Academic and Professional Background
I am Director of Lincoln University’s Agribusiness and Food Marketing programme, a senior lecturer in Agribusiness Management and Director of agribusiness consultancy Aglobal Ltd. My research focus is on value creation in agri-food supply chains and sustainable food systems.
Recent and current research projects include the MPI funded “Grass-Fed Wagyu Beef Primary Growth Partnership” (Firstlight Foods) and MBIE project “Maximising Export Returns for New Zealand’s Biological Industries” (Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment Biological Industries Research Fund). I am passionate about seeing New Zealand earn greater returns for its agri-food exports. I have published research in internationally refereed journals, as well as in reports for government organisations and commercial businesses.
Prior to coming to Lincoln I had over 20 years’ experience in a variety of roles in agribusiness including senior management, consulting, international sales and marketing, and the commercialisation of agritechnology. I have worked for government organisations such as the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the New Zealand Institute for Crop and Food Research as well as commercial organisations such as multinational seed company Barenbrug BV. While at Crop and Food Research I established and managed the successful technology startup business CropLogic TM Ltd which provides internet-based crop management and forecasting services to international food processors. CropLogic TM was selected as a finalist in the 2008 Gen-I New Zealand Incubator Exporter of the Year Awards and was the winner of IBM SmartCamp Australia and New Zealand in 2012.
I hold a Horticultural Science Degree with honours from Massey University and a Master of Business Administration with distinction from the University of Canterbury and a PhD in Marketing and Supply Chain Management from Lincoln University
My PhD thesis was on the development of partnerships in agrifood supply chains.
Awards
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Investment Research Scholarship 2012
European Union Centre’s Network Academic Exchange Award 2013
Lincoln University Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award 2013 (innovation in teaching)
Lincoln University is New Zealand specialist land based university and an internationally recognised research institute. For 135 years, Lincoln University has focused on improving New Zealand’s land based knowledge, wealth and productivity through specialist programmes in agribusiness, agricultural science and environmental management.