Quarantine Service, based in Wellington.

Mr Small joined the service as a Quarantine Officer 30 years ago, working his way up through the ranks. He joined MAF from dairying in the Waikato, where he was also secretary of the local branch of Federated Farmers.

MAF Assistant Director General, Operations, Grant Burney says Mr Small's quarantine career has been notable in many respects, marking him as an innovator and leader.

"His most public role was as the Auckland Co-ordinator of the Pilot Detector Dog Programme during its testing year in 1987. While initially an unpopular initiative, over the years the dog programme has become a source of pride for MAF and now receives international recognition as a centre of excellence," Mr Burney explains.

"Fergus's success in this area was an example of his courageous and principled leadership."

Mr Small has been the Quarantine Service's Acting General Manager for four months, taking up the reins when the former Auckland-based manager, Neil Hyde moved to a more strategic role as the Director of Border Services within MAF's Biosecurity Authority.

Grant Burney says this organisational restructure has moved strategic planning for the border to its most effective place, leaving the leadership of the Quarantine Service to concentrate on operational excellence.

Along with his new team, Mr Small will work to grow the internal connections with MAF Head Office, Customs Head Office and other government agencies.

The needs of the Biosecurity Agency and the Quarantine Service for effective co-ordination have grown in proportion with the massive increase in trade and tourists that reach our shores. Mr Burney says the management of New Zealand's border involves a complex and dynamic set of relationships including, and going well beyond, the pubic sector. Government needs to be fully involved and informed.

ENDS

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