Derek was not only one of the founding members of FAMANZ and the first Chairperson of the faculty, but also the former president of the New Zealand Occupational Hygiene Society (NZOHS) and part of the team that established the Health and Safety Association of New Zealand (HASANZ). Derek made countless contributions to the health and safety industry with his wealth of knowledge and was renowned for his incredible work ethic. In addition to being a highly accomplished individual and an inspiration to his peers, Derek also had a driving passion and a brilliant sense of humour.
The Air-Met Scientific Derek Miller Award was introduced to commemorate the incredible contributions made by Derek to the asbestos industry and aims to recognise similarly driven individuals. Nominees for this award are recognised for their strides in the field of asbestos through voluntary work, mentoring, technical development, promoting best practise in the field and leadership.
The Air-Met Scientific Derek Miller Award will be presented annually at the FAMANZ Conference to one outstanding recipient who will receive the opportunity to participate in an international asbestos conference of their choice including BOHS FAAM, Asbestonomy, and the European Asbestos Forum.
"This professional development award is designed to spur intellectual growth and inspire individuals at the forefront of their field in accordance with our passion for educating and shaping the future of the industries in which we are involved in. By continuing to educate and shape the future, we can really make a difference and positive change to the asbestos industry. We're extremely proud of our association with FAMANZ and look forward to presenting the first Air-Met Scientific Derek Miller Award at this year's Asbestos 2023 conference in New Zealand."
