Media Releases
NZUS Council congratulates John Mullen ONZM
13 April 2010
The NZ US Council today congratulated the President of the US NZ Council, John Mullen, who is to receive an honorary ONZM (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit) from the Prime Minister, Hon John Key, in a ceremony in Washington DC today.
"John Mullen is an outstanding American and a good and loyal friend of New Zealand" said NZ US Council Chairman Rt Hon James Bolger.
"John Mullen has led the US NZ Council at a time when extraordinary steps have been taken to strengthen the relationship between New Zealand and the United States. John's leadership and commitment have been key factors in the success of that effort".
Mr Bolger said it was significant that John Mullen's contribution was being recognised in the course of the Prime Minister's visit toWashington for the nuclear security conference.
"What we are seeing now in the relationship is that the things that once divided us are now able to bring us together. John Key's participation in this week's conference demonstrates the value that the United States sees in the relationship with New Zealand."
Mr Bolger said that John Mullen had been responsible for a significant increase in the Council's activities and had played a key role in the organisation of three US NZ Partnership Forum events.
"We New Zealanders can be grateful that we have friends in Washington like John Mullen. John and his wife, Gwen, deserve our thanks and
warmest congratulations."
Biographical note: John Mullen
John Mullen has been a member of the Board of the US NZ Council since 2001 and has served as President from May 2004 until the present. The
US NZ Council was formed in 1986 to further the cultural and economic partnership between the United States and New Zealand. It works closely with New Zealand government agencies in the United States and with the NZ US Council in New Zealand to promote these objectives. Prior to joining the Council Mr Mullen had a distinguished career in the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). His 28 year career included positions as Deputy General Counsel, Acting General Counsel, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Democracy and Governance, and Assistant Administrator for Private Enterprise at USAID and Special Assistant to Secretary of State Eagleburger for the reform and restructuring of U.S. programs for developing countries. He achieved the highest rank of the Senior Executive Service and was recipient of Presidential Rank Meritorious and Distinguished Senior Executive Awards from the President. Mr. Mullen holds a B.S. degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a J.D. degree from Harvard Law School, and a M.Comp.L. degree from the University of Chicago Law School, in the school's Foreign Law Program.
