New head for trans-Tasman joint venture

23 June 2005

A new Chief Executive has been appointed by Ensis – the trans-Tasman forestry research joint venture established by Scion (formerly Forest Research) and Australia’s CSIRO Division of Forestry and Forest Products.

Larry Little is currently the Chief of CSIRO’s Division of Manufacturing and Infrastructure Technology.

Mr Little has an outstanding background in the building and construction industries – key markets for products from the forestry sector.

He will commence his new role on 1 August, taking over from Dr Paul Cotterill who has been Acting Chief Executive of Ensis since the start of the joint venture in July 2004.

Mr Little says he is looking forward to leading the new, award winning trans-Tasman joint venture.

"The currently frantic pace of globalisation of industrial R&D is creating increased competition, fewer bases on which to compete and the need to respond quickly to customers’ changing buying patterns,” he says.

“I am confident that the operational efficiencies achieved under Ensis – one of the world's largest integrated forestry and forest products research organisations – will ensure the forestry sector is in the best possible position to respond to these challenges,” Mr Little says.

Mr Little holds dual Australia/New Zealand citizenship and was formerly Chief Executive of the Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ).  

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