Executive Members

Organisation: UNITEC

Job Title: Senior Lecturer

Time in the job: 23 years

What motivates you to be involved in biosecurity?

Despite being Scottish by birth, I moved to New Zealand over thirty years ago and fell in love with this incredible country. Having a background in agriculture and a passion for New Zealand’s unique and beautiful environment, it seems only nature to want to protect the physical and social fabric of this land from the impact of invasive pests and diseases.

What has been your career path to your current position?

I studied an Honours degree, Bachelor of Science, specialising in Animal Science at Aberdeen University in the cold north of Scotland. After completion of a research Summer Studentship in piglet nutrition at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen I undertook and completed a PhD in protein nutrition of lactating dairy cows at the institute. I was then extremely lucky to be offered a two year Post-doctoral fellowship in the Animal Science Department at Lincoln University. The project included field studies of the protein requirement of lambs consuming pasture. After the completion of the fellowship and having got married, I moved to Rotorua and worked at Bay of Plenty Polytechnic implementing a certificate programme in Applied Animal Technology. In 1993 I moved, with my husband, to Molokai in Hawaii where he was Operations Director for Molokai Ranch and I ran the private Wildlife Park. In 1996 we moved back to New Zealand the following year I was employed by Unitec to write NZQA approved programme documents. Since then I have had a range of positions including teaching in animal husbandry, breeding and nutrition, captive wild animal husbandry and environmental risk and biosecurity, academic leader of programmes such as the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing and the Bachelor of Applied Technology. In addition, I am active in applied research in the biosecurity and conservation fields. I have been very lucky to be encourages by Mel Galbraith, Unitec, to study a Post Graduate Diploma in Biosecurity and Conservation at Auckland University with Drs Margaret Stanley and Imogen Bassett. This allowed me to expand my knowledge into the biosecurity field, which has definitely become my passion. Being employed by Unitec has had its ups and downs but my position within the organisation has continuously evolved creating ongoing challenges.

What makes up a normal day for you?

As I only work part-time, there is a lot to squeeze into my three days a week. My schedule may include teaching students in either our on-site degree programme or our zoo keeping students who study in a system of blended learning. With Covid-19, there has been significant pressure to move all teaching, including block course to on-line learning. Although this has meant a lot of work it has provided opportunities for development personally and potential programme opportunities. Research is a significant part of my workload, particularly the development of industry/student research projects. These provide students to study real life problems and, hopefully, find some answers to industry questions. I am very grateful for the support that has been given to my students by industry and NZBI.

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

I love the applied nature of the learning in our programmes, particularly in collaboration with industry, whether this be field trips or student research projects. Our aim is produce job-ready students with a range of skills, which I hope we achieve. My grandfather was a school principle, so I guess I have inherited his passion for learning and the education of others. There is nothing better than watching a young person find their passion and blossom both within their study/career pathway as well as personally.

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What motivates you to be involved in biosecurity?

What has been your career path to your current position?

What makes up a normal day for you?

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

Organisation: Connovation Ltd

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Organisation: Auckland Council

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Organisation: Tasman District Council

Job title: Biosecurity Officer

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Organisation: Boffa Miskell

Job Title: Biosecurity Consultant

Time in the job: 4 years

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Organisation: Ministry for Primary Industries

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Organisation: Greater Wellington Regional Council

Job title: Team Leader Biosecurity – Pest Plants

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Name: Brad Chandler

Organisation: Department of Conservation

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Organisation: Otago Regional Council

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Organisation: Biosecurity New Zealand | Ministry for Primary Industries

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What motivates you to be involved in biosecurity?

What has been your career path to your current position?

What makes up a normal day for you?

What do you enjoy the most about your job?

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Time in the job:

What motivates you to be involved in biosecurity?

What has been your career path to your current position?

What makes up a normal day for you?

What do you enjoy the most about your job?