Edward "Richard" Woods, CNZM (born 20 September 1941, Greymouth) is Chairman of the Board of the Environmental Risk Management Authority

Environmental Risk Management Authority

The Environmental Risk Management Authority is a New Zealand government agency which controls the introduction of hazardous substances and new organisms....

, 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

Neil Walter

Neil Douglas Walter, CNZM is a distinguished New Zealand diplomat, and is a former Administrator of Tokelau, a territory of New Zealand. He served from February 1988 until 1990, and again from March 1, 2003 to 17 October 2006.-Biography:...

.

Woods was awarded the Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit

New Zealand Order of Merit

The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...

 in 2007 for public services, lately as director of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

New Zealand Security Intelligence Service

The New Zealand Security Intelligence Service is an intelligence agency of the New Zealand government.-Purpose:As a civilian organisation, the Security Intelligence Service takes no part in the enforcement of security...

, he was previously a diplomat with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

In 1961, Woods graduated with a BA

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 from the University of Canterbury

University of Canterbury

The University of Canterbury , New Zealand's second-oldest university, operates its main campus in the suburb of Ilam in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand...

. This was followed by another BA (which was upgraded to an MA

Master of Arts (postgraduate)

A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...

) from Brasenose College, Oxford

Brasenose College, Oxford

Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...

in 1965.

Richard was married to Joanna Proby in 1970, they have two sons and three 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 & Commerce