Ben Pocock Email & Phone Number

Wellington, Nz

Wellington, New Zealand

Feeding the success of Biosecurity New Zealand by diving strategy, measuring performance and developing business planning tools.

Wellington, Wellington Region, New Zealand

Leading team of technical specialists who develop, implement and review import health standards for plants being brought into Aotearoa for planting. Selecting and implementing phytosanitary measures to effectively manage plant health and biosecurity risk.- Overseeing team of risk managers evaluating and amending nursery stock import health standards (IHSs) and permit processes.- Advising plant health system improvement, border clearance issue resolution and quarantine requirements.- Building stakeholder relationships across industry and government. Negotiating international market access through bilateral relationships.- Delivered in-country audit of foreign production systems for export to New Zealand.- Appointed deputy Chief Technical Officer (dCTO) representing Biosecurity New Zealand at cross-agency public hearings and in regulatory decisions.- Managing delivery of a high-stakes work programme developing plant germplasm import pathways

Wellington, New Zealand

Prepared business transformation elements for redevelopment of a major biosecurity containment facility. Contributed to a central government Detailed Business Case for new capabilities and scientific infrastructure of national significance. Worked collaboratively to bring business analysis and technical expertise together with operational needs and change management.Led internal partnership with intelligence services for design inputs of future demand modelling. Commended for excellent business and subject matter expert engagementSwift turn-around reporting and presentations prepared for programme governance briefings.

Melbourne, Australia

Built strategic management approaches to continuously improve relationships between Melbourne Water and valued customers. Focussed on service delivery and creating more win-win outcomes, especially for development and other direct service customers.Coordinated leadership approach across all customer segments, using research, data and insights to identify and drive improvements.Delivered regular reporting about strategic customer KPIs and enterprise-wide, multi-hierachecal customer improvement program.

Melbourne, Australia

Oversaw operations of animal shelters in North Melbourne and Cranbourne, using continuous improvement strategies to maximise the number of cats and dogs cared for safely in our community. Applied behaviour change theories to influence social norms in order to reduce the number of animals needing shelter. Developed community outreach programs to extend the Lost Dogs' Home reach and impact throughout Victoria.Responsible for multi-million dollar income and expense budgets, significant stakeholder management, 130 staff and integration of volunteers. Business plans developed. International industry peers researched, including visits to 17 shelters across the United States of America.

Melbourne, Australia

Ensured delivery of outstanding visitor experiences at two iconic heritage attractions in Melbourne: Polly Woodside and the Old Melbourne Gaol.

Healesville, Australia

Oversaw strategic planning and operational delivery of everything visitors experience at the Sanctuary, including:- Visitation growth- Community conservation program improvements- Daily visitor engagement activities, quarterly campaigns and events- On-site membership recruitment and engagement- Tourism market growth- Admissions, retail and catering processes- Communications, tourism and marketing strategies- Commercial product development- Learning experiences for schools and holiday programs- Volunteer coordination and cross-department staff collaboration for projects

Melbourne, Australia

Provided strategic direction and leadership across Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo to enable the creation and delivery of outstanding visitor experiences, innovative learning programs and Zoos Victoria’s volunteer program aligned with the conservation vision of Fighting Extinction. Key outputs included:- transformation to a new learning delivery model, the most significant change to Zoos Victoria's school programs in 40 years.- represented Zoos Victoria at an IZE conference in Hong Kong- secured a key government grant from the Department of Education and Training- contributed strategic behaviour change development in Zoos Victoria's Community Conservation Master Plan.

Wellington, New Zealand

Delivered engaging programs for Zoo visitors, to connect them with conservation while they are having a great time. I managed the team of Visitor Rangers who are live interpreters, and planned, managed and delivered a calendar of special events such as Children's Day and Valentine's Night. I helped to manage the contact animal programs, development of close encounters and zoo talks.This role sat in Wellington Zoo's Community Engagement team, and utilized my skills working with people and creative projects.

Supported by funding from the Ministry of Education, the team of Zoo Educators provides outside-the-classroom experiences for over 10,000 students annually, bringing the New Zealand curriculum to life. I also managed the Zoo's Holiday Programme and a community conservation project called Bush Builders. I manage the contract with the Ministry and ensured integration of the Learning team into Wellington Zoo operations. I am currently on twelve months leave from this role while I am seconded as Visitor Programmes Manager, also at Wellington Zoo.

East London, United Kingdom

Led education sessions as required for school groups visiting this large and unique wildlife reserve on the outskirts of London. Delivered practical education lessons outside the classroom to primary and secondary school groups with a strong links to the national curriculum.

London, United Kingdom

Employed as a freelance teacher to deliver 4 hour History, Science or Nature sessions on a floating classroom. Also presented a series of Family Learning Days which involved local community groups, such as Filipino migrants, participating in fun educational activities while learning about the local environment.Improved the nature and environment lessons to include “Mini-beast Hunts” and a variety of other exploration activities for young people.

London, United Kingdom

A small charity located in a deprived community a stone’s throw from London’s financial hub; the farm promotes healthy living and animal welfare through food growing, wildlife and animal care programmes. Initially a volunteer, I secured funding through the Vodafone Foundation’s ‘World of Difference’ programme so I could assisted the Community Education Co-ordinator to develop and deliver the schools education programme. Key Achievements:Project managed significant education projects linking the national curriculum to food growing and farming activities, including students with special needs. Worked closely with different cultural groups such as a Bengali woman’s gardening club and Belgian play workers.Prepared necessary funding bids and award applications.Assisted with events including the Strawberry Fayre and Lord Mayor’s Show parade.Participated in a National Children’s Bureau workshop and Safeguarding Children training to help understand responsibilities associated with teaching young people.Managed individual volunteers of varying abilities as well as large corporate volunteer groups. Also supervised social work students and trainee teachers.

Cornwall, United Kingdom

Facilitating den building activities as part of Eden’s Summer Survival Challenge. Encouraging visitors to work together in teams, this role helped people to learn about their environment by getting their hands dirty and taking risks.Developed and implemented a research investigation about visitor engagement methods to compare with those used at Wellington Zoo. A formal report was subsequently produced.

Part of the Zoo Leadership Team, this role helped to ensure that the work carried out by the Life Sciences team provides the best care for the animal collection, while aligning work with the organisation’s strategic goals.Regularly gave in-house and external presentations on wildlife and conservation issues. Professionally trained media communication skills applied through various television, radio and print interviews.Conservation Steering Group member working to implement a new conservation strategy. This role utilised conservation networks in Nepal and Cambodia. To build skills as Herbivore Team Leader I worked with a Victoria University PhD field biologist in South African game parks, studying black rhinoceros behaviour. The trip included work at Johannesburg Zoo and Cape Town’s Cheetah Outreach Centre.new staff recruitment, financial budget management, creating rosters and managing staff Performance and Development Plans.“Green Team” environmental group member, personally implemented bike-to-work initiatives and organised the zoo’s first Sustainable Transport Day.

Sun bear, Sumatran tiger, small primate, peccary and red panda husbandary. Represented Wellington Zoo at international ARAZPA conference, presenting issues surrounding the captive breeding of Malayan sun bears.

Hamilton, New Zealand

Duties included white rhinoceros, giraffe, zebra, antelope, spider monkey, tapir, cappuchin, lemur and ostrich husbandry.Researched and compiled genealogy of Hamilton Zoo ring-tailed lemur population.Assisted with concept design and planning of future exhibit and long term zoo design.

Bsc(Tech) Included 12 Month Cooperative Education Studentship At Hamilton Zoo, Biology, Earth Science

Graduate Certificate In Competitive Systems And Practices, Lean Systems Certification

On-site professional learning course at Zoos Victoria over 37 weeks. Skills in continuous improvement through waste reduction.

Animal Management Certificate, Captive Wild Animals

Credits Towards Bsc(Tech) At The University Of Waikato, Biology, Geography