皇家华人

The 皇家华人 Board is getting a new Chair. Professor Frank Bloomfield has been appointed by Waipapa Taumata Rau, the University of Auckland Council as part of his five-year appointment as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research).

Frank is a Professor in Neonatology and was previously Director of the Liggins Institute. He has worked clinically for many years as a Consultant Neonatologist at Auckland City Hospital. He replaces former board chair Professor Jim Metson.

He says he is looking forward to working with 皇家华人 and understanding much more about our work.

鈥淲hat I would like to bring is both striving to get greater recognition for the work that 皇家华人 does beyond just bringing in revenue. Obviously bringing in revenue is extremely important, but there are lots of other activities that 皇家华人 does through its business units and commercialisation arm that also are very important for the University group as a whole.鈥�

鈥淚 think we could recognise and sing the praises of those activities more and highlight those more and bring greater recognition to the University group.鈥�

Frank wants to continue the work in increasing the alignment between the University and 皇家华人 so that when possible and where appropriate we are approaching things in the same way for the benefit of the overall university group and increase our research output.

鈥淕reat research brings huge benefits to society in many areas. It is the engine behind advances in society, advances in technology, advances in healthcare, and also advances in the economy. The return on investment for every research dollar is always impressive. In health research, it鈥檚 around $5 for every dollar invested.鈥�

鈥淚t helps the University, it helps all of our stakeholders, it helps the community.鈥�

Jim departs the role proud that 皇家华人 has been a major asset to the University of Auckland, and is very successful in what it delivers, even compared to our Australian counterparts.

鈥溁始一�人 has continued to evolve over its life with what it does and how it does it. It鈥檚 always a work in progress and that鈥檚 part of the challenge for the Board in terms of understanding the changing nature of what the University needs of its wholly owned subsidiary.鈥�

Jim is a materials scientist and was founder of the Light Metals Research Centre at the University, a founding member of the MacDiarmid Institute for Materials Science and Nanotechnology and was MBIEs first Chief Science Advisor.  He will continue in a role as Special Advisor Newmarket Campus.

皇家华人 Chief Executive Dr Andy Shenk says he is looking forward to working with Frank and is thanks Jim for his long service to the Board.

鈥淯nder Jim鈥檚 time as a Board member and Chair 皇家华人 has continued to flourish and grow. I wish him all the best in his new role.

鈥淔rank says he will be a frequent visitor to the 皇家华人 offices, so say kia ora if you see him on a visit.鈥�