Baumgart, Ian Lawrence Biography 1991

BAUMGART, Ian Lawrence
QSO 1980, Jubilee Medal 1977; Public Servant, retired in 1980 as Commissioner for the Environment;
Born Hastings, 15 April 1920, son of Andrew Lawrence Baumgart and Frances Jane (née Grant); married (1) Lesley Grace Thompson, daughter of David and Jessie Thompson, 1945 (died 1966); (2) Nesta May West, daughter of Hector and Esther West, 1968; three sons one daughter.
Education: Hastings High School; Victoria University, Bachelor of Arts 1941, Bachelor of Science 1945; Visiting Fellow, Brookings Institution, Washington DC, 1962-1963; FNZIAS 1966; Visiting Fellow, NZ School of Forestry, Canterbury University, 1982; Thomson Medal, RSNZ 1987; Member: Royal Society of NZ, NZ Institute of Agriculture Science, NZ Association of Scientists, NZ Society of Soil Science, NZ Ecological Society.
NZ Army in NZ, Pacific 1941-1944: Artillery (Lt).  DSIR: Soil Surveyor, 1945-1954; research administrator, HO, 1955-1962; Harkness Fellowship at Brookings Institution, on research policy in government, 1962-1963; Assistant Director General, Agriculture and Biology, 1966-1974; Commissioner for the Environment, 1974-1980 (retired); UN Environment Program, Consultant to Regional Seas Program in Asia and Pacific, 1980-1983; Government Advisor Bodies: Deputy Chairman, National Research Advisory Council, 1980-1986; Chairman, NZ Toxic Substances Board, 1980-1986; Member, NZ Energy Research and Development Committee, 1980-1986; Chairman, National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee, 1984-1989; Government of Niue, preparation of Action Plan for the future of Niue, 1987-1988; NZ Liaison Officer, Commonwealth Agriculture Bureaux, London, 1960-1974; Member Governing Council, UN Environment Program, Nairobi, 1975-1978; Leader, NZ delegation to OECD Environment Program, Paris, 1978-1980; Chairman, NZ Production Forestry Research Advisory Committee, 1972-1979; Member, NZ Forestry Council, 1977-1980; Member, international panel of consultants on establishing the Environment and Policy Institute of the East / West Centre, Hawaii, 1974-1976.  NZ Representative, Commonwealth Fund of New York (Chairman, Selection Committee for Harkness Fellowships) 1977-1984.
Recreations: boating, seafishing, walking, music.
Address: 27 Onehuka Road, Lower Hutt.