Management team

Malcolm MacMillan - National Manager, Standards New Zealand

Malcolm leads Standards New Zealand’s team of 32 staff, including carrying delegated authority for the statutory officer role of New Zealand Standards Executive, under the Standards and Accreditation Act 2015. He brings a background in strategic and operational leadership across the Government sector, including design and delivery of regulatory reform initiatives and programme delivery across a range of sectors. He is very familiar with the standards and conformation world having working experience with New Zealand Standards, accreditation, certification, licensing, registration, audit, performance review, and quality management and assurance schemes during his career.

Relationship management, engagement and collaboration with stakeholders is at the heart of Malcolm’s role and he has seen first-hand how standards benefit those in the diverse sectors he has worked in, including building and construction, health and safety, primary industries, housing, COVID-19 response, emergency response and recovery, aviation, and central and local government building and planning functions.

Malcolm has worked across a range of government agencies, often working closely with leading industry organisations both domestic and international, represented New Zealand and our interests at international forums and general assemblies, fronted select committees and cabinet meetings, and been on an advisory oversight committee for an independent accreditation body.

Malcolm also leads the strategy for this 92-year-old organisation, as it continues its important role as the independent national standards body, within the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, and as a member of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) via the IEC National Committee of New Zealand (NCNZ), Pacific Area Standards Congress (PASC), and Pacific Islands Standards Committee (PISC).

Danielle Aberdeen - Manager, Commercial and Sectors

Danielle and her team deliver key initiatives within the Standards New Zealand business strategy and support its day-to-day operations. The team is responsible for increasing the prominence, relevance, visibility and protection of standards in New Zealand within a financially sustainable business model.

The team is focused on understanding and pursuing opportunities for standards to play a greater role in New Zealand's priority sectors. They also pursue connections with the international standards development work of the ISO and IEC, champion new digital content models and technologies to make standards more accessible, and drive Standards NZ's new approach to working with third parties on value-added products and services.

This work maximises the impact of standards on the New Zealand economy and grows and diversifies Standards NZ's products and services.

Danielle has both private and public sector experience, which spans business development, stakeholder engagement, commercial, digital solutions, account management and client relationships. She brings valuable experience from her 13 years at PwC, where she developed effective growth and client development strategies across multiple market segments and service lines.

JT Schutte - Manager, Business Systems and Operations

JT leads our front facing Business Systems and Operations business unit, incorporating customer services, our e-commerce platform, ICT business systems, finance, data analytics, quality management systems and business administration.

JT’s previous experience includes various operations, business support, stakeholder engagement and programme and product management roles with Xero, Wellington City Council, MBIE and Capitec Bank in South Africa. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce and recently completed his MBA at Victoria University.

JT brings a wealth of experience in strategic thinking, project, and commercial management, honed across diverse sectors including government, finance, and technology. Outside the professional realm, JT is dedicated to environmental sustainability, actively taking steps to minimise his family's carbon footprint and champion a more sustainable future.

Clare Francis - Principal Advisor

Clare joined Standards New Zealand after a long career with the Ministry for Primary Industries where she held a number of roles in the areas of animal welfare and biosecurity. Clare brings a background in policy development, business analysis and improvement, performance reporting, and relationship management. She has led the development of joint government and industry resources and has represented government on multiple forums. Clare also holds a post graduate Hons. Degree in Science.

Clare’s role spans all the business teams within Standards New Zealand. Delivering operational policy, strategic and business planning, business and organisational development and performance and reporting responsibilities.

Wider leadership