Tēnā koutou, warm greetings to you
Thank you for your interest in the role of Chief Executive for the New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science, better known as PHF Science.
This is an exciting time in our history, and for science in New Zealand.
Every day, the safety and wellbeing of our communities is underpinned by strong science.
Our talented teams at PHF Science are proud to play a critical role in this – keeping track of notifiable diseases and emerging disease threats, safeguarding our drinking water, monitoring radiation hazards and other environmental threats to human health, assessing forensic evidence relating to criminal investigations, identifying and monitoring illicit drugs that are causing harm, and much more.
The role we play for New Zealand in delivering excellent science, research and intelligence for New Zealand is well established, recognised and trusted.
Recent government reforms of the science sector have provided further impetus to build on this legacy.
We have a new name (we were formerly the Institute of Environmental Science and Research, ESR), a refreshed mandate for delivering the critical science our country needs and we have taken the opportunity to reflect on our strengths and set a course for the future.
We are looking for a leader who can steer us through the next stage of our journey.
It’s an exceptional opportunity, with the power to make a difference for New Zealand. The global challenges we are facing – from climate change to potential pandemics – demand strong science. New waves of AI-enabled technological advancements are providing unprecedented science capabilities and transforming our approach to complex questions, while creating new questions to address. There is much potential for science-driven innovation to generate new economic opportunities for New Zealand.
We are ready to take our next steps as a Public Research Organisation. Uplifted by our people, underpinned by our values, and strengthened by our partnerships, we are committed to delivering the science, research, and innovation that will take Aotearoa New Zealand into the future.
On behalf of the PHF Science Board, I invite you to find out more about this significant role, and consider if you can lead us to achieving our aspirations and beyond.
Professor Sarah Young
Board Chair, PHF Science