(Posted April 18, 2011)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Jim McLay, New Zealand Ambassador and the nation's permanent representative to the United Nations, will speak at Juniata College on "The Role of a Small Power at the United Nations" at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 27, in Neff Lecture Hall in the von Liebig Center for Science.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

McLay has had a long career in business and politics. After working as a barrister (the British equivalent of an attorney), he was elected to the New Zealand Parliament in 1975. Over his 12-year parliamentary career, he served as deputy prime minister, opposition leader, attorney general and minister of justice. He retired from politics in 1987 and received the Queen's Service Order for public service the same year.

He continued his service to New Zealand in 1993, when McLay was named New Zealand Commissioner on the International Whaling Commission, a post he held until 2003. During that time, he served as chair of the commission's finance and administration committee, and served on its finance committee.

During his time on the commission McLay chaired government policy reviews of electricity markets, defense funding, financial management and reform of road funding. After leaving the commission, he was appointed Companion of the Order of New Zealand for his services to conservation.

After 2003, McLay returned to the corporate world, serving on boards and as executive chair of Macquarie New Zealand, a financial services group. He also served as chair of Goodman NZ, a property trust, and chair of MetLifecare and Just Water International. He also has served on the corporate boards of Motor Race NZ, Nueren and Evergreen Forest.

During his business career, McLay was Founder Chair of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development and Honorary New Zealand chair of the Trans Tasman Business Circle. He also chaired the Project Manaku Audit Group, which was responsible for environmental and resource management audits for the Mangere (Aukland) Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.