2024 Council Election - Councillor elected by individual members

Nominees for the Councillor elected by individual members from 2024 to 2027 are:

• Dr Tim Hanlon MRSNZ
• Dr Libby Harrison
• Professor Jens Mueller MNZM MRSNZ

Candidate: Dr Tim Hanlon MRSNZ

Nominated by: Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie MRSNZ & Dr Amin Pathan MRSNZ

Candidate Statement:  I have been engaged in research either directly or by association for much of my professional life as a pharmacist, most recently as Chief Pharmacist and Clinical Director at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust, a large academic healthcare organisation in London, and as Visiting Professor in the School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences at King’s College London.  A family move to Aotearoa New Zealand and the COVID-19 pandemic presented me with the opportunity to lead the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Vaccine Programme Vaccine Safety Surveillance and Research (VSSR) Group for over two years before taking up my current position as the Ministry’s Group Manager, Research, Evaluation, and Innovation. I am also Adjunct Research Fellow within the School of Health, Victoria University of Wellington and an Honorary Senior Lecturer within the School of Pharmacy, University of Otago. I was made a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society in 2017 for distinction in the profession of pharmacy.

My credentials for being able to work effectively at a governance level within a national organisation of the significance of the Royal Society Te Apārangi are over two decades of successful service in formal management and leadership positions within the UK’s Ministry of Defence and National Health Service, all of which have had a significant focus on governance and risk management. I was also fortunate to be involved in several national professional governance reviews in the UK. I also spent three years as a Trustee and Officer (Treasurer) for the Commonwealth Pharmacists’ Association. I have held responsibility for significant pay and non-pay budgets, including contracts, and a large workforce (circa 400 staff).

In my current role I hold responsibility for the strategic direction of health research in Aotearoa New Zealand, including work with colleagues in funding organisations, ethics, professional standards, and compliance. Managing and maintaining confidentiality is key to my work. Whilst my professional work has focused on health research, I am very conscious that research, scholarship, and innovation spans the humanities, science, and technology, which I would keen front of mind in this role.

It would be an honour to undertake the voluntary role of Councilor to represent members across the spectrum of companions, professional members, including early career researchers, and associate members to ensure that the object of the Society - to see the advancement and promotion in Aotearoa New Zealand of science, technology, and the humanities - is achieved and sustained. Ultimately, the Royal Society Te Apārangi needs to support all New Zealanders to explore, discover and share knowledge and I would work hard to ensure that the Society works hard to achieve this laudable aim.

Candidate: Libby Harrison

Nominated by: Glenda Lewis CRSNZ & Rauru Kirikiri CRSNZ

Candidate Statement: 

Dr Libby Harrison is a staunch advocate of research, scholarship, and innovation. Currently the Director of the NZ Food Safety Science and Research Centre (NZFSSRC), she has worked in science leadership roles at the Ministry for the Environment (MfE) and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment and for several NZ research organisations.

The NZFSSRC, hosted by Massey University, is a collaboration of government, eight research organisations, and 30 industry members, Māori organisations and businesses. This has enabled Libby to build on her already extensive professional networks in NZ and abroad.

Libby is a NZ citizen, born in the UK. She arrived in 2002 from Paris, where she led the team at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) developing risk-assessment and risk-management tools for, and harmonising regulations for, pesticides and biocides. Before this, Libby worked in the chemicals industry in Europe and the USA on the environmental impacts and risk management of pesticides and genetically modified organisms. Consequently, she has an excellent understanding of risk-management methodologies.

Libby understands both governance and management and has well-recognised experience of developing organisational visions, values, and strategic plans. She has held positions on senior leadership teams for several organisations and was Deputy Chief Executive at MfE, where she led the establishment of the Environmental Protection Authority.

Libby has governance experience, including Chair and Deputy Chair of WWF-NZ, part of the WWF International Network, the world’s largest independent conservation organisation. She also served over 10 years as a Trustee and Board Member of WWF-NZ. Currently, she sits on the boards of: Grasslanz Technology Limited, a subsidiary of AgResearch that invests in the development of plant and microbial technologies; Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne, the world’s first fully fenced urban ecosanctuary and one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most successful and internationally renowned tourist attractions (she also sits on the Audit and Risk Committee); the Fresh Produce Safety Centre Australia-NZ; and the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge which ends in June 2024.

Libby’s professional experience has given her a deep appreciation of standards and ethics in research, governance and management, a sound understanding of compliance issues such as health-and-safety legislation, privacy and financial reporting, and the ability to hold and manage confidential information.

Libby has been a supporter and individual member of the Royal Society Te Apārangi for almost 20 years and is keen to serve the science community through a role on its Council. She knows many Companions personally and would be honoured to represent Individual members and Companions on Council. Her ability to mediate the interests of many individuals and organisations has been demonstrated in her leadership of the NZFSSRC, where she has successfully negotiated the common interests of different industry groups, government, and regulators. Her work with Māori on the East Coast has been outstanding; a model for other organisations to follow. Libby is trusted by people because she is both direct and tactful. She shows a genuine interest in people, and the history and culture of her adopted country.

Candidate: Professor Jens Mueller MNZM MRSNZ

Nominated by: Professor Joanna Cullinane MRSNZ & Ms Kylie Mckee MRSNZ

Candidate Statement: 

I am thrilled over the opportunity to serve a second 3-year term as Councillor for the Royal Society. I am currently also the Chair of the Audit, Risk and Investment Committee, and it is a pleasure to work on behalf of the Royal Society membership. I have been a professional member of the Society for many years and also hold an MNZM.

After nearly 10 years as Director of PHARMAC and teaching Governance at university for more than 30 years, holding a Councillor role flows perfectly with my skill set and research interests, and several of my seven books are focused on best practices in governance. I have previously been Chair/CEO/senior leader at global firms from $1 million to $1 Billion in turnover, in Europe, the USA and NZ) and now ‘give back’ through teaching and research at Massey University and unpaid board appointments, such as for the Royal Society.

I hold two Doctorates (governance and corporate law), three Masters (law, management and leadership) and two Diplomas (coaching, immigration law), and am an A-level researcher/author in the AI/Knowledge space with more than 100 peer-reviewed publications.

The past three years as Councillor have been a wonderful opportunity to learn from the fantastic team of Councillors under our outgoing President Brent Clothier, to work with the management team, and to see the Royal Society on a solid financial footing. We have a superb CEO in Paul Atkins and an incredibly hardworking and committed team of managers and staff who do us all proud.

I am especially mindful over the achievement during the past three years, to be more inclusive of Maori and Pasifika members and to focus on emerging researchers and their opportunities as new members.

I could not imagine a more personally rewarding and professionally stimulating assignment than as Councillor for the Royal Society, and I am asking for your support to represent you for the last 3-year term allowed.

Wishing you all a fantastic year of research and exploration,
Jens