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    Our Team

    Our team at the Riddet Institute

    A skilled team making evidence-based nutrition research accessible and actionable to improve the status of globally sustainable nutrition. The SNi® team is complemented by many important contributions from across the Institute.
    Professor Warren McNabb

    SNi® Leader

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    Professor Jeremy Hill
    Adjunct Professor
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    Associate Professor
    Abby Johnson
    Associate Professor
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    Dr Andrew Fletcher
    Honorary Fellow
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    Dr Nick Smith
    Senior Scientist
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    Harieta Ang
    Programme Manager
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    Dr Dorisel Torres-Rojas
    Senior Research Officer
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    Dr Rob Taylor
    Research Officer
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    Dr Yin Chin
    Research Officer
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    Matthieu Vignes
    Senior Lecturer
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    Dr Natalie Ahlborn
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
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    Dr Amelia Barker
    Communications Officer
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    Patricia Soh
    Doctoral Researcher
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    Justine B. Coomson
    Doctoral Researcher
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    Ejovi Abafe
    Doctoral Researcher
    Annet Mukagatsinzi
    Doctoral Researcher
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    SNi Alumni

    We have a global network of alumni that have worked with SNi, including:

    Post-Doctoral Researchers

    • Dr Mahya Tavan (2023-2025)

    • Dr Raquel Lozano (2023-2025)
      Doctoral Researchers

      • Patricia Soh (2023-2026)

    Visiting Doctoral Researchers

    • Merel Daas (2024)

    • Samantha Heerschop (2024)

    Interns

    • Manouk Beuving, Visiting Masters Intern (2023)

    • Lizanne Noronha, Intern (2022)

    Professor Warren McNabb
    Warren McNabb is a Professor of Nutritional Science at the Riddet Institute; one of New Zealand’s Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE), hosted by Massey University. He leads SNi® and his research interests include digestive physiology and metabolism, nutrition for health, and sustainable nutrition.
    Project Leader | W.McNabb@massey.ac.nz
    Professor Warren McNabb
    Warren McNabb is a Professor of Nutritional Science at the Riddet Institute; one of New Zealand’s Centres of Research Excellence (CoRE), hosted by Massey University. He leads SNi® and his research interests include digestive physiology and metabolism, nutrition for health, and sustainable nutrition.
    Project Leader | W.McNabb@massey.ac.nz
    Dr Nick Smith
    Nick works as a mathematical modeller on the Riddet Institute SNi®. He is responsible for a wide range of SNi's work and the continued development of the SNi models like the DELTA Model®. This is a tool for investigating how global food production meets global nutritional requirements as part of a sustainable food system.
    Research Officer
    Dr Nick Smith
    Nick works as a mathematical modeller on the Riddet Institute SNi®. He is responsible for a wide range of SNi's work and the continued development of the SNi models like the DELTA Model®. This is a tool for investigating how global food production meets global nutritional requirements as part of a sustainable food system.
    Research Officer
    Dr Andrew Fletcher
    Andrew is a Chemical Engineer with a PhD in process control and modelling. Andrew is a Honorary Fellow at the Riddet Institute and has been involved with SNi® since the outset. He is based at the Fonterra Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North and is involved in a range of research, management and strategy roles.
    Honorary Fellow
    Dr Andrew Fletcher
    Andrew is a Chemical Engineer with a PhD in process control and modelling. Andrew is a Honorary Fellow at the Riddet Institute and has been involved with SNi® since the outset. He is based at the Fonterra Research and Development Centre in Palmerston North and is involved in a range of research, management and strategy roles.
    Honorary Fellow
    Professor Jeremy Hill
    Professor Jeremy Hill has played a major role in developing SNi®. He has also been involved in developing strategic partnerships between Fonterra and the Riddet Institute. For example, the establishment of three Professorial Chairs in Food Material Science, Nutrition, and Consumer and Sensory Science. Jeremy is the Chief Science and Technology Officer at Fonterra.
    Adjunct Professor
    Professor Jeremy Hill
    Professor Jeremy Hill has played a major role in developing SNi®. He has also been involved in developing strategic partnerships between Fonterra and the Riddet Institute. For example, the establishment of three Professorial Chairs in Food Material Science, Nutrition, and Consumer and Sensory Science. Jeremy is the Chief Science and Technology Officer at Fonterra.
    Adjunct Professor
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
    Ejovi Abafe
    Prior to his current PhD, Ejovi obtained a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Delta State University, Nigeria. The current focus of his PhD at the Riddet Institute is Global land use for the delivery of nutrition.
    PhD Student
    Ejovi Abafe
    Prior to his current PhD, Ejovi obtained a Master’s and a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of South Africa (UNISA) and Delta State University, Nigeria. The current focus of his PhD at the Riddet Institute is Global land use for the delivery of nutrition.
    PhD Student
    Justine Coomson
    Prior to her current PhD, Justine obtained a Masters degree in Population, Family and Reproductive Health and a Bachelor's degree in Dietetics from the University of Ghana. Justine has worked as a research assistant and a clinical dietician in Ghana before coming to New Zealand. The current focus on her PhD is the impact of biofortification and supplementation to diets.
    PhD Student
    Justine Coomson
    Prior to her current PhD, Justine obtained a Masters degree in Population, Family and Reproductive Health and a Bachelor's degree in Dietetics from the University of Ghana. Justine has worked as a research assistant and a clinical dietician in Ghana before coming to New Zealand. The current focus on her PhD is the impact of biofortification and supplementation to diets.
    PhD Student
    Dr Amelia Barker
    Amelia is a Communications Officer at the Riddet Institute. She has many years experience in digital media communications at various organisations. Amelia is passionate about research and enjoys promoting the fantastic mahi (work) that SNi® does.
    Communications Officer
    Amelia Barker
    Amelia is a Communications Officer at the Riddet Institute. She has many years experience in digital media communications at various organisations. Amelia is passionate about research and enjoys promoting the fantastic mahi (work) that SNi® does.
    Communications Officer
    Rangimarie Hunia
    Rangimarie Hunia was appointed an alternate director of Te Ohu Kaimoana at the beginning of 2015 before being appointed a full director in November 2015, and Chair in July 2019. The first wahine (woman) Chair in the history of Te Ohu Kaimoana. In 2017, she was appointed a Chair of Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust. In 2016, she was appointed Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Whai Maia. Whai Maia is responsible for the well-being of its 5,000 tribal members and focuses on education, health, employment and environmental areas. She played an active role as a member of the Iwi Working Group that was established to facilitate understanding and iwi decision making in response to the 11-year Review of Māori Fisheries Settlement entities. Rangimarie is also a member of Global Women and was a finalist in the Westpac Women of Influence Awards 2014.
    Ngāti Whātua Chair of the SNi® International Advisory Group Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Whai Maia
    Rangimarie Hunia
    Rangimarie Hunia was appointed an alternate director of Te Ohu Kaimoana at the beginning of 2015 before being appointed a full director in November 2015, and Chair in July 2019. The first wahine (woman) Chair in the history of Te Ohu Kaimoana. In 2017, she was appointed a Chair of Te Pūtea Whakatupu Trust. In 2016, she was appointed Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Whai Maia. Whai Maia is responsible for the well-being of its 5,000 tribal members and focuses on education, health, employment and environmental areas. She played an active role as a member of the Iwi Working Group that was established to facilitate understanding and iwi decision making in response to the 11-year Review of Māori Fisheries Settlement entities. Rangimarie is also a member of Global Women and was a finalist in the Westpac Women of Influence Awards 2014.
    Ngāti Whātua Chair of SNi® International Advisory Group Chief Executive of Ngāti Whātua Ōrakei Whai Maia
    Jeroen Dijkman
    Dr. Jeroen Dijkman is the founding head of the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences at Nestlé Research. The Institute aims to translate novel agricultural science into concrete applications and to identify and develop the most promising regenerative agriculture technologies. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the organization has a decentralized structure and incorporates Nestlé’s existing plant sciences research facilities in France, as well as numerous research and reference farms around the world. The Institute has three focus areas: plant sciences, dairy-livestock sciences and agricultural system sciences. Jeroen has worked for over 30 years, in all major regions of the world, with bi- and multi-lateral donors, i-NGOs, international and national research centres, the World Bank, UN agencies and the private sector on finding ways to use research and innovation to transition agri-food systems towards more productive but also more sustainable and socially inclusive pathways. In his last two assignments prior to taking up his current position, Jeroen combined the roles of Director (International) of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre and the Senior Technical Adviser of the UN Environment, Climate and Clean Air Coalition agriculture initiative. Subsequently, he was the Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research. The Animal Sciences Group consists of the Department of Animal Sciences of Wageningen University and three Wageningen Research institutes: Wageningen Bio-veterinary Research, Wageningen Livestock Research and Wageningen Marine Research.
    Head of Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences
    Jeroen Dijkman
    Dr. Jeroen Dijkman is the founding head of the Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences at Nestlé Research. The Institute aims to translate novel agricultural science into concrete applications and to identify and develop the most promising regenerative agriculture technologies. Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, the organization has a decentralized structure and incorporates Nestlé’s existing plant sciences research facilities in France, as well as numerous research and reference farms around the world. The Institute has three focus areas: plant sciences, dairy-livestock sciences and agricultural system sciences. Jeroen has worked for over 30 years, in all major regions of the world, with bi- and multi-lateral donors, i-NGOs, international and national research centres, the World Bank, UN agencies and the private sector on finding ways to use research and innovation to transition agri-food systems towards more productive but also more sustainable and socially inclusive pathways. In his last two assignments prior to taking up his current position, Jeroen combined the roles of Director (International) of the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre and the Senior Technical Adviser of the UN Environment, Climate and Clean Air Coalition agriculture initiative. Subsequently, he was the Managing Director of the Animal Sciences Group, Wageningen University and Research. The Animal Sciences Group consists of the Department of Animal Sciences of Wageningen University and three Wageningen Research institutes: Wageningen Bio-veterinary Research, Wageningen Livestock Research and Wageningen Marine Research.
    Head of Nestlé Institute of Agricultural Sciences
    Berry Marttin
    Berry Marttin was born and raised in Brazil. Over the course of his career at Rabobank, he gained extensive experience as an international banker in both wholesale and retail banking, working in various senior executive positions in Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Curacao and Brazil. Mr Marttin moved to the Netherlands in 2004 to become Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rabobank Amsterdam. In 2009, he joined the Managing Board with special focus on Rabobank’s international Wholesale and Rural banking activities and further responsibilities including Leasing (DLL), Rabo Carbon Bank and RaboResearch. His principal other activities outside Rabobank include serving as President of the EACB (European Association of Co-operative Banks) and Member of the Board of Neumann Foundation. Moreover, Mr Marttin serves as the first Chairman of the Global Steering Committee of the Food Action Alliance, where World Economic Forum together with IFAD, WBCSD, CIAT, AfDB and Rabobank and over 20 global leaders unite to deploy large scale action through game changing initiatives for food systems transformation. In 2021, he was invited to join the UN Food Systems Summit Champions network, a network encompassing leadership from a broad range of constituencies, in all parts of the world, who are championing food systems and food systems transformation.
    Former Member of the Managing Board Rabobank Group
    Berry Marttin
    Berry Marttin was born and raised in Brazil. Over the course of his career at Rabobank, he has gained extensive experience as an international banker in both wholesale and retail banking, working in various senior executive positions in Australia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Curacao and Brazil. Mr Marttin moved to the Netherlands in 2004 to become Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rabobank Amsterdam. In 2009, he joined the Managing Board with special focus on Rabobank’s international Wholesale and Rural banking activities and further responsibilities including Leasing (DLL), Rabo Carbon Bank and RaboResearch. His principal other activities outside Rabobank include serving as President of the EACB (European Association of Co-operative Banks) and Member of the Board of Neumann Foundation. Moreover, Mr Marttin serves as the first Chairman of the Global Steering Committee of the Food Action Alliance, where World Economic Forum together with IFAD, WBCSD, CIAT, AfDB and Rabobank and over 20 global leaders unite to deploy large scale action through game changing initiatives for food systems transformation. In 2021, he was invited to join the UN Food Systems Summit Champions network, a network encompassing leadership from a broad range of constituencies, in all parts of the world, who are championing food systems and food systems transformation.
    Member of the Managing Board Rabobank Group
    Dr Jason Clay
    Jason Clay is the Senior Vice President for Markets and Executive Director of the Markets Institute at WWF, which was created to identify and address emerging global issues, trends, and tools impacting conservation in more timely, cost-effective, and scalable ways. His career has ranged from working on a family farm and for the US Department of Agriculture. He taught at Harvard and Yale and spent more than 35 years with human rights and environmental NGOs. In 1988, Clay founded Rainforest Marketing, set up a trading company within an NGO, helped Indigenous people and local communities access global markets, and launched Ben & Jerry’s Rainforest Crunch, plus more than 200 other products with sales of $100 million. From 1999 to 2003, he co-directed a WWF, the World Bank, UN FAO, and NACA consortium to identify the most significant environmental and social impacts of shrimp aquaculture, as well as practices to reduce them. From 2004 to 2012, he convened multistakeholder roundtables to create performance-based standards for commodities including salmon, soy, sugarcane, cotton, and beef. He developed WWF’s Market Transformation program in 2006 to work on agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, and corporate engagement. Clay continues to lead WWF-US efforts to improve private sector supply chain management and help their producers address the most significant impacts. In 2008, he created the Carbon and Commodities program to address supply chain GHG emissions. He has helped whole sectors improve their sustainability performance (e.g., the Global Salmon Initiative). He is now working with the global leather industry to support a DCF leather fund and is testing support for a 1% environmental performance payments to support the transition costs and incentives to finance what producers need to do to become legal and deforestation and conversion free. He is launching a two-year proof of concept for Codex Planetarius, a set of minimum global standards to reduce the key impacts of food and commodities traded internationally. Clay has authored 18 books and 500 articles, and has given more than 1,500 invited presentations. He studied anthropology and agriculture at Harvard, the London School of Economics, and Cornell (PhD).
    Senior Vice President, Markets at World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
    Dr Jason Clay
    Jason Clay is the Senior Vice President for Markets and Executive Director of the Markets Institute at WWF, which was created to identify and address emerging global issues, trends, and tools impacting conservation in more timely, cost-effective, and scalable ways. His career has ranged from working on a family farm and for the US Department of Agriculture. He taught at Harvard and Yale and spent more than 35 years with human rights and environmental NGOs. In 1988, Clay founded Rainforest Marketing, set up a trading company within an NGO, helped Indigenous people and local communities access global markets, and launched Ben & Jerry’s Rainforest Crunch, plus more than 200 other products with sales of $100 million. From 1999 to 2003, he co-directed a WWF, the World Bank, UN FAO, and NACA consortium to identify the most significant environmental and social impacts of shrimp aquaculture, as well as practices to reduce them. From 2004 to 2012, he convened multistakeholder roundtables to create performance-based standards for commodities including salmon, soy, sugarcane, cotton, and beef. He developed WWF’s Market Transformation program in 2006 to work on agriculture, aquaculture, livestock, and corporate engagement. Clay continues to lead WWF-US efforts to improve private sector supply chain management and help their producers address the most significant impacts. In 2008, he created the Carbon and Commodities program to address supply chain GHG emissions. He has helped whole sectors improve their sustainability performance (e.g., the Global Salmon Initiative). He is now working with the global leather industry to support a DCF leather fund and is testing support for a 1% environmental performance payments to support the transition costs and incentives to finance what producers need to do to become legal and deforestation and conversion free. He is launching a two-year proof of concept for Codex Planetarius, a set of minimum global standards to reduce the key impacts of food and commodities traded internationally. Clay has authored 18 books and 500 articles, and has given more than 1,500 invited presentations. He studied anthropology and agriculture at Harvard, the London School of Economics, and Cornell (PhD).
    Senior Vice President, Markets at World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
    Professor Manny Noakes
    Professor Manny Noakes has a PhD in nutrition as well as having trained as a dietitian in her earlier years. She is more recently a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Prof Noakes is a former Director and Senior Principal Research Scientist, Nutrition and Health at CSIRO, Australia. She currently runs her own nutrition consultancy and is also a non-executive Director for Meat and Livestock Australia. She is considered a key opinion leader and advisor in nutrition and health, has extensive media and public speaking experience. She has over 25 years’ experience in many fields of nutrition and health, and has undertaken numerous clinical dietary intervention trials in weight management, functional foods and cardiovascular health. She has also undertaken research on diet and sustainability and redefined the environmental agenda from a food and health perspective. Prof Noakes has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications which have been cited more than 9000 times and has an H index of 52. She was instrumental in the development and release of five editions of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, which was launched in 2004 and has been translated into 17 languages and sold over one million copies in Australia. The Total Wellbeing Diet has been further commercialised to a successful online programme. Prof Noakes is the recipient of three CSIRO Medals, is a Distinguished Alumni of Flinders University, holds a research excellence award from the University of Adelaide and is a recipient of the Zonta Club Woman of International Achievement award.
    Nutrition Consultant
    Professor Manny Noakes
    Professor Manny Noakes has a PhD in nutrition as well as having trained as a dietitian in her earlier years. She is more recently a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Prof Noakes is a former Director and Senior Principal Research Scientist, Nutrition and Health at CSIRO, Australia. She currently runs her own nutrition consultancy and is also a non-executive Director for Meat and Livestock Australia. She is considered a key opinion leader and advisor in nutrition and health, has extensive media and public speaking experience. She has over 25 years’ experience in many fields of nutrition and health, and has undertaken numerous clinical dietary intervention trials in weight management, functional foods and cardiovascular health. She has also undertaken research on diet and sustainability and redefined the environmental agenda from a food and health perspective. Prof Noakes has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications which have been cited more than 9000 times and has an H index of 52. She was instrumental in the development and release of five editions of the CSIRO Total Wellbeing Diet, which was launched in 2004 and has been translated into 17 languages and sold over one million copies in Australia. The Total Wellbeing Diet has been further commercialised to a successful online programme. Prof Noakes is the recipient of three CSIRO Medals, is a Distinguished Alumni of Flinders University, holds a research excellence award from the University of Adelaide and is a recipient of the Zonta Club Woman of International Achievement award.
    Nutrition Consultant
    Lain Jager
    Lain Jager is best known for his time with the hugely successful kiwifruit marketer Zespri where he was CEO from 2008 to 2017. During his tenure as CEO, Zespri grew strongly through the impact and recovery from the bacterial vine disease Psa, grower returns doubled, and the share price grew from $1.00 to $8.00. Today, Lain is involved in a range of investment projects in Tourism and Agribusiness, serves as a Director on several Boards, was the Chairman of the Primary Sector Council that produced the Fit for a Better World Report focused on the New Zealand Food and Fibre Sector, and is the Co-Chair of Te Puna Whakaaronui – a Food and Fibre think tank. Lain and his wife Debra live on a lifestyle block in Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Chair of the Thought Leaders Group for Te Puna Whakaaronui Food and Fibre Think Tank
    Lain Jager
    Lain Jager is best known for his time with the hugely successful kiwifruit marketer Zespri where he was CEO from 2008 to 2017. During his tenure as CEO, Zespri grew strongly through the impact and recovery from the bacterial vine disease Psa, grower returns doubled, and the share price grew from $1.00 to $8.00. Today, Lain is involved in a range of investment projects in Tourism and Agribusiness, serves as a Director on several Boards, was the Chairman of the Primary Sector Council that produced the Fit for a Better World Report focused on the New Zealand Food and Fibre Sector, and is the Co-Chair of Te Puna Whakaaronui – a Food and Fibre think tank. Lain and his wife Debra live on a lifestyle block in Tauranga, New Zealand.
    Chair of the Thought Leaders Group for Te Puna Whakaaronui Food and Fibre Think Tank
    Samuel Thevasagayam
    Samuel Thevasagayam is the Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he oversees the implementation of foundation’s strategy in animal health, animal production, animal nutrition, animal systems and livestock off-take markets in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Samuel started his career as a small animal clinician and lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He then moved to work in academic research, Pharmaceutical R&D (veterinary and human), Business Development and the not-for profit sector, living/working in four continents before joining the Gates Foundation in 2012. Samuel graduated from the faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Gained his PhD in veterinary virology from the University of Hertfordshire for his research on foot-and-mouth disease virus at the Pirbright Institute and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
    Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program, Gates Foundation
    Samuel Thevasagayam
    Samuel Thevasagayam is the Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he oversees the implementation of foundation’s strategy in animal health, animal production, animal nutrition, animal systems and livestock off-take markets in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Samuel started his career as a small animal clinician and lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He then moved to work in academic research, Pharmaceutical R&D (veterinary and human), Business Development and the not-for profit sector, living/working in four continents before joining the Gates Foundation in 2012. Samuel graduated from the faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Gained his PhD in veterinary virology from the University of Hertfordshire for his research on foot-and-mouth disease virus at the Pirbright Institute and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
    Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Natalie Ahlborn
    Natalie's role is to inform the SNi from a nutritional perspective. She also supports the team by representing SNi's work through speaking engagements and other outputs.
    Postdoctoral Research Fellow
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
    Dr Dorisel Torres-Rojas (Dori)
    Dori is a soil biogeochemist and chemical engineer currently developing and adapting the SNi national food systems model, with a focus on Kenya. During her PhD, she was a Fellow in the Food Systems and Poverty Alleviation (NSF) program, researching sustainable solutions for energy and food security in smallholder farming systems in western Kenya. With a strong foundation in soil science, Dori has worked at the intersection of soil fertility, energy, and food security. More recently, she held a research role at the University of Waikato, focusing on pastoral systems, nutrient management, and environmental chemistry.
    Senior Research Officer
    Dorisel Torres-Rojas (Dori
    Dori is a soil biogeochemist and chemical engineer currently developing and adapting the SNi national food systems model, with a focus on Kenya. During her PhD, she was a Fellow in the Food Systems and Poverty Alleviation (NSF) program, researching sustainable solutions for energy and food security in smallholder farming systems in western Kenya. With a strong foundation in soil science, Dori has worked at the intersection of soil fertility, energy, and food security. More recently, she held a research role at the University of Waikato, focusing on pastoral systems, nutrient management, and environmental chemistry.
    Senior Research Officer
    Matthieu Vignes
    Matthieu is a computational statistician/modeller. He supports staff and students with complex quantitative questions on their data sets. His works revolves around deciphering complex biological system from the perspective of their relationships. His expertise includes causality, heterogeneous and high-dimensional data, missingness and probabilistic graphical models.
    Senior Lecturer
    Matthieu Vignes
    Matthieu is a computational statistician/modeller. He supports staff and students with complex quantitative questions on their data sets. His works revolves around deciphering complex biological system from the perspective of their relationships. His expertise includes causality, heterogeneous and high-dimensional data, missingness and probabilistic graphical models.
    Senior Lecturer
    Rob Taylor
    Rob is a data scientist with a background in computational modelling and psychology. He specialises in R programming, statistical modelling, and building production-ready applications using tools like RShiny. He is currently working with the SNi to develop a food systems model for Aotearoa New Zealand and create an interactive tool to help decision makers explore how future scenarios could impact national and regional food systems.
    Research Officer
    Matthieu Vignes
    Matthieu is a computational statistician/modeller. He supports staff and students with complex quantitative questions on their data sets. His works revolves around deciphering complex biological system from the perspective of their relationships. His expertise includes causality, heterogeneous and high-dimensional data, missingness and probabilistic graphical models.
    Senior Lecturer
    Abby Johnson
    Abby is an Associate Professor with SNi®. She is a nutrition scientist and registered dietitian with cross-training in bioinformatics. Abby’s research interests include new ways to model dietary patterns, the human gut microbiome, and the nutritional content of plant-based products.
    Associate Professor
    Matthieu Vignes
    Matthieu is a computational statistician/modeller. He supports staff and students with complex quantitative questions on their data sets. His works revolves around deciphering complex biological system from the perspective of their relationships. His expertise includes causality, heterogeneous and high-dimensional data, missingness and probabilistic graphical models.
    Senior Lecturer
    Yin Chin
    Yin has a background in animal and biological science, and quantitative modelling for evidence based decision-making. Her work has included animal dietary, farm systems, and nutrient cycling modelling, while improving governance tools to ensure they are fit for purpose. She currently contributes to the development of food systems models and data architechture with SNi®.
    Research Officer
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
    Annet Mukagatsinzi
    Annet Mukagatsinzi holds a Master’s degree in Nutritional and Public Health Epidemiology from Wageningen University & Research. She previously worked as a Research Assistant at the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda before moving to New Zealand. Her current PhD focuses on the role of plant-based alternatives in sustainable diets.
    PhD Student
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
    Distinguished Professor Lora Iannotti
    Dr Lora Iannotti is the founding director of the E3 Nutrition Lab. Her lab aims to identify nutrition solutions that embrace principles embodied in the three E’s: equity, environment, and evolution. Dr Iannotti leads projects in Ecuador, Haiti, Madagascar, and St. Louis, Missouri where she collaborates with local partners to test innovative approaches to achieving sustainable, healthy dietary patterns that improve young child growth and brain development. Her research related to animal source foods has informed the global discourse on nutrition equity, climate change, biodiversity, and planetary boundaries. Dr Iannotti is co-director of the Food and Agriculture Research Mission (FARM) Innovation Research Network and scholar at the Center for the Environment at WashU. Dr Iannotti serves on global working groups to inform policy on maternal and child nutrition. She was a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines Development Group for Complementary Feeding. For the UN Food and Agriculture, she serves as a consultant on initiatives related to animal source foods and human health. Dr. Iannotti served as the USAID Feed the Future Fish Innovation Lab’s nutrition advisor, supporting activities with technical contributions on nutrition objectives and methods. She chairs the International Advisory Group for the Sustainable Nutrition Initiative in New Zealand. Dr Iannotti received her doctorate from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, and a Master of Arts Degree in Foreign Affairs from the University of Virginia. Areas of Focus: · Maternal and child nutrition · Sustainable, healthy agrifood systems · Animal source food interventions
    Lauren and Lee Fixel Distinguished Professor in the School of Public Health, WashU
    Samuel Thevasagayam
    Samuel Thevasagayam is the Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, where he oversees the implementation of foundation’s strategy in animal health, animal production, animal nutrition, animal systems and livestock off-take markets in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Samuel started his career as a small animal clinician and lecturer at the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. He then moved to work in academic research, Pharmaceutical R&D (veterinary and human), Business Development and the not-for profit sector, living/working in four continents before joining the Gates Foundation in 2012. Samuel graduated from the faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Gained his PhD in veterinary virology from the University of Hertfordshire for his research on foot-and-mouth disease virus at the Pirbright Institute and holds an MBA from the University of Oxford. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology.
    Director of Livestock and Aquaculture within the Agriculture Development Program, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Harieta Ang
    With more than 20 years’ experience working in Aotearoa and across the Pacific, including leadership roles in Fiji’s tourism and motor vehicle sectors and a range of roles at Massey University since 2016, Harieta brings strong capability in governance, programme coordination, and culturally grounded engagement. Harieta holds a Bachelor of Arts with a minor in Social Policy and is completing a Master of International Development focused on community-led, values-based Pacific development.
    Programme Manager
    Patricia Soh
    Prior to her current PhD, Patricia attained a Master of Science in Human Nutrition at Massey University, Albany. The current focus of her PhD is investigating nutritional concerns within vegan diets.
    PhD Student
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