Vale - Farewell to Bruce Clarke

The New Zealand Branch of CASANZ would like to pay tribute to Bruce Clarke, who very sadly passed away too soon on Easter Sunday, 9 April 2023 from a sudden illness. Bruce was a multidisciplinary environmental professional, but made his mark on air quality when joining Kingston Morrison in 1993 and working under New Zealand’s Resource Management Act doing air discharge effects assessments.

Bruce first became a member of the NZ Branch Committee Member in 1995 and was a current member at the time of his death. Records are patchy in between but his commitment to good practice in air quality assessments never waivered.

Bruce came to Kingston Morrison with a variety of skills and experience which included a BSc in Biochemistry (1981), a Royal Society of Health Diploma in Public Health Inspection (1984), a Diploma in Safety Management (With Distinction) Massey University (1988), and later on he became a Member, N.Z. Institute of Safety Management, and a Registered Environmental Auditor (Environmental Auditors Registration Association, United Kingdom). Not satisfied with just collecting qualifications, he also managed to slot in six years as an Environmental Health Officer with the Palmerston North Area Health Board, two years with Water Technology (NZ) Ltd, Palmerston North as an Environmental Scientist, and finally three years as a Senior Environmental Scientist with WS Atkins Environmental UK, after which he joined Kingston Morrison.

Bruce quickly settled into Kingston Morrison and started to take an interest in atmospheric computer dispersion modelling and quickly mastered the complexities of the US EPA ISC3 model when it became available. Added to his multifaceted skill base was his uncanny ability to read documents upside down which was quite disconcerting to his section manager when taking notes during grading/salary assessment time! Despite this annoying ability, Bruce quickly contributed to the field of air quality and air pollution control as Kingston Morrison became Sinclair Knight Merz and then Jacobs.

Bruce continued to expand his involvement with international projects collaborating on Environmental and Social Impact Assessments in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Pacific. He was highly regarded by his colleagues and clients for his contributions throughout New Zealand, Australia and South East Asia. He will be sadly missed for his contributions to air quality in New Zealand and around the world.

Written by Deborah Ryan, CASANZ NZ Branch Secretary and former colleague, with input gratefully received from former colleagues Ron Pilgrim and Juliet Woodward.