Hon Ken Shirley new RMI CEO
19 July 2007

Hon Ken Shirley has been appointed as CEO by the Researched Medicines Industry Association (RMI).

"Ken was a stand-out candidate and has a variety of attributes that will greatly assist the RMI to continue its work. He has active and extensive political networks as well as the administrative and advocacy skills we were seeking," said Dr Pippa MacKay, the chair of the RMI.

As well as his parliamentary career where he held various associate ministerial and opposition spokesperson roles in health, Ken has been executive director of two membership/advocacy organisations.

Ken Shirley said that "In recent times, as health spokesperson with the ACT Party, I had a close relationship with the RMI and therefore I already have a real appreciation of the many issues confronting the industry.

"I have always had a keen interest in the pharmaceutical industry and recognise the pivotal role it plays within our national health system."

Ken has been the executive director of Organics Aotearoa New Zealand since May 2006 with the responsibility to establish the newly formed organisation's office in Wellington and to lay the foundation for industry leadership, coordination and strategy. He took this position after the 2005 General Election which reduced the ACT Party's parliamentary representation.

During this spell as a list MP for ACT he served as deputy leader, spokesperson on health and spent some time as a member of the Health Select Committee.

Ken was a Labour MP 1984 - 1991 with a variety of roles, including chairing select committees, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and as also Associate Minister of Health with responsibility for food and drugs.

Between his two periods in Parliament, Ken was executive director of the NZ Forest Owners Association representing the interests of the commercial forestry sector during a time of considerable challenge and change. During this period he sat on a number of influential committees and councils, including; the Australian/NZ Agribusiness Council, convenor of the group that developed the NZ Forest Accord and a member of the Ministerial Working Group on the CO2 Policy.

Ken will take up his position on 4 September this year.

The departing CEO, Lesley Clarke, continues her career in the health sector as General Manager at McKesson New Zealand; provider of Healthline, Well Child and Mental Health telephony-based health services.

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