Our Science General Managers and Science Leaders
Landcare Research has a new streamlined structure, which includes two Science General Managers and nine Science Leaders. This simplified structure is designed to improve our ability to tailor our research to the needs of our key clients and provide strong, inspirational scientific leadership.
We have organised our research teams to fall under two main science areas, Biological Systems and Environment and Society. In each of those two areas there are five specialist teams.
See also - Contacting our senior managers
Biological Systems
General Manager: Biological Systems
David Choquenot
PhD (Zoology), University of Sydney
David has wide experience in science and research management, most recently as Science Manager, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Processes with Landcare Research. Prior to that appointment, David was in charge of Fauna Ecology research for the Department of Sustainability and Environment in Victoria, Australia.
David’s research interests centre on interactions between vertebrates and their environment, and he has worked extensively with both native and introduced species. David maintains a high science profile, having authored 64 refereed and 42 other publications.
He is currently a member of the Biodiversity Committee of the Royal Society of New Zealand, the Science Advisory Committees for Earthwatch Australia and the Dept. Conservation & Land Management in Western Australia, and chairs the board of the Centre for Biodiversity & Biosecurity—a joint initiative of Landcare Research and the University of Auckland.
Biological Systems »
Science Leader: Biodiversity and Conservation
Matt McGlone
PhD (Botany, specialising in Palaeoecology), University of Canterbury
Matt is a global change scientist with a national reputation for understanding landscapes and their history in relation to human history, and climate and biodiversity change. He leads the Global Change project within the Ecosystem Resilience OBI. He is currently a member of the Foundation Strategic Advisory Board and in the past has held many management and advisory positions.
Matt has published more than 110 peer-reviewed papers, numerous reports and popular articles and co-authored two books. He has been the lead investigator for three Marsden Fund grants, one of which has just begun.
Biodiversity and Conservation »
Science Leader: Biosystematics
Peter Buchanan
PhD (Botany), University of Auckland
Peter leads the Fungal and Bacterial Systematics Intermediate Outcome (OI) and was team leader for Auckland systematists. He holds positions of responsibility on the NZ Fungal Network, NZ Plant Conservation Network, and in forest biosecurity links with MAF. Peter is a key organiser of BioBlitz and the NZ Fungal Foray.
Peter has co-authored a number of books and numerous papers on fungi. He received the Science Communicator Award 2004 from the NZ Association of Scientists.
Biosystematics »
Science Leader: Ecosystem Processes
Rob Allen
PhD (Botany), University of North Carolina
Rob leads the Ecosystem Resilience Outcome Based Investment (OBI) and the Indigenous Forestry programme. His research focus includes forest dynamics and nutrient cycling, measuring biodiversity patterns and impacts of introduced herbivores on forests. He is one of the designers of the Indigenous Forest Carbon Monitoring System, and developed a team to undertake the significant Waitutu Forest Ecosystem study with DOC. Prior to that, Rob was Technical Manager for the Tongan NZODA Forestry Project as part of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) contract to Landcare Research.
Rob has 84 refereed publications. An international synthesis on Biological Invasions in New Zealand is due to be released next month.
Ecosystem Process »
Science Leader: Pest Control Technologies
Phil Cowan
PhD (Zoology), Australian National University
Phil was our previous Science Manager, Biosecurity and Pest Management. In that role, he managed relationships with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Animal Health Board (AHB) and Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA.). He is on many major stakeholder committees, and has been a consultant and research contractor to the AHB, DoC, and MAF for 20 years.
Phil has published 120 refereed publications and 45 contract reports, and received a Royal Society Silver Science and Technology Medal for his major contribution to possum research.
Pest Control Technologies »
Science Leader: Wildlife Ecology and Epidemiology
Andrea Byrom
PhD (Zoology), University of British Columbia
Andrea began her career with Landcare Research in 1997 as a Postdoctoral Fellow, and she is now a Programme Leader for the Spatial Ecology and Modelling and Tb Epidemiology and Management programmes. Her research focuses on population ecology and dynamics, impacts and management of introduced wildlife. Andrea is President of the Australasian Wildlife Management Society.
Andrea has published papers on the ecology of small mammals and introduced predators, and she organised the 3rd International Wildlife Management Congress in 2003, which attracted nearly 1000 delegates from over 40 countries.
Wildlife Ecology and Epidemiology »
Environment and Society
General Manager: Environment and Society
Richard Gordon
PhD (Biology), University of Cambridge
Richard moves to this position from a dual role as Science Manager for Greenhouse Gases and Carbon Sinks, and Sustainable Business and Government. He led the latter team from vision and concept in 1999 to its current thriving business / research unit. Richard was instrumental in the creation of New Zealand Centre for Environmental Economics (NZCEE), which is a joint venture with Massey University, in developing a suite of new products (Enviro-Mark® NZ, E-Manage, EBEX21® and CarboNZero®) and creating the Waka Tohu (Māori Business Branding) programme. A further suite of services has been developed around environmental training and auditing for business sectors (e.g. “Greening the Screen” for the film and TV industry) and corporate sustainability reporting. Richard aims to engage research users and customers as partners and build lasting relationships rather than buy / sell interactions.
His previous roles include R&D management positions at Zeneca Agrichemicals UK (now Syngenta) and ICI Agrochemicals Japan. He is recognised internationally for work in Sustainable Development reporting, and is an elected Stakeholder Council member of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).
Environment & Society »
Science Leader: Built Environments and Sustainability and Society
Michael Krausse Michael’s focus is establishing the economic case for low impact urban design and development. Part of this research is identifying where the costs and benefits of alternative approaches fall — on the developer, house buyer, local council, or wider community — to help guide the mix of policy instruments for more sustainable development. In collaboration with, University of Auckland, a national database of life-cycle costs of low impact stormwater management devices is being collated.
Michael and his team have been working closely with Auckland Regional Council, TLAs, and developers to ensure their work is of direct relevance to the sector enabling results to be rapidly assimilated.
Built Environments »
Sustainability and Society »
Science Leader: Global Change Processes
David Whitehead
PhD (Environmental Physiology), University of London
David leads the FRST Programme Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the Terrestrial Biosphere and his specialist area of research is in measuring and modeling the biophysical regulation of carbon exchange for forest ecosystems. David also teaches at the University of Canterbury and Lincoln University, mentors students and judges at science fairs. He is also one of four invited judges for Environment Canterbury's biennial Resource Management Awards. David has a strong international publications record with 120 peer-reviewed papers and is a member of the Editorial Boards for Functional Ecology, Tree Physiology and New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science.
Global Change Processes »
Science Leader: Informatics
Jerry Cooper
PhD (Physics), University of Hull
Jerry was a research physicist, an educational software designer, and an IT manager in the UK before emigrating for a role in the Business Systems Development team. His work has included integration of the nationally significant databases at Landcare Research, several projects supported by the Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information System Programme (TFBIS) and is currently the New Zealand node manager of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Jerry’s broad science interests include mycology, and he is an invited member of several international committees and technical advisory groups, including Species 2000 and the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group.
Informatics »
Science Leader: Soils & Landscapes
Alison Collins
PhD (Soils / Geomorphology), University of Nottingham
Alison is a Programme Leader in soils and landscapes in Palmerston North, and has established an erosion modelling group. Previously she was Head of the Landcare Group and a senior manager at the National Soil Resources Institute (NSRI), Cranfield University at Silsoe, U.K. Alison is a key member of SLURI, and with Dr Phil Owens, has completed a text book on soil erosion and sediment redistribution in river catchments, to be published next month.
Soils and Landscapes »