Hon Lianne Dalziel
Minister of Commerce, Minister for Small Business,
Minister of Women’s Affairs, MP for Christchurch East

6 September 2007 Media Statement

Commerce Minister announces JAS-ANZ appointment

Commerce Minister Lianne Dalziel today announced the re-appointment of Mike Willing to the Governing Board of the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JAS-ANZ).

Mike Willing was first appointed to the Governing Board in 2004. He continues in his role as Vice-Chair and will assume the position of Chair from 1 January 2008.

JAS-ANZ oversees and maintains a joint accreditation system to improve export opportunities and strengthen trade between New Zealand and Australia and other countries.

Lianne Dalziel said she was pleased to re-appoint Mike Willing to the Governing Board.

“He has the technical knowledge based on over 25 years of experience in the development and implementation of quality systems and processes, and also the capacity to galvanise the Board and build capability.”

Mike Willing is the Deputy Chief Executive for Quality Assurance at the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). Before joining NZQA, he was with Fonterra as Compliance and Product Conformance Manager; and prior to that, Quality Manager for Global Operations at the New Zealand Dairy Board. He is a past Chief Executive of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Training Council, and of the New Zealand Fishing Industry Training Council.

Background

JAS-ANZ was established by a treaty between New Zealand and Australia in 1991. JAS-ANZ, through its accreditation and certification programmes, enhances trans-Tasman trade and assists exporters by gaining international recognition. In addition to quality management and product certificates, JAS-ANZ issues certificates of environmental management systems which have increasing potential to add value to products in the global market place in response to rising customer awareness.

The Board has ten members, six of whom are appointed by the Australian Government and three by the New Zealand Government. The Chief Executive of JAS-ANZ is the tenth member. One of the Australian members and one of the New Zealand members are appointed as representatives of the government of each party to the treaty. New Zealand and Australia rotate the Chair and Vice-Chair responsibilities.

New Zealand Membership

Michael Willing, Vice-Chair and Chair-elect
Howard Duff, Member
Fergus Welsh, Government Representative

Further information on JAS-ANZ can be located at: http://www.jas-anz.com.au

ENDS

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