Len Cook,

Len Cook is a New Zealander working in official statistics. Since 1992 he has been at the head of two national statistical offices, most recently as the National Statistician of the United Kingdom from 2000 to 2005, and before that, from 1992 to 2000, he was the Government Statistician of New Zealand.  From 1971 to 1999, Len Cook was involved in a variety of roles in Statistics New Zealand.

Both the Office for National Statistics in the United Kingdom and Statistics New Zealand are at the forefront of statistical practice in many fields of official statistics.  Working there has provided extensive experience in statistical systems and processes, and the analysis and application of official statistics, and in the use of statistics in public life.  Through having leading roles in advancing the integrity of methods and practice of official statistics in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, Len Cook has been involved in understanding of official statistics within the European Union, across the Pacific, and more broadly through international organizations.

Len Cook is a Visiting Professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London, a Visiting Fellow at Nuffield College, Oxford since 2001 and was elected a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand in 2005.  Elected Vice-President of the International Statistics Institute (2005-2009).  He has been on the advisory group working with the OECD on its initiative on Global Progress Indicators.