Hans Doevendans receives NZ Apples and Pears Inc industry award for Outstanding Contribution
At the recent national pipfruit industry conference held in Nelson, Hans Doevendans received the prestigious Outstanding Contribution award.
The award, now in its ninth year, recognises a person who has displayed leadership, actively promoted or raised the profile of, and enhanced the reputation of the New Zealand pipfruit industry, as selected by the board directors of industry representative organisation New Zealand Apples and Pears (NZAPI).
Past recipients of the award include researchers, scientists, advisors, industry advocates, growers and officials.
“Hans has never been afraid to remind us what our role is,” says NZAPI market access manager Danielle Adsett. “A stickler for requiring what is right, he has always gone into battle over what is right and fair. He is strongly principled, passionate, caring and has made an immense contribution to our industry.”
Hans’ impact in the industry has come through his work for 20+ years as a practitioner in Quality, Lean and MAO Systems. He wrote the industry manual on GlobalGAP, rewrote the USDA market access workplan, was part of a working group that brought together the first and subsequent versions of the Market Declaration System – which all industry relies on to access export markets. He is an industry expert in quality systems including MAO, GlobalGAP and BRCGS (Brand Reputation Compliance Global Standards).
“Hans has the ability to communicate quite challenging and complex material in a clear and concise way,” adds Danielle.
Hans is the current chair of the industry’s Market Access advisory group and recently stepped in as temporary cover for NZAPI’s Market Access Manager.
Crasborn Fresh Harvest’s James Joe says that in the two decades he has worked for Hans, he has made “immeasurable impact” on both the company and the wider apple and pear industry.
“Hans is a passionate advocate for orchards, packers and exporters through his skills in systems including Quality, market access, phytosanitary, production and Lean for Horticulture. There are very few managers who through their leadership, enable and support their workers the opportunity to develop and grow like Hans does,” says James.
“Hans has a deep theoretical and practical knowledge of the New Zealand Pipfruit industry and has made a measurable impact on its success over many years”, says NZAPI CEO Terry Meikle. “He is a hard-working and passionate advocate for the industry and a very deserving recipient of this award.”