31 August 2005

Paul McGilvary elected President

Paul McGilvary, chief executive of HortResearch, has been elected President of the Association of Crown Research Institutes (ACRI). He succeeds Nigel Kirkpatrick, chief executive of Industrial Research Limited.

Dr Rick Pridmore, chief executive of NIWA, becomes Vice-President.

The nine Crown Research Institutes are collectively New Zealand's largest science enterprises. Annual revenues exceed $535 million, generated by more than 4,100 staff from Invermay to Kaitaia.

Paul McGilvary became CEO of HortResearch in August 2002. He was formerly managing director of Fonterra's food ingredients subsidiary, New Zealand Milk Products (Europe). He has held senior positions in NZ Milk Products, based in London, Moscow, Hamburg and Melbourne.

Paul has a BCA (Hons) in Economics from Victoria University of Wellington, and has completed management studies at Stanford University, USA and INSEAD, France.

Paul McGilvary said: "New Zealand's wealth and well-being, from our economy to our environment, is built around great science and technology. The legend of the 'No 8 wire' tends to overwhelm the huge role science has played in our country's development – of new industries as well as existing ones.

"People in Crown Research Institutes are at the forefront of delivering value to New Zealand. Practical solutions are based on partnership with industry and other sectors, global science knowledge and commitment to excellent, responsible and relevant research.

"ACRI has a leadership role in encouraging support for the role of RS&T in transforming New Zealand's future, and attracting the investment and people so vitally needed.

"It is all about making a difference for New Zealand.

"ACRI will continue its collaborative approach with anyone in the public and private sectors who wants to be part of New Zealand's economic transformation through science.

"Taking on the world - rather than each other - will require some smart thinking from all of us and a willingness to consider new ways of doing things."

ACRI provides a forum and a voice for the nine Crown Research Institutes. It enables them to work on common interests with each other and with others in research and innovation areas.

ACRI provides a forum for the nine Crown-owned science enterprises. Crown Research Institutes contribute to the economic, environmental, social and knowledge wealth of New Zealand in diverse ways.

The CRIs undertake blue-sky, applied and commercialised science and technology research for government and private sector markets in New Zealand and abroad.

In addition to creating specific public benefits, they enable technology transfers to private sector and public organisations where wealth is multiplied and distributed.

CRIs also provide the essential underlying capability in people, facilities and knowledge for the long term future of science and innovation in New Zealand.

The CRIs are: AgResearch, Crop & Food Research, ESR, GNS, HortResearch, Industrial Research, Landcare Research, NIWA, Scion.

ENDS

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