Richard Woods (diplomat)

Edward Richard Woods, CNZM (born 20 September 1941, Greymouth) is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant. He is currently Chair of the Board of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, a New Zealand Government Agency that ensures compliance with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act – HSNO Act 1996. He took over as chairman on the retirement of Neil Walter.^[1]

Woods was awarded the Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit^[2] in 2007 for public services, lately as director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service,^[3] he was previously a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.^[1]

In 1961, Woods graduated with a BA from the University of Canterbury. This was followed by another BA (which was upgraded to an MA) from Brasenose College, Oxford in 1965.

Richard was married to Joanna Proby in 1970, they have two sons and five grandchildren. Three from one son, two from the other.

Roles

2008– Chair, New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA)
2008– New Zealand co-Chair, New Zealand/France Friendship Fund
2008– Trustee, Henry and William Williams Memorial Trust
2007– Trustee, Henry and William Williams Museum Trust
1999–2006 Director and CEO, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service
1995–99 Ambassador, Paris, and Permanent Representative to OECD
1993–95 Ambassador, Moscow
1991–93 Director, Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)
1990–91 Director, Middle East and Africa, MFAT
1988–90 Ambassador, Athens
1984–87 Ambassador, Tehran
1982–84 Deputy Head of Mission, Washington DC
1980–81 Deputy Director, External Aid, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
1977–79 Consul-General, Bahrain
1975–77 First Secretary, Tehran
1973–74 First Secretary, MFA
1968–72 Assistant Trade Commissioner, Rome
1966–68 Advisory Officer, Department of Industries and Commerce

References

^ ^a ^b "New chair Environment Risk Management Authority". Scoop. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2010.
^ "New Zealand Honours 'NEW YEAR HONOURS 2007'". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010.
^ Houlahan, Mike (31 October 2006). "Spy service 'foiled bids to use NZ as weapons base'". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 January 2010.

[scoop-1] "New chair Environment Risk Management Authority". Scoop. 28 February 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2010.

[DPMC-2] "New Zealand Honours 'NEW YEAR HONOURS 2007'". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. January 2008. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010.

[3] Houlahan, Mike (31 October 2006). "Spy service 'foiled bids to use NZ as weapons base'". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 January 2010.

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