Professor Douwes appointed to EPA Board

Thursday 19 July 2018

Professor Jeroen Douwes, director of the Centre for Public Health Research, has been appointed to the Environmental Protection Authority Board.

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Centre for Public Health Research director Professor Jeroen Douwes.

Last updated: Thursday 25 August 2022

Centre for Public Health Research director Professor Jeroen Douwes has been appointed to the Environmental Protection Authority Board. The new appointments were announced by Associate Minister for the Environment Eugenie Sage earlier this week.

“I am delighted to be appointed to the board,” Professor Douwes says, “and am looking forward to supporting the EPA in achieving its goals of protecting the environment and human health in New Zealand. I also hope to contribute to increased transparency and scientific robustness of EPA processes to ensure public confidence in the important work the EPA undertakes.”

Professor Douwes has extensive public health research and committee experience. He is a leading expert in occupational and environmental health and exposure assessment, particularly with respect to pesticides and other hazardous substances. He serves on the board of the Health Research Council and has collaborated with international organisations such as the World Health Organisation and the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Through his work, Professor Douwes has gained considerable knowledge of the health consequences associated with various chemicals and hazardous substances, and will provide the board with unique insights from a public health and end-user perspective.

The board also appointed a new chairperson, former Hamilton Mayor Julie Hardaker, and new deputy Steven (Tipene) Wilson. Mr Wilson is the current deputy and former Chair of Ngā Kaihautū Tikanga Taiao, the authority’s Māori Statutory Advisory Committee. He retires from this role later this month.

The authority makes decisions for and regulates hazardous substances and new organisms, as well as specified marine activities in New Zealand’s Exclusive Economic Zone. It also provides administrative support for the decision-making on major infrastructure and called in projects under the Resource Management Act, and operates the New Zealand Emissions Trading Register under the Emissions Trading Scheme. The board is responsible for the authority's governance.