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Brief biographical information on NZFSA Academy members

Associate Professor Michael Baker
Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences
University of Otago (medical science)

Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Otago, Wellington.

A public health physician and Director of Continuing Professional Development for New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine. Has worked extensively on the surveillance, investigation and control of infectious diseases.

Research interests include the epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases, population health strategies to control infectious diseases, the role of health determinants such as housing conditions, how infectious diseases cross boarders, and international health.

Helped form and co-directs He Kainga Oranga: the Housing and Health Research Programme at the University of Otago.

Dr Tim Blackmore
Infectious Diseases Physician and Microbiologist (medical science)

Dr Tim Blackmore is based in Wellington. Provides both clinical and laboratory support for Capital and Coast (CC) and Hutt Valley District Health Boards (DHBs).

Chairs the Infection Control Committee at CCDHB. Particular interests in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), viral hepatisis, zoononses and orthopaedic infections.

On Ministry of Health advisory committees for HIV and vaccines and antiobiotic resistance.

Professor John Brooks
Auckland University of Technology (food technology/science)

Professor John Brooks is a microbiologist specialising in food microbiology.

Research interests include the study of microbial biofilms, with particular reference to the food and dairy processing industries and related food safety and hazard analysis.

Previous research includes methanol-based single cell protein process and C1 metabolism.

Dr Vincent St Aubyn Crump (allergens)

Dr Vincent St Aubyn Crump is a Consultant Physician. Since 1994 has specialised in Allergic Diseases of Adults and Children. Established the Auckland Allergy Clinic in 1984 and continues to manage this clinic. Also runs Allergy clinics at Wellington Hospital.

Has written a number of review articles on Allergy, developed Patient Education Aids and frequently participates in public and professional presentations on Allergy. He recently published Allergies: the Growing New Zealand Epidemic.

Holds professional memberships of the following organisations:

• The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology & Allergy;

• The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology;

• The British Society for Allergy & Clinical Immunology;

• The European Academy of Allergology & Clinical Immunology;

• The Australian & New Zealand Society of Occupational Medicine; and

• The Thoracic Society of Australia & New Zealand.

Professor Nigel French
Massey University (microbiology/food safety)

Co-Director of Massey University EpiCentre (veterinary epidemiology training and research centre). Professor of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health.

Professional interests include molecular epidemiology and risk research food, and environmental pathogens, particularly Campylobacter, E. coli and Salmonella.

Animal welfare interests include colic and sporting injury in horses, lameness in cattle, ectoparasites in cattle and sheep.

Dr John Hellstrom
Consultant in primary production (primary production)

Dr John Hellstrom is a biosecurity consultant who has been involved in biosecurity for most of his working life. Participated in a number of reviews and projects aimed at improving our overall biosecurity systems, led the team that produced New Zealand’s biosecurity strategy in 2003 and undertook similar work for the Victorian State Government and the Falkland Islands. Has led reviews for NZFSA of standards for imported foods and for dealing with the food borne risks of BSE.

Currently chairs a working group addressing the risks associated with cadmium accumulation in New Zealand pastoral soils, and a research consortium developing alternatives to 1080 for possum control. Has recently been appointed as the chair of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.

Professor Janet Hoek
University of Otago (social science)

Professor Janet Hoek’s research interests include marketing regulation and public policy.

Has published widely on food marketing regulation and work has examined consumers' understanding of alternative nutrition label formats. Has worked extensively with policy makers and non-government organisations (NGOs) and was appointed an expert advisor to the Health Select Committee Enquiry into Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity. Is currently a principal investigator in a research consortium evaluating the Ministry of Health’s Healthy eating, healthy action strategy, and a member of an Health Research Council (HRC) funded team examining junk food marketing and sport.

Has worked extensively in tobacco control and is a member of the Tupeka Kore Vision steering committee and the Ministry of Health Tobacco Control Research Strategy group. Is currently leading a HRC funded project on generic packaging and tobacco products.

Dr Andrew Hudson,
Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (microbiology/food safety)

Dr Andrew Hudson is a senior scientist in the Food Safety Programme at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) in Christchurch.

Areas of scientific interest include: the biocontrol of foodborne pathogens, particularly using bacteriophages (phages). In Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST) and industry-funded projects, the ESR phage team has been isolating, characterising and assessing such phages for potential applications along the farm to fork continuum. Maintains an interest in foodborne pathogens in general, but with particular focus on Campylobacter, pathogenic Escherichia coli, and Yersinia.

Previously worked at Meat Industry Research in New Zealand (MIRINZ) on aspects of meat microbiology, specifically concerning the psychrotolerant pathogens Listeria monocytogenes, motile aeromonads and Y. enterocolitica.

Is a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology.

Dr Lynne Lane, (public health)

Dr Lynne Lane is Chief Executive Officer of Affordable Healthcare. Has over 15 years experience in health services strategic planning, funding and service management.

Holds a dual role with the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine (AFPHM): Chair of the New Zealand Committee of the AFPHM, Vice President of the AFPHM. The faculty sets standards and provides training for Public Health Physicians in New Zealand:

Previously held a range of senior positions in the health sector including National Director of Public Health for the Ministry of Public Health, member of the Board of Directors for PHARMAC, General Manager, Public Health for the Central Regional Health Authority and the acting General Manager Funding for Auckland District Health Board.

Professor Jim Mann
Otago University (nutrition)

Professor of Human Nutrition and Medicine. Research focuses on prediabetic states, in particular their association with cardiovascular risk and the potential of nutritional factors to reduce risk of progression to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Other research interests relate to novel cardiovascular risk factors, their interactions and the health consequences of vegetarianism.

Is consultant physician (Endocrinology) at Dunedin Hospital.

Dr John Monro
New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research Ltd (nutrition)

Dr John Munro’s research focuses on the roles of available and unavailable (dietary fibre) carbohydrates in human nutrition and health.

Introduced the concepts of:

• Glycaemic Glucose Equivalents (GGE) for dietary management of the glycaemic impact of health;

• Wheat Bran Equivalents for dietary management of large bowel function; and

• Virtual Food Components to represent food functionality in Food Composition Databases.

Also introduced methods for physiological analysis of dietary fibre and glycaemic impact in vitro.

Recently served on American Association of Cereal Chemists International Committee advising the United States Food and Drug Administration on the definition of glycaemic carbohydrates. Is the Crop and Food Research contact person in the Nutrition and Health Team for carbohydrates, dietary fibre and glycaemia.

Dr Peter Roberts
Consultant in irradiation (irradiation)

Dr Peter Roberts is the New Zealand representative on several international committees on food irradiation and the author of Irradiation of Foods in the Encyclopaedia of Food Science, Food Technology and Nutrition.

Responsible for a major 1984 evaluation of the potential of food irradiation in New Zealand. Senior scientist and manager at the DSIR (Institute of Nuclear Sciences) and the CRI Geological and Nuclear Sciences from 1974-2001. Since 2001 he has been a consultant, mainly to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Associate Professor Robert Scragg
School of Population Health, Auckland University (epidemiology)

Associate Professor, Epidemiology and Biostatistics.

Research interests include Vitamin D and health, obesity prevention, tobacco prevention, nutrition surveys and diabetes.

Lead researcher on Pacific Obesity Prevention In Communities (OPIC) project.

Professor Ian Shaw
University of Canterbury (toxicologist/food safety scientist)

Professor of Toxicology in the Department of Chemistry, University of Canterbury.

Author of Is it safe to eat?: This book was the basis for the TV One series Is It Safe To Eat?, with each programme featuring one of the book's chapters. Is highly regarded as an international expert on food safety and a passionate communicator of science.

Has had over 20 years experience in academia, industry and government in the United Kingdom (UK) and New Zealand. This includes chairing the UK Pesticide Residues Committee and working as the National Food Safety Programme Manager at the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR), based in Christchurch.

Professor Murray Skeaff
Otago University (human nutrition)

Professor Murray Skeaff’s research interests include: the nutritional properties of fatty acids; identifying suitable biological markers for fat intake; examining the relationship between dietary and blood fatty acids and disease risk; diet and cardio-vascular risk factors; folate, homocysteine and cognitive function; folate and vitamin D.

Member of the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) consultation and advisory groups for folate fortification. Chairs the National Heart Foundation’s Food and Nutrition Working Group. Member of National Heart Foundation’s Public Health Scientific Advisory Group.

Temporary Advisor: World Health Organisation (WHO) Scientific Update on Trans Fatty Acids. Panel member: WHO Expert Consultation on Fats and Fatty Acids in Human Health.

Vice-chancellor David Skegg
Vice Chancellor at Otago University (epidemiology)

Vice-chancellor David Skegg is an internationally-renowned cancer researcher. Leading expert on breast and cervical cancer, contraceptive and drug safety, and reproductive health.

Chair of the BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis) Expert Science Panel.

Dr Wayne Temple
National Poisons Centre (toxicology)

Dr Wayne Temple is Director, New Zealand National Poisons Centre, University of Otago.

Research interests: toxicology, toxicovigilance, epidemiology of poisoning, poisoning management, management of hazardous substances, environmental toxicology.