Forest Research Manager Leads Asia-Pacific Confed.

Forest Research Manager Leads Asia-Pacific Chemical Engineers' Confederation

Dr Russell Burton, Manufacturing Technologies Portfolio Manager at Forest Research and currently Chairman of the New Zealand Society of Chemical Engineers, has recently been appointed President of the Asian-Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineers following the latest Confederation meeting in Seoul, Korea. This is the first time the Confederation's Presidency has been held by New Zealand.

Chemical Engineers are the principal professional group behind the processing and manufacturing industries, from petrochemicals through to dairy industries. As well as New Zealand, the Confederation membership is drawn from Australia, India, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong. Through these country associations, membership numbers of the Confederation are several tens of thousands. Negotiations are progressing for China to join the group, which will substantially increase membership numbers. Notably, at present Asia is the fastest growth area for the processing industries in the world.

The Confederation is concerned about professionalism, social responsibility, environmental awareness, education, and technical advancement associated with the processing industries - to meet the needs of the consumer society in an environmentally compatible way.

Dr Burton's Presidency will end in 2002 with a congress to be held in Christchurch, focusing on the New Zealand processing sector.

ENDS....

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