Work with our staff

We welcome opportunities to partner with industry and community organisations to undertake research that will meet an identified need of theirs. For example Tony Heptinstall and Tim Lynch in our Food Design Institute worked with our EPICentre technicians William Early and Ken Wyber to develop handcrafted foods for Sanitarium that look identical to fruit and vegetables but are filled with contrasting flavours.

Dr Mary Butler has built a longstanding relationship with the Visual Impairment Charitable Trust Aotearoa (VICTA) in relation to her research into improving services for people with low vision.

Some of our staff are experienced at handling media interviews related to their research. For example Professor Sally Baddock has been interviewed on several occasions about her research into Sudden Unexplained Death in Infancy (SUDI) including this 2017 Radio New Zealand example.

Professor Margo Barton has been interviewed about the iD Fashion Show in Dunedin, for example in this 2016 Channel 39 TV interview. 

Please contact our Media Liaison about interviews and public statements.

Associate Professor Matt King has extensive experience investigating and giving evidence about traffic accidents for private parties, insurance companies, law enforcement agencies and governments in New Zealand, France and USA.

Barbara Fogarty-Perry has also given expert evidence through a brief of evidence for a Human Rights Commission case on disability and families.

Our researchers are also interested in speaking about their work. For example Gavin O’Brien recently gave a presentation during TechWeek2018 to the Otago Pioneer Women’s Memorial Association about pioneering industrial designer Ernest Hayes and his wife Hannah Hayes. During his exhibition at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery in 2018, Matt Galloway gave an artist's talk and also facilitated a panel discussion about the immigration issues which his work explored.

Many of our researchers hold roles that enable them to contribute their expertise at a governance level for relevant organisations. For example:

• Dr Sharleen Howison (tourism research) is a committee member of Dunedin Host
• Associate Professor Linda Robertson (occupational therapy) is a member of the Abbeyfield Dunedin Inc committee and the Age Concern Otago executive committee.
• Kerry Adams (midwifery) is Deputy Chair of the Midwifery Council.

A secondment where one of our researchers spends time in your organisation (or vice versa) can be mutually beneficial. For example Professor Richard Mitchell from the Food Design Institute has been embedded at Silver Fern Farms two days a week to exchange knowledge and experience.

Other researchers are able to use their expertise to help build skills and capabilities amongst your staff. For example Dr Lesley Gill has an extensive background in professional development for individuals and teams in the areas of emotional intelligence and resilience.

And our automotive staff have run electric vehicle training for New Zealand Fire Service personnel.