International VC for Antarctica NZ CE

19 June 2018

Antarctica New Zealand’s Chief Executive Officer, Peter Beggs, has been elected Vice Chair for the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP).

COMNAP was formed in 1988 to develop and promote best practice in managing the support of scientific research in Antarctica. It brings together National Antarctic Programmes that deliver and support scientific research in the Antarctic Treaty Area on behalf of their respective governments.

COMNAP has just finished its 30th AGM in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Twenty-nine of the 30 COMNAP Member organisations attended the meeting. With more than 200 participants, it was one of the largest gatherings COMNAP has held.

At COMNAP AGMs, members engage in collaborative discussions and share pre-season information. This year focused on how best they can collaborate to support Antarctic science. This included discussions on Health and Safety, and it was announced that an international Search and Rescue Workshop will be held in New Zealand in May 2019.

Peter Beggs is thrilled with his election and adds another Antarctic link to the Gateway city of Christchurch which also hosts the COMNAP secretariat.

“I am honoured to be elected to the Council and look forward to a productive three-year tenure. New Zealand is a world leader of Antarctic Science, and this position presents another forum to facilitate collaborative discussions.”

Mr Beggs joins COMNAP Vice Chairs: Jafed Beg (India), John Guldahl (Norway), Agnieszka Kruszewska (Poland) and Uwe Nixdorf (Germany). Michelle Rogan-Fenemore is the Executive Secretary (also based in Christchurch) and Dr Kelly Falkner from the US National Science Foundation is the Chair.

ENDS

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