SETAC Asia-Pacific Is Entering New Phase of Growth With the Appointment of Its First Executive Director
Zuzanna Neziri, SETAC Asia-Pacific Executive Director, and Andrew Harford, SETAC Asia-Pacific Treasurer
SETAC Asia-Pacific is entering a new phase of growth and impact with the appointment of its first Executive Director, Zuzanna Neziri.
Neziri brings over a decade of international experience in organizational growth, operations and strategic partnerships, with a career spanning science, technology and professional services across Asia-Pacific and Europe. Based between Singapore and Australia, she is known for designing and implementing innovative programs that build strong communities and deliver measurable outcomes. Outside of work, Neziri is an avid traveler and scuba diver who has explored all seven continents.
For many years, the dedicated volunteers and board members of SETAC Asia-Pacific have worked tirelessly on behalf of their members. As the organization’s reach and influence have grown considerably in the region, establishing an Executive Director role is a strategic step to complement this work, strengthen partnerships, expand impact and ensure long-term sustainability.
The SETAC Asia-Pacific Board and SETAC World Council see enormous potential in a region that is home to 60% of the world’s population but remains underrepresented in its membership. By building on SETAC’s strong principles and values, SETAC Asia-Pacific aims to overcome challenges, such as language barriers, to grow its reach and influence to advance SETAC’s mission. The long-term ambition is to establish a self-sustaining business model that enhances scientific collaboration, informs environmental management, and delivers better environmental outcomes across Asia-Pacific.
With the support of the SETAC World Council, which provided initial funding for the role, Neziri will focus on:
- Growing membership in countries such as India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and China
- Developing strategic partnerships with government, academia and industry
- Increasing the reach and profitability of SETAC Asia-Pacific conferences, meetings and training programs
- Supporting initiatives in the region like the Australasian Water Quality Guideline Workshops and What’s in Our Water Symposium
- Strengthening SETAC Asia-Pacific’s operational efficiency and compliance to enable future growth
Neziri was selected from an impressive pool of 86 applicants, which included many C-suite executives. The selection panel, a subset of the SETAC Asia-Pacific Board of Directors, included Darren Koppel (Vice President), Carlos Arias-Barreiro (Immediate Past President), Kathryn Hassel (Australasian Chapter President) and Andrew Harford (Treasurer), and followed a rigorous selection process. The panel was impressed with Neziri’s experience in Asia-Pacific, her use of technologies for high-impact, and her leadership and initiative in developing professional groups such as the “disruptors in technology.”
Neziri’s appointment marks a significant milestone as SETAC Asia-Pacific works to become a more visible, connected and influential force, driving scientific progress and supporting better environmental outcomes.
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