Courtney Cunningham
Geraldine
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Compliance Officer - Airport
Timaru District Council
08.2024 - Current
- My role at Timaru District Council is my current role, I am writing and implementing technical documents for all staff, contractors and users to be able to read and adhere to. These must comply with New Zealand laws including the Civil Aviation Act 1990 and The Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Civil Aviation Authority rules and circulars.
- I am also assisting the general day to day running of the Timaru Airport on behalf of the Council.
- I have gained my Senior Persons accreditation from the Civil Aviation Authority.
- Reviewing current policies and procedures to make sure they comply with current legislation
- Writing new policies and procedures to implement and improve current practices at the airport
- Facilitate internal and external audits and reviews
- Implement actions required to correct or improve any deficiencies detected during reviews, audits or inspections.
- Monitor the internal audit programme.
- Oversee regulatory training, professional development, workflow coordination and workforce planning for all users.
- Senior persons role, approved by the CAA and is responsible for ensuring the organization's operations are conducted safely and in accordance with regulations.
- Support the Airport Operations and Safety Manager with incident investigations, asset and activity management plans, promotion of the safety management system to all users and other duties as required
Administrator
Vetlife
11.2022 - 08.2024
- My role at Vetlife was writing and implementing technical documents for all staff and clinics to be able to read and adhere to including vets and front-of-house staff. These must comply with New Zealand laws, MPI directives, the Veterinary code of conduct and the Best Practice requirements. These cover things from drug laws to uniform requirements.
- Writing policies and procedures, implementing a quality management system
- Liaising with staff to ensure procedures match real-world practice
- Ensuring compliance with current legislation including MPI and government laws.
- Document reviews and updating the documents to comply with current legislation
- Observations of staff to ensure they are carrying out procedures correctly.
- Using computer systems to keep documents updated and review health and safety incidents, databases for hazardous substances and contractor reports.
- My greatest achievement at Vetlife has been getting four clinics with new staff Best Practice accredited. Writing the documentation and having it praised by the MPI auditor was a real highlight.
- I have had to learn a new industry and jargon which has been a challenge I have enjoyed.
- I have had to be able to build relationships with a team of 350 staff to be able to get them on board and understand their responsibilities.
Auditor
Alliance - Smithfield
03.2020 - 05.2022
- My role as auditor at Smithfield was a varied role in the technical compliance team of three people. I worked undertaking duties for animal welfare and food safety compliance. This included the general running of the plant and implementing a whole new species of bobby calf processing from start to finish of the documentation and physical running of it. This was a fantastic challenge which I enjoyed being a part of successfully implementing. I had a tight time frame from being approved to do this process to it being rolled out. While doing this I still also had my audit schedule to complete as normal.
- Auditing against internal audit schedule, ensuring compliance
- Writing and communicating audit findings
- Food safety
- Animal welfare
- Document reviews and updating
- Keeping up to date with current OMAR's
- Communicating with MPI on issues
- Ensuring compliance with current legislation
- Liaising with external auditors
- Learning how to audit successfully and change people's mindsets of being the police or bad guy to working together to achieve a shared goal. This was things like meeting new customer requirements or finding lasting solutions to a problem.
- Learning how to report write on my audits and when being audited for non-conformance reports.
- How to communicate with a range of different people, some of which English was not their first language. Observing procedures and being able to clearly communicate non-compliance.
- Having to learn how to understand many different types of legislation, Overseas market access requirements and customer requirements many of which were international customers.
- Time management was a big requirement, with many different tasks for me to do on a daily and weekly basis I needed to be able to multitask and prioritize my tasks.
- I had to organise and liaise with contractors for compliance with machinery to pest control. I was also in charge of the Halal audit and compliance programme. I gained my animal welfare officer certification and carried out the inspections.
Official Assessor / Meat Inspector
AsureQuality
09.2014 - 03.2020
- Checking the quality and safety of product
- Identifying diseases and defects in product
- Ensuring the removal of any product not fit for human consumption
- Performing quality control and assurance work
- Monitoring and maintaining accurate recording of industry data
- Inputting of data into computer systems, general computer work
- Collecting and packaging of samples for laboratory analysis
- Communication on quality and safety of product with clients and their employees.
- Assessing and delivering unit standards for adult learners in food safety, hygiene and other units relevant to the meat industry
- Gaining my qualifications in disease and defect knowledge and removal. Learning high levels of hygiene and attention to detail. I had to learn knife skills and be able to use one proficiently.
- I had to learn detailed legislation relating to my role and be able to understand and share that knowledge with others.
- I gained my qualifications in adult teaching and can stand in front of a group of people from varied education levels and get them to engage in a learning environment. As well as mark their work and prepare for moderation.
- I performed sample taking and packaging them up to be sent off for analysis.
- I had to use different specialist computer systems for data collection and spreadsheets for pays.
Meat Inspector/ Food Safety Assessor
Alliance Smithfield, Timaru
09.2013 - 09.2014
- Checking the quality and safety of product
- Identifying diseases and defects in product
- Ensuring the removal of any product not fit for human consumption
- Doing knife work to remove diseases and defects
- Being able to confidently identify diseases and defects in ovine offal and carcasses
- A high level of hygiene
- Knife handling skills
- Safe handling of food products
Laboratory/Animal Technician
South Pacific Sera, Timaru
06.2011 - 09.2013
- Cleaning, sterilizing and preparing equipment for use.
- Processing different kinds of products using machines.
- Using computer programmes
- Ordering products and keeping stock levels.
- Communicating with people
- Using equipment in the laboratory including different kinds of centrifuges, pipettes and the autoclave
Education
New Zealand Certificate - Business - first line management (Level 4)
New Zealand Certificate - Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3)
Demonstrate knowledge required for quality auditing
8086
National Certificate - Meat Processing (Compliance Checks) (Level 5), Edible Areas
NZIS Diploma - Sport Management and Exercise Prescription
National Certificate - Adult Education and Training (Level 4), New Zealand Environment
National Certificate - Animal Product Examination Services (Level 4), Lambs, Deer, Sheep and Goats
National Certificate - Meat Processing (Meat Industry Standards) (Level 4)
New Zealand Certificate - Meat Processing (Level 3)
Telford Certificate - Equestrian Knowledge (Level 3)
National Certificate - Animal Care (Level 2)
Continuous Learning - Current Study
New Zealand Certificate in Business (First Line Management) (Level 4)
Personal Information
ID Number: 0276001140
Summary
Professional with demonstrated expertise in regulatory compliance, risk management, and policy enforcement. Skilled in identifying and mitigating potential risks, ensuring adherence to legal and regulatory standards. Strong focus on collaborative team efforts and achieving measurable results. Known for reliability, adaptability, and strategic problem-solving. Proficient in compliance audits, regulatory reporting, and developing effective compliance programs.
Skills
Compliance monitoring
Document review
Auditing processes
Internal audits
Animal welfare legislation familiarity
Humane animal treatment
Quality assurance
Quality management systems
Documentation and reporting
Timeline
Compliance Officer - Airport - Timaru District Council
08.2024 - Current
Administrator - Vetlife
11.2022 - 08.2024
Auditor - Alliance - Smithfield
03.2020 - 05.2022
Official Assessor / Meat Inspector - AsureQuality
09.2014 - 03.2020
Meat Inspector/ Food Safety Assessor - Alliance Smithfield, Timaru
09.2013 - 09.2014
Laboratory/Animal Technician - South Pacific Sera, Timaru
06.2011 - 09.2013
- New Zealand Certificate, Business - first line management (Level 4)
- New Zealand Certificate, Land Based Sustainability Practices (Level 3)
- , Demonstrate knowledge required for quality auditing
- National Certificate, Meat Processing (Compliance Checks) (Level 5), Edible Areas
- NZIS Diploma, Sport Management and Exercise Prescription
- National Certificate, Adult Education and Training (Level 4), New Zealand Environment
- National Certificate, Animal Product Examination Services (Level 4), Lambs, Deer, Sheep and Goats
- National Certificate, Meat Processing (Meat Industry Standards) (Level 4)
- New Zealand Certificate, Meat Processing (Level 3)
- Telford Certificate, Equestrian Knowledge (Level 3)
- National Certificate, Animal Care (Level 2)