ProfessorAlison Downard

Chair-Elect of the Analytical Electrochemistry Division of International Society of Electrochemistry (ISE), 2011-2012. The ISE is the world's largest electrochemical society with over 2500 members in over 70 countries. This is a two-year elected position (election is by members of the Analytical Electrochemistry Division) to the Executive Committee of the Division of ISE. This position is followed by two years as Chair and then two years as Past-Chair. The Executive committee is responsible for tasks that include selecting themes and invited speakers for the annual conference, overseeing Topical meetings (up to two per year), awarding prizes and awarding funding to sponsored meetings. It is also tasked with promoting, in a general way, electrochemical activities of Division members.

Member of the panel for the review of the Department of Chemistry, University of Auckland: 30 September to 2 October 2009. The panel assessed the work of the Department in all areas (academic programmes, research, outreach and so on) and made recommendations to assist in future operations and decision making.

Member of the Australian Research Council Nanotechnology Network (since 2005), now named The Australian Nanotechnology Network (ANN). This network is dedicated to enhancing Australia’s (and New Zealand's) research outcomes by promoting effective collaborations, exposing researchers to alternative and complementary approaches from other fields, encouraging forums for postgraduate students and early career researchers, increasing nanotechnology infrastructure, enhancing awareness of existing infrastructure, and promoting international links. Member and active participant in the New Zealand Bionanotechnology Network. This network seeks to bring together New Zealand researchers in bionanotechnology, primarily through its website and annual meetings.

Member of the organising committee for AMN-3, Third International Conference for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology (Wellington, February 2007). As well as general committee service which involved the wide range of problem-solving and decision making, I was responsible for organising the conference poster sessions.

Invited member of the Asian Institute of Nanobioscience and Technology (from 2003)

Member of the Australian Research Council Nanotechnology Network

Member of the New Zealand Bionanotechnology Network

Member of UC Academic Board, Dean’s nominee, August 2004 -July 2007.

Invited member of AUS Focus group to provide comment on the MoRST RS&T strategy statement document, 2002.

Member of the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, a Centre of Research Excellence

NZ corresponding member of the Electrochemical Division of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) (From 1997)

Invited keynote address to the Australian International Symposium on Analytical Science, Melbourne, July 4-9, 1999, " Fractionation and Measurement of Aluminium in Environmental Samples".

Invited lecture at the Founding International Symposium of the Asian Institute of Nanobioscience and Technology, Pusan, Korea, November 22-23, 2002, "Thin Carbon Films: Laying the Foundation for Nanoscale Structures."

Invited lecture at Workshop on Human Resources Development in Nanotechnology, Thailand July 5-7 2003, "Science Outreach and Nanotechnology."

Invited lecture at AMN-2: Second International Conference on Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Queenstown, New Zealand, February 6-11, 2005, "Smartening-up carbon: towards chemically well-defined interfaces through attachment of molecular layers."

Invited presentation at the Foundations for Success Symposium: Nanotechnologies in New Zealand: Opportunities and Challenges, Queenstown, New Zealand, February 10, 2005, "Nanotechnologies in NZ: a cross-disciplinary dialogue." (With R. Du Plessis.)

Invited conference presentation for special session celebrating the International Year of Chemistry 2011 : 62nd Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry, Niigata, Japan, 11 -16 September 2011. 'Opportunities at the Interface of Electrochemistry and Nanotechnology', Downard, A. J. In this special session, six invited speakers gave 30 minute talks on the theme of the importance and relevance of electrochemical science and technology in society in the past, present and future - in industry, energy, environment and health.