Bureaucrat, Government

David Wansbrough is one of the earlier graduates from the Science Circus programme (1993) and is a founding member of ASC from 1994. He set up the first ASC email group and web page in 1995 – at that time most members of ASC were new to email and the mailing list instructions seem very quaint these days.

Science communication has featured strongly throughout David’s career in government both in Australia and New Zealand. He has worked on policies for genetically modified food, biosecurity, animal welfare, climate change, and food safety. David was national manager of New Zealand’s immunisation programme for more than 3 years, including through the H1N1 pandemic in 2009-2010. He says that the interface between science, policy, and the public is a rich and interesting space where there is plenty of opportunity for better communication!

Sessions

“Trust me – I’m from the government”