Edward was Military Secretary in the office of Hon Dr Wayne Mapp as Minister of Defence whilst I was Press Secretary. Edward was an excellent colleague in many ways, but I was particularly grateful for his assistance and suggestions relating to communications issues and planning, especially in media management. He has a very good intuitive understanding of how an issue will be perceived in the public arena and how it will play out in media. He is a very good, and highly experienced, planner who brought his skills to the communications space as effectively as in other aspects of his role. It was a very busy time in the portfolio, and we worked together on many issues, both positive, such as planning the release of the Defence White Paper 2010, and in managing the Minister’s involvement in critical incidents such as the Pike River mine tragedy. There was never an occasion when his input did not become an integral part of the advice I gave the Minister. Sometimes it was more a matter of getting accurate, concise and coherent information from the NZDF in a timely manner and in this respect he was also extremely effective and completely reliable. It is not always easy to get quality information quickly from a large complex organisation.

I collaborated with Edward Poot in Kosovo in 1999/2000, when I was Head of Donor Coordination in the European Union Pillar of the UN Mission in Kosovo and he was the Senior Military Liaison Officer assigned to the EU Pillar. This was the period immediately following the conflict, when the physical infrastructure was under severe strain, and institutional and administrative structures were largely lacking. Resources were limited, while there was a political imperative to achieve results. Furthermore, the local population, though favourably disposed towards the international presence, were subject to numerous sensitivities. Collaboration between the military and civilian arms of the international presence was critical, as each was in a position to enhance or to hinder the effectiveness of the other. In this context Edward Poot, as the Senior Military Liaison Officer, played a key part. From the start Edward Poot worked tirelessly to facilitate maximum mutual support between the military and civilian actors. He quickly acquired an appreciation of the EU’s role in maintaining and reconstructing the physical infrastructure and in economic institution-building. His ability to understand complex and unfamiliar issues at both a conceptual and a practical level was impressive. His thoughtful and balanced approach to multi-faceted problems and strong commitment to finding pragmatic solutions were invaluable. He made a very positive contribution to the progress that was achieved in the months immediately after the conflict. Edward Poot is a skilled communicator. He is a good listener, and expresses himself articulately, adapting to different interlocutors. In dealing with people from diverse backgrounds he is perceptive and attentive to their sensitivities. Edward Poot has a steady and dependable character and an outgoing personality, and displays a high degree of integrity. He welcomes challenges and is unstinting in his efforts to meet them. He has much to contribute, and I recommend him unreservedly.

Edward was Military Secretary in the office of Hon Dr Wayne Mapp as Minister of Defence whilst I was Press Secretary. Edward was an excellent colleague in many ways, but I was particularly grateful for his assistance and suggestions relating to communications issues and planning, especially in media management. He has a very good intuitive understanding of how an issue will be perceived in the public arena and how it will play out in media. He is a very good, and highly experienced, planner who brought his skills to the communications space as effectively as in other aspects of his role. It was a very busy time in the portfolio, and we worked together on many issues, both positive, such as planning the release of the Defence White Paper 2010, and in managing the Minister’s involvement in critical incidents such as the Pike River mine tragedy. There was never an occasion when his input did not become an integral part of the advice I gave the Minister. Sometimes it was more a matter of getting accurate, concise and coherent information from the NZDF in a timely manner and in this respect he was also extremely effective and completely reliable. It is not always easy to get quality information quickly from a large complex organisation.

I collaborated with Edward Poot in Kosovo in 1999/2000, when I was Head of Donor Coordination in the European Union Pillar of the UN Mission in Kosovo and he was the Senior Military Liaison Officer assigned to the EU Pillar. This was the period immediately following the conflict, when the physical infrastructure was under severe strain, and institutional and administrative structures were largely lacking. Resources were limited, while there was a political imperative to achieve results. Furthermore, the local population, though favourably disposed towards the international presence, were subject to numerous sensitivities. Collaboration between the military and civilian arms of the international presence was critical, as each was in a position to enhance or to hinder the effectiveness of the other. In this context Edward Poot, as the Senior Military Liaison Officer, played a key part. From the start Edward Poot worked tirelessly to facilitate maximum mutual support between the military and civilian actors. He quickly acquired an appreciation of the EU’s role in maintaining and reconstructing the physical infrastructure and in economic institution-building. His ability to understand complex and unfamiliar issues at both a conceptual and a practical level was impressive. His thoughtful and balanced approach to multi-faceted problems and strong commitment to finding pragmatic solutions were invaluable. He made a very positive contribution to the progress that was achieved in the months immediately after the conflict. Edward Poot is a skilled communicator. He is a good listener, and expresses himself articulately, adapting to different interlocutors. In dealing with people from diverse backgrounds he is perceptive and attentive to their sensitivities. Edward Poot has a steady and dependable character and an outgoing personality, and displays a high degree of integrity. He welcomes challenges and is unstinting in his efforts to meet them. He has much to contribute, and I recommend him unreservedly.

Edward was Military Secretary in the office of Hon Dr Wayne Mapp as Minister of Defence whilst I was Press Secretary. Edward was an excellent colleague in many ways, but I was particularly grateful for his assistance and suggestions relating to communications issues and planning, especially in media management. He has a very good intuitive understanding of how an issue will be perceived in the public arena and how it will play out in media. He is a very good, and highly experienced, planner who brought his skills to the communications space as effectively as in other aspects of his role. It was a very busy time in the portfolio, and we worked together on many issues, both positive, such as planning the release of the Defence White Paper 2010, and in managing the Minister’s involvement in critical incidents such as the Pike River mine tragedy. There was never an occasion when his input did not become an integral part of the advice I gave the Minister. Sometimes it was more a matter of getting accurate, concise and coherent information from the NZDF in a timely manner and in this respect he was also extremely effective and completely reliable. It is not always easy to get quality information quickly from a large complex organisation.

I collaborated with Edward Poot in Kosovo in 1999/2000, when I was Head of Donor Coordination in the European Union Pillar of the UN Mission in Kosovo and he was the Senior Military Liaison Officer assigned to the EU Pillar. This was the period immediately following the conflict, when the physical infrastructure was under severe strain, and institutional and administrative structures were largely lacking. Resources were limited, while there was a political imperative to achieve results. Furthermore, the local population, though favourably disposed towards the international presence, were subject to numerous sensitivities. Collaboration between the military and civilian arms of the international presence was critical, as each was in a position to enhance or to hinder the effectiveness of the other. In this context Edward Poot, as the Senior Military Liaison Officer, played a key part. From the start Edward Poot worked tirelessly to facilitate maximum mutual support between the military and civilian actors. He quickly acquired an appreciation of the EU’s role in maintaining and reconstructing the physical infrastructure and in economic institution-building. His ability to understand complex and unfamiliar issues at both a conceptual and a practical level was impressive. His thoughtful and balanced approach to multi-faceted problems and strong commitment to finding pragmatic solutions were invaluable. He made a very positive contribution to the progress that was achieved in the months immediately after the conflict. Edward Poot is a skilled communicator. He is a good listener, and expresses himself articulately, adapting to different interlocutors. In dealing with people from diverse backgrounds he is perceptive and attentive to their sensitivities. Edward Poot has a steady and dependable character and an outgoing personality, and displays a high degree of integrity. He welcomes challenges and is unstinting in his efforts to meet them. He has much to contribute, and I recommend him unreservedly.