Former PHF Science staff member Sue Nolan was recognised this week as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the King’s Birthday Honours for her outstanding contribution to forensic toxicology, workplace health and safety, and the safeguarding of sports integrity.
Over a remarkable career spanning more than five decades, Sue has played a pioneering role in forensic science, drug testing and policy development, and drug education in New Zealand and globally. She is a founding member of the International Forum for Drug and Alcohol Testing, and has influenced global drug and alcohol testing policy.
Sue is a member of Australian/New Zealand Standards technical committees, where she produced key standards for urine and oral drug testing used internationally in workplace and sports settings. She also advised the World Anti-Doping Agency and contributed to the development of international drug testing standards. She oversaw the drug testing laboratories for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympic Games.
Sue joined DSIR in 1974, working with the Auckland Drug and Toxicology team, and had several roles both at DSIR and then PHF Science (known at the time as ESR), before setting up her own company in 2007.