New chairperson appointed to FSANZ

Former Health Department secretary Glenys Beauchamp PSM has been appointed as the chairperson of Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the trans-Tasman regulatory board responsible for overseeing food standards and safety.

Beauchamp has been the acting chair since September 2021 and brings 35 years of public service experience to the role, which requires a close regulatory understanding of the issues surround food safety and standards.

Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services and Minister for Sport Richard Colbeck, who has portfolio responsibility for food regulation, welcomed the appointment saying Beauchamp’s significant record of public service means FSANZ is in good hands.

“Ms Beauchamp’s diverse experience across organisations, both government and non-government sectors, along with her extensive board experience will be a valuable addition to the FSANZ Board.”

The FSANZ is governed by a 12-person board composed of individuals from Australia and New Zealand with expertise in areas such as food science, consumer safety and primary industry. The board meets multiple times throughout the year to discuss matters affecting the agency and its purview.

The position of chairperson has been technically unfilled for a number of months now, with Steve McCutcheon holding the position in an interim manner prior to Beauchamp after the last permanent chairperson, Robyn Kruk, left after a five-year stint in early 2021.

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