HIGH-VALUE NUTRITION - Key Persons
Bob Major is one of Aotearoa New Zealand's leading business leaders in the dairy industry and beyond. After graduating from Massey University with a MSc he held various senior positions within the New Zealand Dairy Research Institute, the New Zealand Dairy Board, and Fonterra Co-operative Group, in the Middle East, Asia and New Zealand. Over the last ten years, Bob has focussed on governance roles, and is, or has been, a director of a range of companies including Sealord, Westland Co-operative Dairy Company, Comvita, Miro Berries and KiwiRail. He also chairs the Avocado Primary Growth Partnership.
Professor Clare Wall heads the Nutrition Department at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland and is the principal investigator of the HVN Infant Health Priority Research Programme. Her research interest is in the inter-relationships between the determinants of nutritional status and health outcomes of the paediatric population. Watch Professor Clare Wall describe HVN's Infant Health Priority Research Programme and the inter-relationships between the determinants of nutritional status and health outcomes of the paediatric population.
Job Titles:
- Director, New Zealand Trade and Enterprise ( Chair Toihau )
- Is Director
Craig Armstrong is Director (Customers) at New Zealand Trade & Enterprise. He has global executive and Board experience with Lion Nathan, Cadbury Schweppes, Hunterskil Howard, CPLG, National Foods and HJ Heinz. He is also trying to make a success of growing and commercialising edible oils from tree crops.
Dr Alison Watters was appointed to the HVN board in August 2019, and has over 20 years' experience in governance roles spanning the commercial, educational, sporting and farming sectors. Alison is currently Deputy Board Chair for the state-owned enterprise AsureQuality Ltd, who are global experts in food assurance and is an elected Director for Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd, a global genetics and agritech company. Alison has a scientific background in nutritional physiology having received a PhD from Massey University. Previously, Alison was the Director of Human Nutrition at Massey University involved in the development and management of academic teaching and research programmes centred around human health and well-being, and also a Technical Manager for Fonterra, during which time she was involved in commercialising food ingredient innovations internationally, specifically targeting human health.
Dr Chris Downs joined the HVN Board in 2018. Chris is currently the Director of the Food and Beverage Accelerator (FaBA) at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. Previously, Chris was General Manager, Crop & Food Science, Agri-Science Queensland at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, and prior to this was the Research Director (Food) for the Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Agriculture and Food. As a member of the CSIRO Agriculture and Food Executive, Chris led the delivery of science and innovation underpinning the development of healthy, safe and sustainable foods, food ingredients and beverages for Australia's food industry and global consumers. Chris has previously held executive positions in Food Science Australia, CSIRO Food and Nutritional Sciences, CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences and at the New Zealand Institute for Crop & Food Research, where he has had responsibilities including; science leadership, organisational innovation strategy development, government investment portfolio leadership, business development and commercialisation. He has previously held directorships in companies involved in innovation and commercialisation in the seafood and biomaterials sectors. Chris is currently a Director and Chair/President of the Institute for Food Technologists (IFT) in the USA.
Job Titles:
- Plant & Food Research, Auckland
- Senior Scientist With the Consumer Team
Dr Denise Conroy is a Senior Scientist with the Consumer Team, Plant and Food Research, based at the Mt Albert campus. Denise is a Consumer Behaviourist, specialising in understanding the attitudes, emotions, values and cognitions that motivate people to consume specific products, brands or experiences, or to reject these offerings. As an interpretivist researcher Denise is a skilled methodologist, and is very experienced at leading complex teams, across different disciplines, and from diverse backgrounds, to reach a common goal. Much of Denise's research is Asia focussed; current projects include an exploration of how organic labels on fresh fruit and vegetables are processed and interpreted in Vietnam; why organic is considered to be part of status expression in South Korea, as opposed to any reference to sustainability or the green movement, and, as PI of the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge, exploring how Chinese consumers construe the relationships between food and health. Watch Dr Denise Conroy talk about the HVN Consumer Insights programme.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor in Nutrition, University of Auckland
Dr Fiona Lithander has joined HVN from the University of Bristol to take up the role of Associate Professor in Nutrition. Fiona is a registered dietitian and nutrition scientist who took her PhD in nutritional physiology from the University of Cambridge in the area of human energy metabolism and appetite regulation. Her post-doctoral research training included a post-doc and lectureship at the University of Auckland between 2001 and 2006, before academic positions at Trinity College Dublin, the Australian National University and the University of Bristol. Fiona also practices as a dietitian in the area of performance sport. Fiona is working on the new large HVN-funded clinical trial, He Rourou Whai Painga.
Job Titles:
- Research Operations Manager for the New Zealand High - Value Nutrition ( HVN ) National Science Challenge
Helen Madden is the Research Operations Manager for the New Zealand High-Value Nutrition (HVN) National Science Challenge. Helen joined the HVN Challenge team from the University of Auckland's Faculty of Science where she worked as a Research Programme Manager for the School of Chemical Sciences, supporting the delivery and implementation of research programmes, projects and goals in alignment with the School's research strategy. Formerly, Helen worked within the University's National Research Collaborations team where she gained extensive knowledge of the National Science Challenges, particularly in relation to contracting and contestable funding rounds. Prior to joining the University of Auckland, Helen worked as a Research Officer at Massey University where she gained a masters' degree in Psychology, conducting research into nutritional health, and a PhD in Health Psychology.
Jane Mullaney is the Vision Mātauranga Leader for the High-Value Nutrition Ko Ngā Kai Whai Painga National Science Challenge. Jane is a senior scientist at AgResearch, Adjunct Senior Researcher for Massey University and an Associate Investigator for the Riddet Institute. Her key expertise is in the microbiome. Jane has worked on HVN's Infant Health and Digestive Health Priority Research Programmes as an Associate Investigator. She is also part of the research team for two HVN Contestable Fund projects, working with the Macorja Group to develop a Rongoā beverage and with Ngāti Kuia on understanding and characterising the effects of maramataka of Kānuka harvesting.
Job Titles:
- Team Leader at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
Dr Olivier Gasser's research interests lie in the bidirectional communication between the immune system and host metabolism, with a strong emphasis on the gut and its resident microbes. Dr Gasser's position and research area will ensure the Malaghan Institute's research efforts will be a key pillar of the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge. He brings much experience in evaluating novel mechanistic aspects of the human immune system that could provide immediate impact to the fields of immune health as it relates to cancer, inflammatory and infectious diseases. Watch Dr Olivier Gasser talk about HVN's Immune Health Priority Research Programme.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- Executive Assistant for the High - Value Nutrition National Science Challenge
Eleanor Surtida is the Executive Assistant for the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge. She has over a decade of administration skills. Eleanor also has experience and understanding of research environments in the tertiary education sector and is committed to supporting science research programmes that make a difference to people's lives.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chancellor
- Professor in Neonatology
Professor Frank Bloomfield is the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) for the University of Auckland, taking up the role in March 2023. Prior to this, he was Director of the Liggins Institute, one of the University's Large Scale Research Institutes.
Frank is a Professor in Neonatology, having worked clinically for many years as a Consultant Neonatologist at Auckland City Hospital. Frank was previously President of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and the Perinatal Society of New Zealand. Frank took a BSc (first class honours) in Experimental Immunology and Oncology and a MBChB at the University of Manchester. Frank trained in paediatrics in the north-west of England, obtaining MRCP, before moving to New Zealand where he specialised in neonatal paediatrics, obtaining FRACP. He took a PhD in paediatrics at the University of Auckland and spent two years in Toronto as a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Toronto and a neonatal transport fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children. He was appointed as a Senior Lecturer in Neonatology at the University of Auckland and a specialist neonatologist at Auckland City Hospital in 2002.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director, Firstlight Foods
Gerard Hickey has over 10 years of experience as Managing Director and Co-Owner of Firstlight Foods Ltd and brings his knowledge and skills in business strategy and innovation, consumer preferences, marketing and sales, value chain structures, and product development. He has a background in the New Zealand animal agricultural sector with a focus on promoting the provenance of premium grass-fed beef and lamb and developing sustainable pasture to plate processes.
Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh is a world-renowned food scientist. In addition to leading the Food Science and Technology programme at Massey University, he is also Director of the Riddet Institute and leads the Science of Food programme for High-Value Nutrition. His research has focused on food colloids, food ingredient functionality, functional foods and the food structure-nutrition interface. He has published more than 300 research papers and is the co-inventor of 12 patents which have been the basis of several commercial innovations. His international standing has been recognised by national and international awards, including the Prime Minister's Science Prize. He serves on several national and international committees advising on food strategy, development and implementation. Watch Distinguished Professor Harjinder Singh talk about the Science of Food Programme and its role in the HVN Challenge.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Human Nutrition Unit
Associate Professor Jennifer Miles-Chan is a Director of the Human Nutrition Unit in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland, and principal investigator of the Metabolic Health programme. Jennifer's research focuses on inter-individual variability in nutritional energetics and the regulation of body composition and metabolism - in essence, trying to work out why some of us are more susceptible to obesity and metabolic disease than others, and how we might be able to tailor prevention and treatment strategies accordingly.
Job Titles:
- Food Scientist
- Nutrition & Regulatory Affairs Manager, Frucor Suntory
Jennifer Yee Collinson is a food scientist and New Zealand registered dietitian. An industry consultant and nutrition & regulatory affairs manager for Frucor Suntory, her roles have encompassed public health, product development, nutrition communications, nutrition and health claims regulatory compliance and research partnerships with Crown research agencies and universities. Professional activities have included the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation council, the Health Star Rating advisory group; and currently the New Zealand Food and Grocery Council health & technical working group, and the Australian Beverages Council public affairs and technical & regulatory affairs committees. She is past chair of the New Zealand Fruit & Vegetable Alliance working group and past president of Food Writers New Zealand. In her spare time, she is a sourdough maker, an avid culinary tourist and loves walking.
Joanne Todd leads the Challenge Directorate team. She joined the Challenge from Fonterra Co-operative Ltd, where for over 20 years she held several nutrition and management roles with a focus on combining business development, science, regulatory and marketing activities, with an emphasis on Asian export markets. She has led and developed globally based cross-functional teams to deliver on a portfolio of projects and has built consumer insight, clinical research, and product development programmes that have delivered successful commercial outcomes increasing revenue for Fonterra's consumer brands business. Her experience includes work across many areas including maternal, paediatric, immunity and mobility platforms, bringing vast experience in consumer-led innovation, combined with commercial acumen and understanding of the global consumer goods market and international regulatory environments.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Colorado 's School of Medicine
Nancy Krebs is Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Colorado's School of Medicine, and the Vice Chair of Academic Affairs at the University. Her research interest is in zinc and trace mineral nutrition, defining dietary requirements and evaluating the metabolic regulation and adaptation to different intakes and physiologic states and treatment of adolescent obesity.
Professor Nicole Roy is with the Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Otago Professor Roy has research interests in nutrition and health, host-microbiome interactions, gastrointestinal physiology, and gut-brain communication. She is based in Palmerston North and leads the Digestive Health Priority Research Programme for the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge. Professor Roy completed her PhD in Canada and the United States and postdoctoral studies in Scotland, where she focused on how nutrition and food components can modify inter-organ nutrient partitioning and communication using tracer kinetics, animal models and in vitro models. She is also an Adjunct Professor at the Riddet Institute and a Principal Investigator in the Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence. Watch Professor Nicole Roy talk about the HVN Digestive Health Priority Research Programme.
Paul Te Poa Karoro Morgan has served as chair of Kono NZ LLP since 2011, and as chair of Kono's owner, Wakatu Incorporation, since 1986. Paul's career has been at the forefront of economic development for the Maori community for nearly 30 years, during this time he has had many directorships and roles with Government across agribusiness, science and business. Paul served as chief executive of the Federation of Maori Authorities, representing the interests of Maori business, from 1996 to 2007. He was awarded a QSO for services to Maori business in the New Years' Honours in 2010. Paul as Chair of Wakatu Inc. has lead the evolution of the whanau business Kono NZ LLP a fully integrated business which, markets seafood, wine, horticultural produce and fruit leather from its lands and aquaculture farms in Te Tau Ihu, top South Island. Kono employs over 500 people with sales to 40 plus countries in the Kono brand. Paul in his capacity of Managing Director, Fomana Capital Ltd is currently involved with a range of other businesses and organisations spanning the nutraceutical, food ingredient, functional foods, cosmetics, aquaculture, food & beverage sectors and financial services.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Nutritional Immunology
Philip Calder is the Professor of Nutritional Immunology, Human Development & Health, Academic Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK. Phillip Calder is a New Zealander who is Professor of Nutritional Immunology at the University of Southampton. His research is broad but focuses on the nutritional modulation of immunity, inflammation and cardiometabolic disease risk. Professor Calder trained at Massey University, the University of Auckland and Oxford University. He has over 500 scientific publications and is listed by Thomson Reuters as a Highly Cited Researcher.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Human Nutrition at the Liggins Institute
Richard Mithen is a Professor of Human Nutrition at the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland and Chief Scientist for the New Zealand High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge. Following a PhD at the University of East Anglia and several years working in south central Africa on the conservation of wild crop relatives, Richard was a group leader at the John Innes Centre and Professor of Crop Science at the University of Nottingham prior to moving to the Institute of Food Research in 2003. Richard has played a major role in the development of the Quadram Institute, a new institute on the Norwich Research Park that combines food and nutritional science with human microbiome research and clinical expertise. Richard's major research interests are at the interface between crop and food science and human nutrition. Richard migrated to New Zealand in 2019. More information about Professor Mithen's role within HVN can be watched here.
Rodney Wong is a stalwart of the New Zealand food industry, with over twenty five years experience across the private and public sectors. With an initial background in production technology, he was CEO of Pacific Brands Foods for over 10 years - and more recently held senior roles with Noske Kaeser NZ Ltd, Conzept Engineering Solutions Ltd; WMC Technology; Lindsay International and Lowe Products Ltd. He is a former Chair of Crop and Food Research and led the merger to form Plant & Food Research before becoming Deputy Chair. Mr Wong is a member of the Massey University College of Business Advisory Board, and is also a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors; a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology; the Executive Chair of Speirs Nutritional LLP; Director of Scanpower Ltd; the Chair of Manchester House Social Services Inc; and a Trustee of Central Energy Trust.
Job Titles:
- Innovation Delivery Project Specialist, Comvita
Sarita Males has a Bachelor of Technology (Bio-Technology and Bio-Process Engineering) from Massey University and post graduate qualifications in Dairy Science and Technology, and Business Administration (Finance). Her previous career experience includes roles with Douglas Nutrition, The Foodbowl and Food Innovation Network, New Zealand Dairy Board, New Zealand Dairy Ingredients, wheat producer Manildra Group (London and New South Wales), Ogilvy Interactive Worldwide (London), Terralink International Ltd and the Hyperfactory.
Sean Strain is the Emeritus Professor, Human Nutrition, Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health (NICHE), Ulster University, Ireland. Sean Strain is internationally recognised for his micronutrient research - specifically in the areas of trace element nutrition, fatty acid metabolism and in B vitamin metabolism.
Job Titles:
- General Manager of Advanced Nutrition at the Fonterra Research
- General Manager, Advanced Nutrition, Fonterra Research and Development Centre, Palmerston North
Tim Carroll is the General Manager of Advanced Nutrition at the Fonterra Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North, leading a team of over 50 people, with responsibility for developing new ingredients and substantiating new benefits from dairy to address the health and nutrition needs of consumers globally. He's been with Fonterra for over 20 years and holds degrees from Cornell University in USA and University College Dublin in Ireland.
Job Titles:
- Senior Marketing and Communications Advisor
Treena Brown, Senior Marketing and Communications Advisor | Kaitohutohu Matua Whakawhitinga, Whakatairanga
Treena Brown joined the HVN Challenge from the University of Auckland Business School, where she was the Marketing Content Manager. Treena is an experienced writer and editor with over 20 years' publishing, marketing and communications experience in the United Kingdom and New Zealand in the areas of science, medicine, law, business and economics, engineering and tertiary education.
Vicky Taylor is an experienced food industry professional who was worked in a variety of multinational and entrepreneurial businesses in New Zealand, in a range of roles from sales and marketing through general management and governance. Over the last 25 years, she has broadened her experience from manufactured food and beverages, to governance experience that includes tourism, quick service restaurants and science organisations. Vicky is a proud New Zealander who enjoys contributing back to our overall wellbeing as a nation.