Daniel Patrick appointed as Director of the BioHeritage Challenge
We are delighted to announce our appointment of Daniel Patrick to the role of Director. Daniel will start on 14 December 2020, taking over from Andrea Byrom, who has been in the role since 2015. Daniel will lead alongside Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, the Challenge’s Kaihautū Ngātahi.
Since 2011 Daniel has been the Executive Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM), New Zealand’s Māori Centre of Research Excellence, hosted by the University of Auckland. As a director at NPM, Daniel feels hugely privileged to have deep learnings and gained knowledge from working alongside NPM researchers and communities. Daniel has two degrees, one in Applied Sciences and a Master’s with honours in Health Sciences, and while in executive and research leadership positions often sees himself as a researcher and immerses himself in the research.
Prior to NPM, Daniel co-founded and developed several research entities, including the Centre of Methods and Policy Applications in the Social Sciences (COMPASS), the New Zealand Social Statistics Network (NZSSN), the New Zealand Social Science Data Service and Survey Research Unit. He has over 20 years research and research leadership experience. The opportunity to lead the Challenge through to the end of its 10-year term in 2024 excites Daniel greatly as he enjoys working in an organisation that is values-based, providing public good and positive outcomes.
The BioHeritage whānau are excited to have Daniel on board. We’re working to ensure a smooth transition and are looking forward to supporting him into the Director role. Daniel will be based in Manaaki Whenua’s Tāmaki office.
Jessica Hutchings appointed as Tiriti Relationships Manager
Dr Jessica Hutchings (Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Huirapa, Gujarati) has been appointed as the Treaty Relationship Manager for the Challenge. She has a PhD in environmental studies and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Māori health research.
Jessica is a well-known kaupapa Māori research leader trained in the fields of environmental and Indigenous studies. She has held senior management and leadership roles in the Māori science and research sectors and is a widely published author, including recent books, Te Mahi Oneone Hua Parakore: A Māori Soil Sovereignty and Wellbeing Handbook (Freerange Press, 2020), Te Mahi Māra Hua Parakore, A Māori Food Sovereignty Handbook (Te Tākupu, 2015) and Decolonisation in Aotearoa: Education, Research and Practice with Jenny Lee-Morgan (NZCER Press, 2016).
Jessica has been working at the crossroads of Indigenous knowledge, whānau and environmental wellbeing for the last two decades. She currently works as a consultant across a range of projects that contribute to the broad goals of kaupapa Māori. She is a member of the MBIE Science Board, Chair of the Rauika Māngai (a cross NSC Māori leadership group) and a Governance Group member of the Resilience to Nature, National Science Challenge.
Kate Nolan appointed as Innovation Strategist
Kate has taken up the role of Innovation Strategist for the Challenge. Her main focus will be to deepen relationships with our 18 Challenge parties, CoREs, and other research entities, identifying opportunities for expertise from across the science system to connect with Challenge and Ngā Rākau Taketake research teams and create greater impact from our collective efforts to reverse the decline of biological heritage.
Kate is experienced in trans and inter-disciplinary research development with an interest in community design, environment regeneration, idea development, strategic innovation and people-connecting. Kate has worked with researchers across all discipline areas to identify, support and enable novel strategic fundable research activities. Kate is keen to continue this work with BioHeritage and its Challenge Parties as well as other research entities and National Science Challenges.
Glenice Paine and James Buwalda, Challenge Co-Chairs
Richard Gordon, Chief Executive, Manaaki Whenua and Challenge Host
Melanie Mark-Shadbolt, Kaihautū Ngātahi, and Andrea Byrom, outgoing co-Director