In September 2025, MSL Director and Chief Metrologist Dr Annette Koo, will move to the global hub of metrology; the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures in Paris.
She will initially act as Director Designate and will officially take on the role upon retirement of the current Director, Dr Martin Milton. She will become the first woman and the first New Zealander to hold the Director role in BIPM’s 150-year history.
Koo has been at MSL since 2008, having joined the light team after a PhD in physics and two postdoctoral fellowships in Australia. As a scientist, she’s led the team that realises the candela, designed MSL’s robot based goniospectrophotometer and piloted the CCPR comparison of spectral transmittance(external link).
Koo has represented MSL internationally for more than a decade and is a member of International Commission on Illumination (CIE) technical committees and chairs task groups at the Consultative Committee for Photometry and Radiometry (CCPR).
In 2021, Koo became the Chief Metrologist for MSL, and in 2022, the laboratory’s Director.
“I came to the lab not even knowing what measurement science was,” said Koo.
“17 years later, I can safely say that everything I know about metrology has been given to me through my mentors at MSL. What’s kept me in the field is the real-world impact that metrology has – it’s all about what people need in their everyday lives to achieve their aspirations.”
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and an honour to stand with – and for – the wonderful international metrology community,” added Koo.
Dr Martin Milton noted “I am very excited to have Annette joining us at the BIPM as Director Designate. We are all looking forward to the enthusiasm and energy that she will bring”.
Source: Measurement Standards Laboratory of New Zealand (MSL)
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