Testimonials
Dr David Tanner
General Manager - Quality & Innovation, ZESPRI International Limited
Mark Loeffen & Associates have played a key role in several projects that have provided significant value for ZESPRI and the New Zealand Kiwifruit Industry. For example, the work Mark and his colleagues carried out on the colour development and maturity clearance of ZESPRI GOLD has enabled the fruit to be harvested with a higher probability of meeting the customer’s needs in the market. Mark’s approach to the research and development of customised tools and new technologies has always been focused on ‘meeting industry needs’ and ‘finishing the job’. Mark has a great ability to utilise business analytics and high level scientific tools to solve problems, while at the same time delivering the learnings from them in a way that does not confuse or complicate the needs of industry.
Magnus Wahlgren
Manager Technical Development, Nortura – Produksjon, Oslo, Norway
Mark Loeffen & Associates researched and prepared a technical review (white paper) for us to document the techniques that had been tested for shearing the wool of live lambs. Our ultimate objective, which we have since achieved, was to improve animal welfare by developing a new line shearing process to remove the wool from the animals after they are slaughtered. Mark's report provided a solid starting point to help us develop the new process by showing us what had already been done and what had not been done. We engaged Mark to carry out the technical review as he was a recognised world expert in this field. We found him to be very knowledgeable and a very good person to work with. If he says he will do something he will do it and you know he will always perform a very good job.
Dr Lewis Atkinson
Manager Knowledge & Program Improvement, Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd
Mark Loeffen has assisted Meat and Livestock Australia over the past 15 years in three main areas:
- Support for the industry business and commercialisation services provided by Meat and Livestock Australia – Mark has shown capability to understand the commercial value of new technology and innovation in the Australian red meat industry. He has assisted us in documentation material transfer packages to enable the execution of successful licensing agreements.
- Support for evaluation of the returns from industry programme investments – Mark has assisted us with industry surveys and discussions with key stakeholders and end users of our research outcomes in order to assess the value of benefits and impacts arising from these investments.
- Technical analysis – Mark’s strong professional engineering background has enabled him to make an important contribution to key technical programmes that delivered viable solutions to industry problems.
Dr Michelle Shields
National Learning and Development Manager, AgResearch Ltd, New Zealand
Over 150 AgResearch staff have attended one of Mark Loeffen’s Project Management courses in order to improve their skills in managing science research projects.
Mark’s skills and experience in managing science-related projects has provided him with a unique and credible understanding of the challenges presented by science research and development projects, which are not like traditional projects. I have found Mark to be good to work with, very cooperative, and open to trying new and different approaches to training.
The course is still relatively new at AgReseach. Mark worked with me to develop the course and we are still in the process of fine-tuning its delivery. While it is too early to quantify its exact benefits, over 95% of the course participants have reported that their objectives for taking the course were met.
Comments from the course participants include:
- Course maintained my interest ... due to Mark’s hands on approach and flexibility in teaching style
- Good practical course that addressed real life problems that arise during projects
- Very good introduction to Project Management with particular reference to research
- I appreciated that the course was structured to specifically address management of R&D projects
- It was good to be able to attend a course that acknowledged that...project management for science/research is different to project managing other things
- Good material and passionate presenter that knows his stuff
