“Be clear and direct” was the core advice from Hon Steven Joyce, Minister of Science and Innovation, to the delegates at the joint PCST / Science Communicators Association of New Zealand conference in Christchurch.
Mr Joyce gave the minister’s address at the conference yesterday, reflecting on the importance of science communication.
You can listen to his speech and the following Q & A session below.
Hon Steven Joyce is Minister for Economic Development, Minister of Science and Innovation, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Associate Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for Novopay.
After completing a zoology degree at Massey University, he started his first radio station, Energy FM, in his home town of New Plymouth, at age 21. Along with two business partners, he built up RadioWorks over 17 years until, as a listed public company, it consisted of 22 local radio stations and four national radio networks with 650 staff in twenty branches around New Zealand. Along the way he launched nationwide music stations The Edge, and Solid Gold FM, and developed The Rock network.
In 2000/2001 RadioWorks was purchased by Canadian company Canwest and Steven Joyce retired as Managing Director. He became the National Party’s first General Manager in 2003 and managed the 2005 election campaign for the party. In August 2006, he became Chief Executive of a tourism marketing company with interests in NZ, Australia and the South Pacific, continuing in that role for two years before leaving in order to enter politics. He chaired the National Party’s 2008 national election campaign, was elected as a list MP at the same election, and subsequently appointed as a Minister in the new Cabinet.