Our people
The NZAGRC team is made up of people with science, policy, contract management and administration backgrounds. Most are based at our headquarters on the Grasslands campus of AgResearch, in Palmerston North.
NZAGRC staff
Naomi Parker, Executive Director
Nicki Williamson, Executive Assistant
Harry Clark, Chief Scientist
Sinead Leahy, Principal Scientist
David Pacheco, Principal Science Advisor
Mark Lieffering, Senior Science Advisor
Ackim Mwape, Policy and Science Relationship Advisor, Africa
Chris Koroheke, Chief of Māori Research Strategy & Partnerships
Roiana Pihama, Senior Te Ao Māori Advisor
Bonnie Kuru-Brown, Te Ao Māori Advisor
Chevon Horsford, Te Ao Māori Advisor
Liz Clayton, Contracts Team Manager
Luke Cooney, Contracts Manager
Antonia Crisford, Contracts Manager
Karen De Lew, Contracts Manager
Roger Hurst, Contracts Manager
Fran Page, Contracts Coordinator
Kate Parlane, Services Team Manager
Christina Gomes, Centre Services Manager
Heather Went, Services Team
Debbie Blakeborough, Finance Manager
Liezle Moller, Finance Administrator
Tania Brown, Project Coordinator
Christiaan Le Roux, Infrastructure Lead
Ashleigh Sattler, Communications Lead
Kelsey Bills, Communications and Marketing Advisor
Jacqui Horswell, Principal Advisor
Nicki
Williamson
Executive Assistant,
NZAGRC
Nicki is Executive Assistant to the Executive Director.
Harry
Clark
Chief Scientist,
NZAGRC
Harry is one of New Zealand’s foremost authorities on agricultural greenhouse gases and their quantification and mitigation.
Sinead
Leahy
Principal Scientist,
NZAGRC
Sinead Leahy is the Principal Scientist at the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC).
David
Pacheco
Principal Science Advisor,
NZAGRC
David's focus is on the NZAGRC international research programme.
Mark
Lieffering
Senior Science Advisor,
NZAGRC
Mark is a Senior Science Advisor for the NZAGRC.
Bio to come.
Ackim
Mwape
Policy & Science Relationship Advisor, Africa,
NZAGRC
Ackim helps to implement New Zealand’s engagement strategy with the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) in Africa.
Chris
Koroheke
Chief of Māori Research Strategy & Partnerships,
NZAGRC
Chris (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Wai, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngāti Tarāwhai) provides leadership for our dedicated Maori research programme.
Roiana
Pihama
Senior Te Ao Māori Advisor,
NZAGRC
Roiana is responsible for implementing the NZAGRC's Māori research programme through identifying and fostering Māori-centred research partnerships.
Liz
Clayton
Manager, Science Contracts Team,
NZAGRC
Liz’s role in the NZAGRC is managing the Contracts Team.
Luke
Cooney
Science Contracts Manager,
NZAGRC
Luke is responsible for managing progress of individual science contracts for the NZAGRC.
Antonia
Crisford
Science Contracts Manager,
NZAGRC
Antonia is responsible for managing progress of individual science contracts for the NZAGRC.
Karen
De Lew
Science Contracts Manager,
NZAGRC
Karen is responsible for managing progress of individual science contracts for the NZAGRC.
Roger
Hurst
Science Contracts Manager,
NZAGRC
Roger is responsible for managing progress of individual science contracts for the NZAGRC.
Fran
Page
Science Contracts Coordinator,
NZAGRC
Fran supports the NZAGRC contracting and services teams.
Kate
Parlane
Services Team Manager,
NZAGRC
Kate oversees the finance, infrastructure, communications and reporting functions of the NZAGRC and is supported by a team of expert individuals in these areas.
Kate is on extended leave till July 2025.
Christina
Gomes
Centre Services Manager,
NZAGRC
Christina is the Centre Services Manager for the NZAGRC.
Debbie
Blakeborough
Finance Manager,
NZAGRC
Debbie is responsible for the financial management and reporting for the NZAGRC.
Liezle
Moller
Finance Administrator,
NZAGRC
Liezle is responsible for processing invoices for payments and supporting the Finance Manager with invoicing across the NZAGRC programmes.
Christiaan
Le Roux
Infrastructure Lead,
NZAGRC
Christiaan is responsible for the maintenance, support and overall management of NZAGRC’s infrastructure investments.
Kelsey
Bills
Communications and Marketing Advisor,
NZAGRC
Kelsey Bills is the Communications and Marketing Advisor for the NZAGRC.
