The board

Professor Garth Cooper, DPhil (Oxon), FRCPA, FRSNZ

Professor Garth Cooper is one of New Zealand's foremost biochemical scientists and entrepreneurs. While undertaking doctoral studies at Oxford University he discovered the hormone amylin, invented amylin-replacement therapy for diabetes and founded Amylin(UK) Ltd 1987 and the NASDAQ-listed US biopharmaceutical company, Amylin Pharmaceuticals.

After returning to New Zealand, in 1993 Garth founded and funded the privately owned start-up company, Endocore Ltd, in Auckland. This he re-incorporated in 1998 as the biopharmaceutical corporation Protemix, to advance some of his more recent discoveries into clinical therapeutics. His experimental therapy for diabetic heart disease received recognition from the FDA with the award of an IND in 2004, and in 2005 a product from this research became the first drug discovered in New Zealand to be awarded fast-track status by the USFDA. Garth stepped aside from his roles with Protemix in 2006.

Garth Cooper is professor in Biochemistry & Clinical Biochemistry at the University of Auckland with joint appointments to the School of Biological Sciences and the Department of Medicine. He is an Academy Councillor of the Royal Society of New Zealand. In 2003, he was named North and South's New Zealander of the Year (jointly), in 2005 was NZ Bio's inaugural Biotechnologist of the Year, and in 2007 he was made a World Class New Zealander by the KEA network.

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Dame Susan Devoy, CBE DNZM

Dame Susan is arguably New Zealand’s greatest sportswoman. For nine years between 1984 and 1993 she was ranked World No.1 woman squash player. She won four World Open Championships, eight British Open Championships, eight New Zealand Open Championships, five Australian Open Championships and 15 other national Open Championships. In 1985 Susan was awarded New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year and she won Sportswoman of the Year category in four separate years.

In 1988 Dame Susan raised $500,000 for Muscular Dystrophy when she walked the length of New Zealand. She is patron of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Awarded an M.B.E in 1986 and a C.B.E in 1993 she became a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1998, being the youngest New Zealander to receive this honour.

Dame Susan is a mother of four young children.

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Annabel Langbein

Annabel Langbein is recognised as one of New Zealand's most creative culinary figures. Since 1984, Annabel has worked as a food writer and in the media, beginning then with a fortnightly column for the NZ Listener magazine. She was a feature writer for Cuisine magazine for 11 years and food editor for Grace magazine. She has worked regularly on television as a food presenter since 1990, and continues to host a weekly radio talkback food show.

In 1991 Annabel established the Culinary Institute of New Zealand, a specialist food marketing consultancy, and was responsible for numerous marketing and media campaigns for New Zealand food manufacturers, retailers, and exporters, as well as promoting New Zealand food offshore for Trade New Zealand. She was a judge for the Julia Child Book Awards for three years

The author of eight top-selling food books, Annabel has published her books internationally in nine languages. She is also winner of many NZ food writing awards. Her book “The Best of Annabel Langbein- Great Food for Busy Lives” won the 1999 NZ Guild of Foodwriters “Recipe Book of the Year” and has sold more than ½ a million copies internationally. Savour the Pacific, which has also been successfully published on the international market, won the “Best Photography in the World” Award at the World Cookbook Awards in Perigueux, France, and a Ladle at the World Food Media Awards in 2001.

She now devotes her time to writing and publishing and looking after her young family.

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Sam Neill, OBE

Educated in Christchurch, Sam Neill began a career in Wellington as a film-maker. Demoted to actor, for over 25 years he has appeared in over 70 movies and T.V. productions.

Sam’s family has hailed from Otago since 1859. He is now based at Gibbston, Central Otago, where he planted his first grapes ten years ago.

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Professor David Williams
David Williams is a Professor of Pharmacology and Neurosciences in the School of Medicine at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. David grew up in Southland and Canterbury, and did his undergraduate studies at the University of Canterbury. He received his doctorate from the Australian National University, before moving to the US.

His research laboratory studies the molecular and cell biology of the retina, on which he has published more than 80 research articles. Strategies include genetic engineering of animal models, with the aim of developing gene therapies for inherited retinal degenerations. He has contributed to discussions on the applications of genetic manipulations in a number of forums, including the FAO of the United Nations.

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Secretariat

Simon Terry, Executive Director

Simon has been Executive Director for the Council since its inception and his areas of research include:

• The low cost of significantly abating agricultural greenhouse gases
• Design of mechanisms to abate greenhouse gas emissions
• The potential economic and environmental costs of any release of GMOs in New Zealand
• Revision of inadequate environmental liability law
• Opportunities for enhanced biosecurity
• Reform of food safety assessment requirements
• Redesign of the regulations governing toxic substances

Since 1991 Simon has also managed an economics consulting partnership, STA Ltd. Through this firm, he has led an extensive series of research projects on issues including climate change response strategies, mechanisms for boosting renewable energy uptake, utility valuation and pricing, transport pricing, water supply contract structures, measures of sustainability, economic issues associated with genetic modification, and energy efficiency uptake.

Prior to founding STA, Simon worked as an investment banker and as a financial journalist. He received a string of awards for his investigative reporting in the National Business Review during the 1980s.