Our people
The Ag Emissions Centre team is made up of people with science, policy, contract management and administration backgrounds. Most are based at our headquarters on the Grasslands campus of the AgResearch Group of the Bioeconomy Science Institute (BSI), in Palmerston North.
Ag Emissions Centre staff
Naomi Parker, Executive Director
Nicki Williamson, Executive Assistant
Harry Clark, Chief Scientist
Sinead Leahy, Principal Scientist
David Pacheco, Principal Science Advisor
Mark Lieffering, Senior Science Advisor
Ackim Mwape, Policy and Science Relationship Advisor, Africa
Chris Koroheke, Chief of Māori Research Strategy & Partnerships
Taniya Ward, Senior Te Ao Māori Advisor
Bonnie Kuru-Brown, Te Ao Māori Advisor
Chevon Horsford, Te Ao Māori Advisor
Christina Gomes, Interim Strategy Manager
Heather Went, Strategic Advisor
Jacqui Horswell, Principal Advisor
Liz Clayton, Contracts Team Manager
Luke Cooney, Contracts Manager
Antonia Crisford, Contracts Manager
Karen De Lew, Contracts Manager
Roger Hurst, Contracts Manager
Fran Page, Contracts Coordinator
Kate Parlane, Services Manager
Debbie Blakeborough, Finance Manager
Liezle Moller, Finance Administrator
Tania Brown, Project Coordinator
Greig McLeay, Field Service Technician
Vacancy, Infrastructure Lead
Vacancy, Communications Lead
Naomi
Parker
Executive Director,
Ag Emissions Centre
Naomi is the Executive Director of the Ag Emissions Centre.
Nicki
Williamson
Executive Assistant,
Ag Emissions Centre
Nicki is Executive Assistant to the Executive Director.
Harry
Clark
Chief Scientist,
Ag Emissions Centre
Harry is one of New Zealand’s foremost authorities on agricultural greenhouse gases and their quantification and mitigation.
Sinead
Leahy
Principal Scientist,
Ag Emissions Centre
Sinead Leahy is the Principal Scientist at the Ag Emissions Centre (AgEC).
David
Pacheco
Principal Science Advisor,
Ag Emissions Centre
David's focus is on the Ag Emissions Centre's international research programme.
Mark
Lieffering
Senior Science Advisor,
Ag Emissions Centre
Mark is a Senior Science Advisor for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Ackim
Mwape
Policy & Science Relationship Advisor, Africa,
Ag Emissions Centre
Ackim helps to implement New Zealand’s engagement strategy with the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA) in Africa.
Chris
Koroheke
Chief of Māori Research Strategy & Partnerships,
Ag Emissions Centre
Chris (Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Wai, Te Rarawa, Te Aupouri, Ngāti Tarāwhai) provides leadership for our dedicated Maori research programme.
Roiana
Pihama
Senior Te Ao Māori Advisor,
Ag Emissions Centre
Roiana is responsible for implementing the Ag Emissions Centre's Māori research programme through identifying and fostering Māori-centred research partnerships.
Roiana is currently on extended leave.
Taniya
Ward
Senior Te Ao Māori Advisor,
Ag Emissions Centre
Taniya is a Senior Maori Advisor for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Bonnie
Kuru-Brown
Te Ao Māori Advisor,
Ag Emissions Centre
Bonnie is an Ag Emissions Centre Te Ao Māori Advisor.
Chevon
Horsford
Te Ao Māori Advisor,
Ag Emissions Centre
Chevon is an Ag Emissions Centre Te Ao Māori Advisor.
Christina
Gomes
Interim Strategy Manager,
Ag Emissions Centre
Christina is the Interim Strategy Manager for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Heather
Went
Strategic Advisor,
Ag Emissions Centre
Heather is part of the Services Team for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Jacqui
Horswell
Principal Advisor,
Ag Emissions Centre
Jacqui is a Principal Advisor for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Liz
Clayton
Manager, Science Contracts Team,
Ag Emissions Centre
Liz’s role in the Ag Emissions Centre is managing the Contracts Team.
Luke
Cooney
Science Contracts Manager,
Ag Emissions Centre
Luke is responsible for managing the progress of individual science contracts for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Antonia
Crisford
Science Contracts Manager,
Ag Emissions Centre
Antonia is responsible for managing progress of individual science contracts for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Karen
De Lew
Science Contracts Manager,
Ag Emissions Centre
Karen is responsible for managing progress of individual science contracts for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Roger
Hurst
Science Contracts Manager,
Ag Emissions Centre
Roger is responsible for managing progress of individual science contracts for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Fran
Page
Science Contracts Coordinator,
Ag Emissions Centre
Fran supports the Ag Emissions Centre contracting and services teams.
Kate
Parlane
Centre Services Manager,
Ag Emissions Centre
Kate oversees the finance, infrastructure, communications and reporting functions of the Ag Emissions Centre and is supported by a team of expert individuals in these areas.
Debbie
Blakeborough
Finance Manager,
Ag Emissions Centre
Debbie is responsible for the financial management and reporting for the Ag Emissions Centre.
Liezle
Moller
Finance Administrator,
Ag Emissions Centre
Liezle is responsible for processing invoices for payments and supporting the Finance Manager with invoicing across the Ag Emissions Centre programmes.
Tania
Brown
Project Coordinator,
Ag Emissions Centre
Tania is an Ag Emissions Centre Project Coordinator.
Greig
McLeay
Field Service Technician,
Ag Emissions Centre
Greig is a Field Service Technician for the Ag Emissions Centre.
