The Hon Christopher Pyne MP

Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Health and Ageing

BOARD REAPPOINTMENTS: PROTECTING FOOD STANDARDS

26 June 2006

The announcement today of board members for Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) ensures stability in the development of food standards for Australia and New Zealand, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Christopher Pyne, said today.    

“In agreement with the Australia and New Zealand Food Regulation Ministerial Council, I am pleased to announce reappointments to the FSANZ board,” Mr Pyne said.

“The Hon Rob Knowles has been reappointed chairperson of the FSANZ board for two years. Ms Hikihiki Pihema and Mr Owen Symmans, both of New Zealand, have been reappointed for three years and two years respectively.  

“Australia and New Zealand introduced a new food standards organisation in 2002. Mr Knowles, Ms Pihema and Mr Symmans have been instrumental in the successful implementation of this new organisation,” Mr Pyne said.

“These reappointments reflect the valuable contribution and expertise each member has brought to food regulation over the past four years. It maintains the strong representation of public health, food science and technology, human nutrition and consumer issues on the FSANZ Board,” he said.  

FSANZ is the food regulatory authority in Australia and New Zealand. A full list of members and details of their backgrounds is attached.

Media contact:    Adam Howard 0400 414 833

The Board

The Hon Rob Knowles (Chairman)

The Hon Rob Knowles is a consultant and adviser in the health sector and is presently the Commissioner for Complaints for the Australian Government's Aged Care Program.  Mr Knowles has a high level of expertise in public administration, having been a senior minister in the Victorian Government for seven years. Has extensive knowledge of food regulation through his experience as Minister for Health.

Mrs Elaine Attwood

Mrs Elaine Attwood has a strong background in consumer advocacy, where she has served voluntarily for more than 25 years, initially in a personal capacity and later with several consumer organisations.  These included peak consumer groups such as the Consumers' Federation of Australia, (formerly AFCO), Consumers' Health Forum and The National Council of Women of Australia at the national level, and with the Consumers' Association, The National Council of Women of South Australia and the Department of Human Services at state level. She is also an associate member of the Public Health Association of Australia.  Her particular consumer interests have centred on food, health and safety issues.

Dr John Craven

Dr John Craven BVSc (Hons) MVSc PhD MACVSc is a veterinarian with post-graduate qualifications in microbiology and pathology.   His research interests have primarily been in identifying the causes of neonatal diarrhoea in animals and in preventing spread of food poisoning organisms from animals to people.   He has been director of the central Victorian veterinary diagnostic and research laboratory and has held other senior positions in the Victorian Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (now Department of Primary Industries).  Dr Craven was, for seven years, a portfolio manager for the Dairy Research and Development Corporation and is presently director of Terip Solutions Pty Ltd.   He has considerable experience in working with rural communities to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability by development and subsequent adoption of technology.

Dr Laurence Eyres

Dr Eyres has expertise in food science and his present research and professional speciality is in quality assurance and research and development of food products, particularly oils and fats. He has worked in industry for more than 30 years and brings a food technology, industry and New Zealand perspective to the board.

Mr Peter Milne

Mr Peter Milne has worked all his life in the Australia cattle industry and managed Cracow Station in Central Queensland for many years.   He has been active in rural industry organisations and involved in training, industrial relations, on-farm quality assurance, research and development, and marketing.  He was chairman of the Red Meat Advisory Council in 2001, on the executive of the National Farmers Federation for four years and president of the Cattle Council of Australia until November 2001. He is a member of the National Institute of Accountants, a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Graham Peachey

Graham Peachey is the chief executive officer of Food Standards Australia New Zealand. He has a strong record of achievement as a senior executive in several regulatory bodies in both the health and agriculture portfolios.

The CEO of FSANZ is an ex-officio member of the board.

Ms Hikihiki Pihema

Ms Hikihiki Pihema RD Dip H Sc is currently the senior dietitian at Gisborne Hospital, Tairawhiti District Health, Gisborne, New Zealand.   She is a Maori dietitian with 25 years experience in a variety of clinical, administration, management, community, public health, Maori health, education and policy settings within New Zealand.  In 1994, Ms Pihema was awarded the New Zealand Dietetic Association's (NZDA) highest honour, the Award of Excellence in Nutrition Education for her involvement in nutrition education to Maori.   Ms Pihema is also a past President of the NZDA and has assisted in strengthening collaborative links between the NZDA and the Dietitians' Association of Australia.  

Mr Owen Symmans

Mr Symmans is currently the chief executive officer of the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council Ltd. He has a varied background, having worked for Federated Farmers of New Zealand, the government and the dairy and meat industry.

Dr Michele Allan

Dr Allan has strong leadership experience across many facets of the food industry.   Her areas of expertise included food science, food allergy, medical science, food safety, and biotechnology.

Dr Katrine Baghurst

Over the past 30 years, Dr Baghurst has been involved in research and in translation of research to practice in the nutrition field in both Australia and New Zealand.  Her extensive experience make her a specialist in determining food choice, consumer needs, current dietary patterns in the community and nutritional and food education.

Mr Peter Boyden

Peter Boyden is an internationally experienced CEO with extensive general management and marketing experience gained in consumer foods businesses in Australia, UK, Netherlands and Greece.  His most recent role was as managing director and regional board member of the Unilever Australasian foods business and a board member of the Australian Food and Grocery Council. He currently acts as a business mentor for senior executives.  His areas of responsibility have included the management of consumer marketing, product and packaging development, food production and general management, where he has focused on strategy development and portfolio management.

Dr Peter Williams

Dr Williams brings to the board a strong background in public health, food science, food allergy, human nutrition and food safety.  He is a senior lecturer in nutrition and dietetics in the Department of Biomedical Science at Wollongong University and leads the regulatory affairs work of the National Centre of Excellence in Functional Foods. Before his employment at Wollongong, Peter was the director of Scientific and Consumer Affairs at Kelloggs for three years, and previously worked as the chief dietitian and food services manager at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Peter served a two year term as President of the Dietitians Association of Australia from 2001 and has served on NHMRC working parties for the review of Dietary Guidelines for Australia and the review of recommended nutrient intakes, as well as a member of the steering committee for the Heart Foundation’s Pick the Tick program.