ECR Forum Committee Members

About

Committee members of the ECR Forum generally commit to serving a three-year term. Committee members will be selected with concern for the ECR Forum’s representativeness regarding gender, ethnicity, geographic location, occupational sector, and disciplinary affiliation. Co-chairs will generally serve a two year term, followed by a single year as a committee member.

Kristie Cameron - Co-chair (Unitec)

Kristie is an Associate Professor in the School of Environmental and Animal Sciences at Unitec in Animal Behaviour Science and an emerging researcher in the field of experimental and applied animal behaviour. Kristie’ research focus is using behavioural economics and applied behaviour analysis to study captive, companion and laboratory animal behaviour and husbandry to improve and inform animal welfare science and educate owners and animal handlers.

Gergely Toldi - Co-chair (University of Auckland)

Gergely is a senior lecturer in neonatology at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland. His research primarily focuses on early life development of the immune response and understanding the immunological background of complications affecting preterm and term neonates as well as pregnant women. He also has significant results on the pathomechanism of various autoimmune disorders. He contributed to developing novel flow cytometry based diagnostic and experimental methods. In his clinical role, he works as a consultant neonatologist at Starship Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He is an alumnus of the Global Young Academy.

Mahonri Owen - Co-chair (University of Waikato)

Dr Mahonri Owen is a senior lecturer and researcher in the School of Engineering at the University of Waikato, known for his work in neural prosthetics. His work examines the intricate relationships between people, technology, and the environment, with a particular emphasis on developing assistive technologies to enhance the quality of life for amputees. Dr. Owen is committed to integrating mātauranga Māori into his research and teaching. Dr. Owen's work is characterized by a blend of cutting-edge technology and cultural heritage, making significant strides in both scientific innovation and the empowerment of indigenous communities.

Dr Htin Lin Aung - ECR Council Member (University of Otago)

Dr Htin Lin Aung is a Sir Charles Hercus Health Research Fellow at the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin. Dr Aung obtained his BSc (Hons) in Genetics and then PhD in Microbiology from the University of Otago. A molecular biologist by training, Dr Aung is a firm believer in making a difference to society using a multi-sectoral approach assisted by innovative technologies. Dr Aung leads a multi-disciplinary research programme that is focused on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and health inequality using tuberculosis (TB) as an exemplar. Dr Aung’s research integrates molecular biology, clinical microbiology, molecular epidemiology, public health and social science disciplines. Dr Aung’s team work closely with key stakeholders such as communities and policymakers to translate their research into tangible health benefits.

Htin is a Councillor on the Royal Society Te Apārangi Council from 2024 until 30 June 2025. 

Karly Burch - Committee Member(University of Auckland)

Dr Karly Burch (she/her) is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Auckland. She specializes in feminist and anticolonial science and technology studies (STS), ethnographic methods and collaborative research strategies, and her research agenda addresses questions of social and environmental justice related to health, food and technology. Karly’s current research projects explore the material politics of nuclear pollution, artificially intelligent robotics in agriculture and collaborative research for sustainable technofutures. She received a PhD in sociology from the University of Otago and an MSc in agroecology from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and ISARA-Lyon. You can learn more about Karly and her research at www.karlyburch.com.

Ritodhi Chakraborty – Committee Member (Lincoln University)

Ritodhi Chakraborty is a parent, immigrant and political ecologist/interdisciplinary social scientist that collaborates with indigenous and agrarian communities to explore pathways of environmental and social justice. For the past decade, he has worked with various universities, think-tanks, public and civil society institutions across the world. Currently, his work and activism are focused on climate justice and building a more inclusive and empathetic science and research sector in Aotearoa. 

Louise Hennessy – Committee Member (AgResearch)

Joya Kemper - Committee Member (University of Canterbury)

Joya is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Canterbury. She is passionate about transforming our economic and market system towards sustainable, ethical, and healthy consumption and production with a focus on behaviour, organisational and institutional change. Joya's research centres on four key themes: Business transformation (circular economy, waste reduction, sociopolitical activism), Sustainable and Healthy Eating (such as meat reduction, future foods/alternative proteins), Social Change (behaviour change, social and institutional change) and Education for Sustainable Development. She is an advocate for transdisciplinary research, believing that wicked problems will only be solved with multi-sector collaboration.

Jie Kang - Committee Member (Beef + Lamb New Zealand)

Jie is a quantitative geneticist working for Beef + Lamb New Zealand, an organization that oversees the New Zealand Genetic Evaluation (NZGE), which predicts the genetic merit of approximately 11 million sheep on a weekly basis. Currently, Jie is contributing to the development of a beef genetic evaluation system as part of the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) program, which aims to increase the profits of our primary sector by $460 million over the next 25 years.

Jie serves on the executive committee of the New Zealand Statistical Association (NZSA) and is involved with the Virtual Institute of Statistical Genetics at Genetics Otago. In addition to his research work, Jie volunteers for Hato Hone St John, runs marathons to raise funds for the Starship Foundation, and occasionally participates in mixed martial arts competitions. 

Olivia Truax - Committee Member (University of Canterbury)

Dr. Olivia Truax is a lecturer in the School of Earth and Environment at the University of Canterbury. Olivia’s research focuses on the history of the Antarctic and Greenland ice sheets and their response to a warming climate. Her current projects examine the past, present, and future of ice sheet meltwater and its impacts on climate in Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Ery Hughes - Committee Member (Te Pū Ao GNS Science)

Ery is a Volcanic Fluid Geochemist at Te Pū Ao GNS Science and part of the Technical Team for Volcanica, the Diamond open-access journal for all things volcano-related. She uses experiments, modelling, and natural samples to understand the influence of gas on volcanic eruption dynamics, how to interpret gas emission data for volcano monitoring, and model planetary-scale volatile cycling. She is also a GeoNet Volcano Duty officer and helps to collect, analyse, and interpret gas and fluid samples collected from volcanoes and geothermal systems for monitoring Aotearoa’s volcanoes.

Te Rerekohu Tuterangiwhiu - Committee Member (Cawthron Institute)

Ehara ahau i te purupuru i te takā. Pātaua ia ko ō tama purupuru he tama purupuru marire, ko
āhau ko Ngati Rangi, nō te angaanga tītī iho i te rangi’. Ka tukuna mā tāku Ngāti-Rangitanga,
otirā, mā tāku aroha nui ki tāku Ngāpuhitanga, e wāwāhi i āku nei kōrero taki. I tupu ake ahau i
roto i te Tai Tokerau, i Moerewa, i Kaikohe. Ā, ko te reo te mauri o tōku mana Māori i te ao i te
pō. Ko te ao Māori te tāhuhu nui o āku mahi katoa. Ko tāku nei kaupapa, ‘kia eke te maiaiō ki
runga ki ngā here katoa o te Tai-ao, kia tupu ritorito, kia tupu wanawana. 

I am currently a Kaiārahi Rangahau Kaimōana at Cawthron Institute in Nelson. I hold formal qualifications in Mātauranga Māori, Marine Biology and Aquaculture. I have special interests in areas where Science and the building blocks of the natural world interact
with ngā Pūtaiao and mātauranga Tuku iho. In particular the re-emergence of traditional and
customary practices and those practices that are encompassing of Manaakitanga and Kaitiakitanga
in Te Ao Tūroa. I am a Marine Biologist and Researcher in several projects at the Cawthron
Institute that is spread across Shellfish and Finfish Aquaculture, Aquatic Animal Health, and
Seafood Safety, and I believe there is a place for te reo o Te Ao Māori to be heard in these kaupapa.
I am the project co-leader for the Whakaika-Te-Moana project, supported by the Innovation Fund
of the Sustainable Seas Science Challenge, and the co-leader of the Te Kete Rau-Kotahi project
supported by the VMCF in 2021.

Kwasi Adusei-Fosu - Committee Member (AgResearch)

Kwasi is the Science Team Leader & Senior Scientist Pathologist (Plant-Endophyte) in the Resilient Agriculture Group for AgResearch-NZ. He has experiences in plant/forest disease epidemiology, disease control, genomics, detection/diagnostics and pathogen adaptation. He has worked as a Plant Pathologist in England, Canada, and New Zealand on soil-borne and foliar pathogens especially for oomycetes (e.g. Phytophthora agathidicida, Phytopthora pluvialis) and fungi (e.g. Fusarium spp. , Austropuccinia psidii, Dothistroma septosporum) as well as beneficial microbes. He earned his PhD in England at the University of Nottingham-UK after receiving his master’s degree in his homeland, Ghana. Kwasi was awarded as a Commonwealth Scholar in UK and with stints of post-doctoral positions in Canada and New Zealand, has enjoyed working with ECR’s. He loves science outreach activities programmes and exploring opportunities in the plant pathology space relevant to New Zealand’s Agriculture sector.

Yvonne Ualesi - Committee Member (Auckland University of Technology)

Yvonne Ualesi is a Lecturer at the School of Education, Te Wānanga Aronui o Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland University of Technology. Yvonne’s PhD research developed culturally responsive multi-methods, drawing on Va Relational theory and Pasifika methodologies in youth mentoring as a strategy of adolescent development. Her PhD mahi also developed key ingredients in youth mentoring practice to enact culturally responsive, sustaining and safe practice. Yvonne completed her PhD in 2021 at the University of Auckland, where she was a Doctoral Scholar. Her interests include the amplification of Indigenous knowledge systems both in adolescent development and initial teacher education. She is a staunch advocate for research that is authentically grounded in familial and communal approaches.

Tia Haira (Tuhourangi Ngati Wahiao, Ngati Whakaaue, Ngati Pikiao, Tuwharetoa) - Committee Member (ESR)

Ko Tuturu te maunga
Ko Puarenga te awa
Ko Te Arawa te waka
Ko Te Pakira te marae
Ko Tuhourangi te iwi
Ko Ngati Wahiao te hapū
Nō Rotorua ahau
Ko Tia Huia Haira ahau 

Tia is a Biomedical Scientist having completed her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Victoria University of Wellington. She has a research background in chemical genetics, immunology, establishing, and managing biobanks and working at the interface of mātauranga Māori and western science systems.

Tia currently holds a unique position at ESR as a science leader, in this role she leads Hauora for Māori impact. She is currently involved in the development of research with iwi in infectious diseases and Rongoa Māori. She strongly advocates for Māori engagement in the research sector and enabling access to data and governance of data that best serves the needs of Māori.