Andrew Harrison joined KVH in 2012 as Biosecurity Programmes Manager.

He leads a small team with particular focus on the prevention side of biosecurity (things like global scanning for new risks and influencing Government and others to prevent arrival of new threats), readiness and response to make sure we’re well prepared for any future biosecurity crisis, and on underpinning science and innovation.

Andrew’s a biosecurity specialist. He previously worked in the biosecurity field for both the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and Department of Conservation (DOC), where he’s led biosecurity readiness, response and pest management operations, as well as biosecurity strategy, policy and law reform in various senior management and technical roles.

With KVH, a recent focus for Andrew was leading a BMSB exercise, which brought industry leaders and specialist advisers together to test how prepared we are for one of the biggest threats to the kiwifruit industry today, the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). Development of our industry’s new BMSB Readiness Plan was tested during that exercise – a joint KVH/Zespri project and effort which Andrew led.

A key focus for Andrew in the near future is taking the Biosecurity Excellence at Port of Tauranga partnership to the next level. This includes preparing for this year’s Biosecurity Week (30 Oct – 3 Nov), working with researchers from Better Border Biosecurity to commence the new research programme recently approved by government to support developing biosecurity excellence at the Port, and rolling this approach out across other marine and air ports around New Zealand.

Andrew works on contract for KVH. He’s also the Chairman of New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated (NZPPI), and a biosecurity consultant assisting Government and other industries with their biosecurity challenges.

Andrew’s a keen grower – with a small HW block in Te Puna he’s improving and converting to organic green. Outside of work his main passions are his young family, fishing, hunting and gardening.