George is currently working as the Chemistry Technical Manager for AsureQuality, a leading New Zealand Government owned enterprise in Auckland, New Zealand. AsureQuality offers world class food safety and biosecurity services to the food and primary production sectors worldwide. Prior to joining AsureQuality in September 2004, George had worked for SGS New Zealand for five years in a similar role. George received his PhD in Biological Chemistry in 1994 and has more than 27 years of experience in analytical chemistry applications.
As the Chemistry Technical Manager at AsureQuality, he is responsible for addressing overall technical matters related to laboratory services and providing strategic directions and support to New Zealand, Australia, Singapore and other Asia Pacific regions on a regular basis. He is well experienced in technical applications, standardizing new methods and techniques, implementing safety procedures, establishing manuals for safe handling of chemicals and bio-hazardous materials as per various regulatory guidelines, imparting technical training to team members and key technical personnel, problem resolution, supplier evaluation, maintaining good customer relations, periodically conducting customer visits, meetings, teleconferences, identifying customer requirements and implementing solutions that meets customer needs, increasing profitability for the business and controlling costs. George has demonstrated abilities in building healthy relationships with internal and external business partners and leading workforce towards accomplishing department objectives. Good team player and motivator, possessing strong analytical, problem solving and organizational skills.
In addition to his responsibilities as Technical Manager, he is an active member of AOAC. George currently serves as member of AOAC Official Methods Board (OMB) and Working Group Chair of OMB (non-methods). He became a Fellow of AOAC INTERNATIONAL in 2018 and received several AOAC awards for his outstanding contributions. He was the Chair of Expert Review Panel (ERP) of Sugars and Fructans methods that received the ERP of the Year Award in 2020. George was the recipient of AOAC OMB Awards for Achievement in Technical and Scientific Excellence in 2016, 2017, and 2020 and AOAC ERP of the Year Awards in 2016, 2017 and 2020. George was part of several working groups and MLT Study Director for AOAC Official Method 2016.02 for biotin.
Since 2014, George has been working as an ISO member representing New Zealand International Review Group (IRG) for ISO / IDF Technical Committee (TC 34 / WG 14) for vitamins and other nutrients. He was the ISO Study Director, ISO TC 34 / WG 14 Project for biotin which has become an ISO standard 23305 in 2018. The biotin method is recognised world-wide and is adopted by CODEX Alimentarius Commission as a Type II reference standard.
In 2019, George was appointed as the Counsellor of Food Standard Professional Committee of the China Society of Inspection and Quarantine (CSIQ). He received excellence awards from AsureQuality in 2005, 2011, and 2016. George is also part of Technical Advisory Group of Global Proficiency, New Zealand.
