Cantabrian Becomes New President of Royal Society of New Zealand

30 June 2009

The Royal Society of New Zealand today confirmed the appointment of its 47th President, Dr Garth Carnaby.  The Royal Society of New Zealand, founded in 1867, is modeled on the Royal Society (London) established 350 years ago.

The Royal Society of New Zealand operates under its own Act of Parliament which prescribes its objective as being the advancement and promotion of Science and Technology in New Zealand.  The Society hosts New Zealand’s Academy of Science comprising 342 Fellows elected by their peers for distinguished achievement in research.  Approximately 20,000 science and technology professionals are members via the various constituent and regional bodies which make up the Society.

Dr Carnaby, himself an elected Fellow of the Academy, has spent his career in research – firstly, for 20 years as a bench scientist at the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), then for 15 years in various science leadership and CEO roles at WRONZ and Canesis Network Ltd.  For the last five years, Dr Carnaby has held numerous governance and chairmanship roles as a professional director of science and technology companies in both New Zealand and Australia.

In farewelling his predecessor, Mr Neville Jordan, Dr Carnaby stated that research scientists were inspired by selfless goals.  They sought to unlock new knowledge and novel applications of knowledge so as to benefit mankind in general and New Zealand society in particular.

In taking up the mantle of President, Dr Carnaby said he was conscious that New Zealand could do better to unlock the potential of science and technology to deliver on substantial and observable outcomes, particularly for the economic benefit of New Zealand.

For this to happen, science careers and science funding structures would need to be adapted to better reinforce the aspirations of scientists to make such a contribution.  The focus needed to shift from the narrow commercial success of arbitrary science entities to enabling scientists to focus on economic, environmental and social outcomes for the stakeholders in those entities. 

In his new role, Dr Carnaby will be uniquely positioned to have an input into the development of national policy on these issues, as this is one of his obligations as provided for in the Act.

Dr Carnaby said it was a humbling experience to assume the Presidency and to try and follow in the footsteps of the past Presidents, many of whom had made major contributions not only to science and technology in New Zealand but also to its public perception.  The traditions set down 350 years ago in Britain led to the refinement by the Royal Society of London of the scientific method as a means for progressing our understanding of the world around us.  Today the results of this understanding underpin every aspect of our society, our industries and our command of the world about us.  “Without better harnessing the power of this knowledge, the New Zealand economy will struggle to provide its citizens with a first world lifestyle”, he said.  He will take up these issues with the relevant authorities as soon as practicable, now that he has taken office.

For more information please contact Jenny Porter, jenny.porter@royalsociety.org.nz or Tel. 04 470 5768