Sir Lockwood Smith appointed Riddet Institute Board Chair

Sir Lockwood replaces former Board Chair Stuart McCutcheon, who passed away suddenly at the beginning of 2023. The Riddet Institute is a Centre of Research Excellence (CoRE), hosted by Massey University in Palmerston North, focusing on advanced food research.  

Sir Lockwood says the new Board role reflects his interest in science and particular enthusiasm for the work of the Riddet Institute in food science.

“Following the enlightenment when science advanced human well-being immensely, what worries me is that science is now being downplayed more and more.”

He says it is particularly important our food industry is grounded in evidence-based nutritional research.

“People desperately need high standards in food research, to ensure the science of food advances in the best way for the best outcomes for future populations.  This is where the Riddet Institute work is so valuable.”

Sir Lockwood says the Riddet Institute has an international reputation and a high profile that is well deserved, and he is looking forward to supporting the work of the Institute through his role as Board Chair.  

Massey University Vice-Chancellor and Riddet Institute Board Member Professor Jan Thomas congratulated Sir Lockwood on the appointment.

“Sir Lockwood brings with him a vast range of experience that I know will help the Board immensely.

“I would also like to pay tribute to former Chair, the late Professor Emeritus Stuart McCutcheon, who played a pivotal role at Massey and the Riddet Institute over many years.”

Sir Lockwood is a former National Party Member of Parliament and was speaker of the House of Representatives from 2008 to 2013. During his time in politics, he served as Minister of Education, as well as taking on agriculture, tourism and trade portfolios, and Associate Minister roles in finance and immigration.

In 2013 he became a diplomat and served as High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom, ambassador to Ireland and High Commissioner of both Ghana and Nigeria until 2017.  

Sir Lockwood was knighted in 2013 for services as a Member of Parliament and Speaker.

Since his work as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and ambassadorial roles, Sir Lockwood has also continued as a member of the United Kingdom Trade and Agriculture Commission, in international trade advisory roles, in animal health and environmental regulatory work and on a commission reviewing the UK public service for think tank Policy Exchange, as well as operating a beef farm at Matakohe in Northland.  

He also serves on the board of the New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust that is due to open Te Arawhata, the New Zealand Liberation Museum, in the French town of Le Quesnoy in October this year to commemorate the New Zealand Division’s spectacular World War One liberation of the medieval fortress town from years of German occupation.  

In a varied career, Sir Lockwood was the host of late-1970s and 1980s children's TV quiz shows The W Three Show and It’s Academic, as well as an after school science television programme on Channel 9 in South Australia. He has a PhD in Animal Science from the University of Adelaide, completing his Bachelor of Agricultural Science and Master of Agricultural Science (Hons) at Massey University.

Sir Lockwood will take up the new role on 1 August 2023.

The Riddet Institute Board consists of four independent members as well as the Vice-Chancellor of the host organisation. The other board members are Mark Piper (Plant & Food), Professor Jim Metson (University of Auckland), Miriana Stephens (Wakatū Incorporation) and Professor Jan Thomas (Massey University).