Roy Biggs first lifetime member of the NZ Association for Food Protection

Roy Biggs first lifetime member of the NZ Association for Food ProtectionThe Centre warmly congratulates Roy Biggs, as the first person to be awarded lifetime membership of the NZ Association for Food Protection.  Centre Chief Scientist, Distinguished Professor Phil Bremer, speaks highly of Roy’s openness, collegiality, and technical knowledge, which have contributed so much to ongoing efforts to improve the sharing of information and industry collaboration for food safety in the poultry sector. Roy’s willingness to discuss food safety challenges and successes, highlighted the enormous value that can be obtained by the food industry, regulators and researchers working together in a trusting and respectful manner and set the stage for the collegial and successful way in which these groups continue to engage with each other.

Following are tributes from two people who have worked closely with Roy: Michael Brooks (Executive Director) and Kerry Mulqueen, (Senior Technical Adviser) Poultry Industry Association of NZ:

Following 25 years in factory and technical management in the dairy and salmon processing industries in the UK, Roy emigrated to New Zealand in 1997. A new country led to a new career direction – technical management in the poultry industry with the largest operator in New Zealand. Roy’s interest in the practical application of microbiological controls has been instrumental in improving management of Salmonella and Campylobacter on raw poultry and the robust control of Listeria in “Ready To Eat” food production. He became a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology in 2011 and was the chairman of the New Zealand branch of IAFP 2013/2014.

Says Michael Brooks, “I have had the privilege of benefiting from Roy’s industry expertise for many years. Roy has dedicated an enormous amount of energy and commitment to additional roles with positive impact on food safety nationally. He has been a long-standing and incredibly valuable member of the New Zealand Poultry Industry Veterinary Technical (Vet-Tec) Committee which is the policy maker for industry on food safety matters, animal welfare, antibiotic use and a range of other issues.

The Vet-Tec Committee is also the key industry advisory group in discussions and submissions with Government regulators and, without doubt, Roy is the senior statesman within this group.

I remain consistently impressed by Roy’s unparalleled knowledge and depth of experience in food safety and care for the welfare of the industry overall. He is a ‘straight-shooter’ with robust opinions which always stem from a strong personal ethical and moral stance.”

Go well, Roy!

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