26 Jan 2016
Joanne Lyall has recently been awarded an SCI Honorary Membership. She was Executive Director at SCI from June 2010 - November 2013 and joined SCI with experience across a range of sectors. The key skills she brought to SCI were business development, marketing and partnership working, together with broader strategic and general management expertise. Since leaving SCI, Joanne has taken up a post at Massey University as Stakeholder Management Director.
If you want to find out more about Joanne or get in touch with her, you can contact her via the Members' Directory (you will need to sign in to view). If you need help searching the directory please click on the how-to guide below.
What attracted you to SCI?
I was attracted by the opportunity to support the future development of a multi-disciplinary membership community connecting science and business to help resolve global challenges. I enjoy working with intelligent, interesting people who are committed to working collaboratively for the benefit of society.
What has driven your continued involvement?
I will always be interested to learn about new developments in the application of chemistry and related sciences as they span so many industrial sectors and the impact of these innovations affects every one of us, no matter where we live or what we do for a living.
How has your involvement with SCI impacted on your career?
My time as Executive Director at SCI taught me a lot about management of membership organisations, particularly encouraging collaboration between people who may have very different reasons for their participation. I learned about the challenges of governance of a charitable, chartered society.
Since moving back to New Zealand, my husband and I have established a successful beachfront accommodation business - rather a departure from my SCI role. More recently, I was appointed as Stakeholder Management Director for Massey University. This involves developing and managing relationships with external stakeholders such as government, business, membership bodies etc. Massey is well known for its expertise in sciences and Agri-food. I see that several Massey academics are SCI members which is encouraging. I look forward to connecting with these members to encourage them to make the most of their SCI membership.
Reflecting back on your time at SCI, what achievements are you most proud of?
I am proud to have worked with the Board of Trustees and the SCI staff team to make it easier and more attractive for early career and business people to get involved in SCI governance at BoT, Advisory Committee and Group Committee levels. I was delighted to see more active business people and early career members playing a prominent role in SCI by the end of my tenure and from what I read in newsletters, this trend continues which augurs well for SCI's future.
I believe that I developed a number of effective partnerships which have helped SCI to deliver new services and reach new audiences. The Royal Society - Society of Chemical Industry Studentship programme is a good example and I hope this will lead to broader collaboration between the two societies in the future.
What would you like to see in SCI’s future?
I hope that SCI will continue to develop a vibrant, diverse, multi-disciplinary membership community as well as a thriving global publishing business focused on encouraging science-fuelled innovation in food and agrisciences, environment, energy, materials and health and well-being. I envisage SCI establishing partnerships to continue to broaden its reach to new sectors and countries.
As an Honorary Member of SCI, what would you like to achieve?
I look forward to keeping in contact with other SCI members and I hope I can make valuable connections with relevant academic and business communities in New Zealand. My new role at Massey University should afford me an ideal opportunity to do this.
How do you think your SCI Membership will enable this?
I look forward to using the Members' Directory to make contact with SCI members I do not already know - I am sure the facility to search by area of interest will be particularly useful.
Do you have any news that you would like to share with other SCI members?
As above re new role at Massey
What are your thoughts about receiving an Honorary Membership?
I feel very privileged to be accorded Honorary Membership of SCI and I would like to thank the Board of Trustees. I was very sad to leave my role at SCI, the dedicated SCI staff team and the active members I worked with so closely. I am pleased that I can continue to participate in the future of the society as one of your many international members.
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