Sir Lockwood will take up the new role on August 1, 2023.
The Right Honourable Sir Lockwood Smith. Photo: Rural News
Former Parliamentary Speaker of the House and education minister the Right Honourable Sir Lockwood Smith is the new board chair of the Riddet Institute in Palmerston North.
Sir Lockwood replaces former board chair Stuart McCutcheon, who passed away suddenly at the beginning of 2023. The Riddet Institute is a Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), hosted by Massey University in Palmerston North, focusing on advanced food research.
Sir Lockwood said the new board role reflected his interest in science, and particular enthusiasm for the work of the Riddet Institute in food science.
“Following the Enlightenment ,when science advanced human wellbeing immensely, what worries me is that science is now being downplayed more and more.”
He said it was particularly important our food industry was grounded in evidence-based nutritional research.
“People desperately need high standards in food research, to ensure the science of food advances in the best way for the best outcomes for future populations. This is where the Riddet Institute work is so valuable.”
Sir Lockwood said the Riddet Institute had an international reputation and a high profile that was well deserved, and he was looking forward to supporting the work of the Institute through his role as board chair.
Massey University Vice-Chancellor and Riddet Institute board member Professor Jan Thomas congratulated Sir Lockwood on the appointment: “Sir Lockwood brings with him a vast range of experience that I know will help the board immensely.
Sir Lockwood is a former National Party Member of Parliament and was speaker of the House of Representatives from 2008 to 2013. During his time in politics, he served as minister of education, as well as taking on agriculture, tourism and trade portfolios, and associate minister roles in finance and immigration.
In 2013, he became a diplomat and served as High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom, ambassador to Ireland, and High Commissioner of both Ghana and Nigeria until 2017.
Sir Lockwood was knighted in 2013 for services as a Member of Parliament and Speaker.
Since his work as the High Commissioner to the UK and ambassadorial roles, Sir Lockwood has also continued as a member of the UK Trade and Agriculture Commission, in international trade advisory roles, in animal health and environmental regulatory work, and on a commission reviewing the UK public service for think tank Policy Exchange, as well as operating a beef farm at Matakohe in Northland.
He has a PhD in Animal Science from the University of Adelaide, completing his BAgSc and MAgSc (Hons) at Massey University.
Sir Lockwood will take up the new role on August 1, 2023.
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