Clean Air Medal for Gerda

3 September 2024

The Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand (CASANZ) has awarded a Clean Air Medal for her outstanding contributions to air quality management, including reducing vehicle emissions, developing policy and guidance and leading high-quality, influential research.

In presenting this award, CASANZ states:

“Gerda is a prominent figure in air quality circles in both New Zealand and Australia, known for her passion, enthusiasm, and hard work, not to mention her impeccable outfits. Her work is well-recognized and respected in air quality circles with her unwavering dedication to air quality management. She continues to be actively involved in CASANZ and has contributed to wider environmental management through her involvement as a Board member for New Zealand’s Environmental Protection Agency.

Gerda provides trusted technical advice to a broad range of agencies and industry bodies working in vehicle emissions management in New Zealand and internationally. One of her superpowers is also bringing together and leading multidisciplinary teams to produce high-quality and influential research. The most recent example being the Health and Air Pollution in New Zealand 2016 study (HAPINZ). Her work has not only advanced the air quality field but also had a lasting positive impact on air quality management in New Zealand.”

The Clean Air Medal is the Society’s most esteemed award recognising contributions to the prevention of atmospheric pollution that are innovative and are of significant effect scientifically, technically, economically, socially or politically. The medal was presented at the 27th International Clean Air and Environment Conference in Hobart, Australia on 28 August 2024.

Emission Impossible congratulates Gerda for her award and would like to highlight the tiara she was wearing as a particularly fitting touch.