Aust Vet J Vol 80, No 7, July 2002386

News

The AVA Strategic Plan has nowbeen through an extensive reviewprocess which included high levels

of consultation, resulting in a newstrategic plan with seven key objectives.These objectives have been aligned withthree key strategic areas:• Marketing and communications • Policy and regulation• Corporate serviceHowever, a strategic plan without anaccompanying business or operationalplan will remain a document gatheringdust in someone’s library. This has beenthe fate of strategic plans in manyorganisations. To ensure that the AVAStrategic Plan does not meet this fate, theBoard recently participated in a one-dayworkshop to discuss the next step inimplementation of the Strategic Plan: thedevelopment of business plans for each ofthe key strategic areas. It has been agreedto form three teams with representativesfrom the Board of Directors, key staffmembers, and Division and SIGExecutive. The chief purpose of the teams will be tocreate business plans for each strategicarea which will serve as an implemen-tation plan for achieving strategicobjectives over the next 12 months.When examining the three strategic areas,the Board recognised that there was aconsiderable gap in the marketing andcommunications area which must begiven priority.

It should be noted that whileimplementation of the strategic plan isvital in moving the AVA forward, theeffective day-to-day operations of theAssociation continue. Other sections ofthe Board workshop focused on:• Roles and responsibilities of Directors

in line with governance requirementsand the new strategic plan

• Improving Board meeting effectivenessand identification of performancemeasures

• Review of workshop outcomes fromthe Presidents meeting in Adelaide,including Division roles, responsi-bilities and resources

• Current issues and issues arising fromthe conference.

The day was completed by anenlightening and thought-provokingpresentation from Prof Henry Collins ona strategy for future student membership.He presented material on thedevelopment of the veterinary student

from day one of his/her studies and theimportance of the student beingembraced as a member of the veterinaryprofession through membership of theAVA from that day. He provided anumber of suggestions for achieving this,one of which included free membershipof the AVA.On behalf of the Board. I would like tothank Prof Collins for his paper and hisvision. These options will be furtherconsidered in conjunction with themembership promotions area.

NZVA ConferenceThe New Zealand Veterinary Associationhas celebrated its 50th year with a rangeof activities and projects. One was theproduction of a 50th jubilee issue of thejournal and an electronic archive of all 50volumes, which has been put on CD-ROM. (See story page 391)I had the opportunity to look at theseitems at the NZVA conference. It wasinteresting but not surprising to note thatthe issues faced by the NZVA are notdissimilar to those faced by the AVA.There was also an informative booklet on“Vets and Stress – A practical guide tosurviving the stresses of veterinaryprofessional life”. This booklet is wellworth reading.I thank the NZVA for their invitation toattend their conference and theirhospitality. Congratulations on anexcellent conference and jubilee.

AVA President Jo Toia

v i e w p o i n tStrategic planidentifies priorities

Veterinarian Dr Andrew McKenzie has been appointed tothe influential role of Executive Director of the NewZealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) which came into

existence on July 1.NZFSA is the controlling authority for imports and exports offood and food-related products. It has been set up to administerlaws covering food for sale on the domestic NZ market, primaryprocessing of animal products and official assurances related toexport, and controls surrounding registration and use ofagricultural compounds and veterinary medicines.The new authority brings together the food safety functions ofNZ’s Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and its Ministryof Health, allowing the management of food-related risks acrossthe food chain. New Zealand exports nearly 80 per cent of thefood it produces, earning more than $NZ 14 billion per annum. Dr McKenzie has a background in primary processing and exportof New Zealand’s animal products and exports. He was appointed

to manage the establishment of anintegrated food safety agency in 1999. Inthe intervening period he has managedthe MAF Food Assurance Authority.Previously he was Chief of MAF’sRegulatory Authority.Internationally, he has worked extensivelyin setting food safety standards,particularly with Codex Alimentariuswhere he chairs the Codex Committee onMeat and Poultry Hygiene. Dr McKenzie recently chaired aninternational expert group looking atways to improve linkages between groupssetting international animal health and food safety standards, toensure the development of standards across the complete foodchain. He also has extensive involvement in implementing WorldTrade Organisation technical agreements.

NZ appoints vet to run new Food Safety Authority

Veterinarian AndrewMcKenzie takes topfood role in NZ