Edward Richard Woods, (born 20 September 1941,

Greymouth Greymouth () (Māori: ''Māwhera'') is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coas ...

) is a New Zealand diplomat and public servant. He is currently Chair of the Board of the Environmental Risk Management Authority, a New Zealand Government Agency that ensures compliance with the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act – HSNO Act 1996. He took over as chairman on the retirement of Neil Walter. Woods was awarded the

Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregi ...

in 2007 for public services, lately as director of the

New Zealand Security Intelligence Service The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS or SIS; mi, Te Pā Whakamarumaru) is New Zealand's primary national intelligence agency. It is responsible for providing information and advising on matters including national security (inc ...

, he was previously a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In 1961, Woods graduated with a BA from the University of Canterbury. This was followed by another BA (which was upgraded to an MA) from Brasenose College, Oxford in 1965. Richard was married to Joanna Proby in 1970, they have two sons and five grandchildren.

Roles

* 2008– Chair, New Zealand Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) * 2008– New Zealand co-Chair, New Zealand/France Friendship Fund * 2008– Trustee, Henry and William Williams Memorial Trust * 2007– Trustee, Henry and William Williams Museum Trust * 1999–2006 Director and CEO, New Zealand Security Intelligence Service * 1995–99 Ambassador, Paris, and Permanent Representative to OECD * 1993–95 Ambassador, Moscow * 1991–93 Director, Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) * 1990–91 Director, Middle East and Africa, MFAT * 1988–90 Ambassador, Athens * 1984–87 Ambassador, Tehran * 1982–84 Deputy Head of Mission, Washington DC * 1980–81 Deputy Director, External Aid, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) * 1977–79 Consul-General, Bahrain * 1975–77 First Secretary, Tehran * 1973–74 First Secretary, MFA * 1968–72 Assistant Trade Commissioner, Rome * 1966–68 Advisory Officer, Department of Industries and Commerce

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Richard 1941 births Alumni of Brasenose College, Oxford Ambassadors of New Zealand to Russia Ambassadors of New Zealand to Ukraine Ambassadors of New Zealand to Iran Ambassadors of New Zealand to Greece Ambassadors of New Zealand to France Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit Living people New Zealand public servants University of Canterbury alumni People from Greymouth Ambassadors of New Zealand to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development