Cawthron Institute has announced that Dr Emily Parker, a bio-organic chemist and academic, has joined the Board of Directors.

Dr Parker is an esteemed strategic leader in science and technology and has held a variety of governance and advisory roles in both New Zealand and Australia. These roles include as a Director on the Board of Manaaki Whenua (Landcare Research Ltd), Chair of the Science Advisory Panel for AgResearch Ltd and as a member of the Science Advisory Panel for the Australian Synchrotron. In 2023 Emily took up a part-time secondment to the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment as Departmental Science Advisor.

Dr Parker is currently a Professor of Chemical Biology and Deputy Director (Ferrier Research Institute), and a Deputy Director of the Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery (Centre of Research Excellence). She completed an undergraduate degree in organic chemistry (University of Canterbury), and a PhD in bio-organic chemistry at University of Cambridge. Dr Parker was a postdoctoral fellow at Cambridge and has worked in faculty positions at Massey University, University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington.

In addition to her impressive resume, Dr Parker has received several awards including the Easterfield Medal, the Maurice Wilkins Prize for Excellence in Chemistry and a National Tertiary Teaching Award.

Lees Seymour, Chair of Cawthron Institute Board of Directors, said Dr Parker’s science skills, along with her leadership and governance experience in the science and tertiary sector in New Zealand and Australia, will be hugely valuable to Cawthron as it implements its strategic science plan.

“Emily is passionate about helping to shape a prosperous future through science and innovation, which aligns perfectly with Cawthron’s ambition. She has great energy, a fantastic skillset and a deep knowledge of the New Zealand Science system and I am really looking forward to having her join the board,” said Seymour.

Dr Parker’s term officially began on 1 August 2024. She fills the vacancy left by Meg Matthews, who stepped down at the conclusion of her third three-year term at the end of March.