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OUR PEOPLE

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Dr Juliet Ansell

CEO

Juliet joined BRI from her current role as Head of Core and Resilience Innovation at Zespri. Juliet says, “I am excited to take on this new role and to bring my experience in science and innovation to grow the future of the wine industry.”

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Katie Wilson

Office Manager

Katie is our Office Manager based in Marlborough. She is responsible for running the day-to-day operations of the office as well as accounts and events.

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Braden Crosby

Knowledge Transfer and Engagement Leader

Braden is the Knowledge Transfer and Engagement Leader and is responsible for leading the transfer of knowledge and engaging with our viticulture and winemaking communities.

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Sarah Rowley Adams

Communications Manager

Sarah Rowley Adams is the Communications Manager and is responsible for our communications including newsletters, website and media.

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Dr Fang Gou

Data Manager

Dr Fang Gou is BRI’s Data Manager. Fang's primary focus at BRI involves creating a comprehensive industry research data catalogue. She also oversees BRI's data management systems, curating a wine industry research data repository for efficient sharing.

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Dr Paul Epee

Research and Extension Specialist

Paul’s role at BRI is to conceive and deliver applied research projects, in cooperation with winegrowers, BRI staff, and researchers from partner institutions.

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Yuichi Ando

Viticulture Specialist

Yuichi is a key member of the viticulture innovation team. He assists with running trials and then helping communicate findings to members.

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Jacqueline Maclaurin

Programme Coordinator

Jacqueline is the Programme Coordinator for our Sauvignon Blanc Grapevine Improvement Programme 2.0. Jacqueline has 10+ years of experience in Marlborough, in various leadership positions including managing operational teams.

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Ngarita Warden

Research Winemaker

Ngarita is BRI’s Research Winemaker. She is responsible for the running of the Research Winery, as well as conducting winery research trials each year for both commercial and industry research.

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Robert Winup

Assistant Research Winemaker

Rob is our new Assistant Winemaker at the Research Winery. He most recently worked at Wither Hills Winery, and he has a Bachelor of Viticulture & Winemaking and a WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits.

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Chris Ireland

Viticulture Technical Specialist

Chris has established and runs BRI’s viticulture trials unit. Chris leads client and industry funded projects focused primarily on the evaluation of crop protection products.

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Based at our Grapevine Improvement Laboratory

Dr Darrell Lizamore

Principal Research Scientist – Grapevine Improvement

Darrell is the Principal Research Scientist on the Sauvignon Blanc Grapevine Improvement programme and leads the Grapevine Improvement team based in Lincoln.

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Dr Bhanupratap Vanga

Research Scientist – Grapevine Improvement

Bhanu is a Research Scientist in the Grapevine Improvement team. He has worked closely with New Zealand Winegrowers on grapevine trunk diseases, and is primarily working on Sauvignon Blanc Grapevine Improvement programme.

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Dr Annabel Whibley

Bioinformatician

Annabel is a Bioinformatician in the Grapevine Improvement team. Her role explores genomic datasets to glean insights into grapevine biology. Annabel has a strong background in genomics and she holds an Honorary Academic position at the University of Auckland School of Biological Sciences.

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Dr Amy Hill

Laboratory Manager

Amy joined the Grapevine Improvement team in April 2023 as the Laboratory Manager. Amy works across multiple projects in grapevine improvement and manages the laboratory administration.

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Dr Solomon Wante

Research Associate

Solomon is a Research Associate in the Grapevine Improvement team. Solomon coordinates the grapevine virus elimination project from the National Vine Collection as well as working on other grapevine improvement projects.

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Dr Cen Liau

Postdoctoral Scientist – Grapevine Epigenomics

Cen is a Postdoctoral Scientist – Grapevine Epigenomics in the Grapevine Improvement team. Cen primarily works on the Tuned Vines project to study epigenetics of grapevine in different climates or in response to stress.

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Dr Ellie Bradley

Postdoctoral Researcher - Applied Epigenomics

Ellie is a Postdoctoral Researcher – Applied Epigenomics in the Grapevine Improvement team. Ellie works primarily on the molecular biology aspect of the Tuned Vines project.

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Seth Laurenson

Senior Advisor - Soils and Sustainability

Seth is BRI's new Senior Advisor - Soils and Sustainability. Seth most recently worked as a Senior Scientist at AgResearch and has a PhD in Soil Sciences from the University of South Australia.

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Mark Gilbert

Independent Chair – BRI

Mark retired as Managing Director of BMW Group New Zealand in 2012.
He has nearly 30 year’s automotive industry and management experience, working in both New Zealand and Asia for international company’s Volvo, and the BMW Group; where he held a number of senior executive roles.

Simon Towns

Simon has served on the NZ Winegrowers board since October 2016, and joined the BRI Board as an NZ Winegrowers representative. He is the Managing Director and President - Constellation Brands New Zealand.

Dr Bruce Campbell

CNZM

Dr Campbell has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in ecology from The University of Sheffield. He is a recipient of the 2017 Prime Minister's Science Prize, 2017 Horticulture New Zealand Industry Service Award and 2016 Royal Society of New Zealand Thomson Medal for outstanding leadership of agricultural and horticultural science.

Emma Taylor

Emma is a Viticultural Consultant working with vineyards throughout New Zealand. She is a member of the New Zealand Winegrowers Board, NZW Environment Committee, and has joined the BRI Board as a New Zealand Winegrowers representative.

Greg Mann

Greg has over 25 years of management experience in organisations that conduct research and develop and market valuable new products, services and technologies globally.

James Dicey

James is a grape grower based in Cromwell, where he runs Grape Vision, a vineyard development, management and consultancy business. Before being a grower, he was a chartered accountant working in New Zealand, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and internationally.

Research Governance Committee

The Research Governance Committee helps maintain New Zealand wine’s premium reputation through innovation and a commitment to research that makes a tangible difference for members’ businesses.

The Research Governance Committee advises the BRI Board on the development and delivery of BRI’s research strategy and its research portfolio. It will provide feedback and recommendations on BRI’s research priorities, and current and future research and investment plans. The Committee will provide advice and support to help BRI secure external research investment. Committee members will use their networks to suggest potential participants for BRI advisory groups, research-industry collaborations for research project delivery, and knowledge transfer.

The Committee includes:

  • Dr Bruce Campbell (Chair, BRI Board)
  • Emma Taylor (BRI Board, NZW Board)
  • Melissa Tripe (viticulture, NZW Board)
  • Dr David Jordan (research, viticulture)
  • Jonathan Hamlet (viticulture)
  • Duncan Shouler (winemaking)

This group of industry experts focuses on ensuring BRI delivers strong value from science – responding to members’ evolving views on research needs and effectively transferring new knowledge to winegrowers – setting the industry up for long-term success.