CoDiR Commmittee Members
Aotearoa New Zealand Committee on Data in Research (CoDiR).
Richard Hartshorn
Chair, CoDiR; Professor, School of Physical & Chemical Sciences, University of Canterbury; CODATA Executive Committeel; IUPAC Secretary General
An international expert in the field of chemical nomenclature, a consultant for chemistry educators and textbook authors around the world. Passionate about science outreach. Research interests include anti-cancer drug design and systems of photoactivated delivery.
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Maryam Alavi
Statistical Scientist, Mathematical Modeler, Data Analyst; Senior Statistical Scientist, Plant & Food Research
Data scientist, passionate about using analytics to develop data-driven recommendation-making tools to support better decision-making in complex issues. Experience in identifying practical problems in industry and public sectors, finding solutions and communicating with wide range of stakeholders.
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Michelle Blake
University Librarian, University of Waikato; Council Of New Zealand University Librarians (CONZUL); Open Access Australasia Executive Board;International Association of University Libraries Executive Board
Firm believer in developing and empowering staff to reach their full potential. A skilled relationship builder, who acts as a stimulator and connector of people and ideas to create high impact outcomes. A champion of user experience techniques, engaging with communities to implement co-created outcomes.
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Bapon Fakhruddin
Technical Director, Disaster Risk Resilience and Climate Resilience at Tonkin + Taylor; Co-Chair, FAIR DATA for DRR, CODATA; Programme Board, Group on Earth Observations (GEO)
An international climate change and disaster risk reduction expert. Experience with climate-vulnerable countries around the world, including in the South Pacific and New Zealand. Expert in climate resilience and responsiveness at the community, government and inter-agency level.
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Nick Jones
Director New Zealand eScience Infrastructure; RDA Organisational Advisory Board; Research Software & Data - Skills & Infrastructure
Develops innovative teams working with emerging information tech in building advanced capabilities within the research sector. Nick’s background is in technology systems, leadership, and governance - designing and building alongside users and partners. He focuses on innovation and technology diffusion, the dynamics of teams and ecosystems, and on leadership and building adaptive organisations.
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Tahu Kukutai
Pou Matarua/Co-Director, Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga; Professor of Demography, National Institute of Demographic and Economic Analysis; Co-Director Institute for Population Research, University of Waikato
Researcher on Māori demography and Indigenous data sovereignty, working with hapū and iwi, doing demographic research that meets their needs. A founding member of the Māori Data Sovereignty network Te Mana Raraunga and the Global Indigenous Data Alliance. Serves on a wide range of iwi, research and government advisory groups.
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Andrew Lensen
Lecturer, Evolutionary Computation Research Group, School of Engineering and Computer Science, Victoria University of Wellington; Artificial Intelligence (Pūkenga)
He works in Artificial Intelligence centred around unsupervised learning, which is all about discovering underlying patterns in data — and what use is such a discovery if we cannot easily understand it. He is also interested in the application of AI within an Aotearoa context, across governmental and industrial applications on tasks that will affect our everyday lives including the use of AI in biology, legal decisionmaking, psychology, and more.
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Barry Milne
Director, Centre of Methods and Policy in the Social Sciences (COMPASS), University of Auckland
Barry’s research focus is on life-course and longitudinal studies, and using large or complex whole population datasets to answer a broad range of policy and research questions – from analysing the influence of family medical history on the development of psychiatric disorders to looking at what childhood factors can be intervened upon to ensure positive developmental outcomes.
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Gerald (Jay) Naepi
Founder, Director, Researcher, Matada Research Group
Experience in healthcare, insurance, fitness, and wellness, leading to a career of helping others. Through Matada Research, applies business strategies that adhere to values and objectives with the ultimate goal of improving Pacific health and wellbeing.
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Grace Walker
Data scientist producing data for indigenous and minority groups; Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Otago; Researcher/Consultant/Director, Think Analytic Ltd
A Maori data scientist who has a background working with longitudinal data sets. Engages in projects focused on supporting the uptake of data within communities and using data to change the narratives of indigeous and minority populations. Lead of the Maori housing framework with Te Matapihi. A strong advocate for supporting mahi that positively utilises data to benefit communities to enhance mana motuhake as well as encourage the uptake of STEM amongst indigenous and underrepresented groups.
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