Yuichi Ando

Viticulture Field Research and Translation Coordinator

Yuichi joins us after over a decade of working and gaining experience in viticulture, most recently as Vineyard Manager of the Allan Scott Family vineyards. Yuichi’s mix of technical viticulture, practical vineyard operations management and tertiary qualifications make him a key member of the viticulture and extension teams. He assists with running trials and then helping communicate findings to members.

Solomon Wante

Research Associate

Solomon joined the BRI team in September 2022. Solomon coordinates the grapevine virus elimination project from the National Vine Collection as well as working on other grapevine improvement projects.

Originally from Nigeria, he has worked at Federal University in Nigeria as Lecturer. Solomon studied for his PhD in Biotechnology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, in 2019. His work focused on somaclonal mutation using the in vitro tissue culture technique to develop new clones or variants of plant lines with superior benefits, which could survive harsh changing environmental conditions.

Solomon will use this knowledge in the grapevine improvement project and other related projects. He is excited to be part of this world-class research institute for New Zealand’s wine industry.

Fang Gou

Data Manager

Fang started her studies at China Agricultural University in Beijing, receiving her BSc majoring in agro-meteorology, and her MSc in simulation and modelling intercropping systems. Building on that, she received her PhD from Wageningen University in the Netherlands on yield gains in wheat-maize intercropping systems. Fang lives a few doors down from the BRI location on Budge Street with her husband Jun-Qi and daughter Julia. Jun-Qi works at Plant and Food Research, also based on the Budge Street campus.

Fang’s key project will be to establish a catalogue of the industry’s existing research data– so we (and other researchers) know what’s already been done, what data exists, and how to access it. Depending on what she finds, we’ll also look at putting that data into a database (or collection of databases) where that information may be analysed across different projects. For future projects we will be establishing data standards and protocols and a new research database framework to be able to mine the full potential of the data we’re generating and collecting.

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.

Braden has a Bachelor in Wine Science and has been involved in an array of winemaking and viticultural roles over the last 20 years, including owning and operating his own vineyard and wine brand in Martinborough.

Braden aims to facilitate a two-way engagement with growers and winemakers to ensure industry research requirements are fulfilled by the BRI.  He is excited to work closely with the wine community in all regions to get the best benefit out of our research outcomes.

Contact: braden.crosby@bri.co.nz

Seth Laurenson

Senior Soils and Sustainability Advisor

Seth is the Senior Soils and Sustainability Advisor and is responsible for identifying, developing, and managing research in these areas.

Seth was previously a Senior Scientist at AgResearch Farm Systems and Environment group. His PhD from the University of South Australia was focused on viticultural soil management issues across the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Seth is an adjunct lecturer at Lincoln University and has expertise in soil physical health and how this influences soil health and water use.

Seth is excited to work closer with the viticultural industry across New Zealand and be a part of R&D activities that provide tangible and meaningful outcomes for the wine industry.

Robert Winup

Assistant Research Winemaker

Robert’s role as Assistant Research Winemaker is varied and covers the day-to-day operations, supporting administration, and responsibility for the safe and compliant running of the winery.

Robert holds a Bachelors of Viticulture & Winemaking, WSET Level 4 Diploma, and, outside of wine-related qualifications an MA (Hons) in Social Anthropology.

His previous work experience includes vineyard operations in the UK at various sites, and prior to starting at BRI he worked for Wither Hills, first in the cellar operations team and then in the laboratory.

Dr Bhanupratap Vanga

Research Scientist – Grapevine Improvement

Bhanu joined the grapevine improvement team at BRI in October 2022 as a Research Scientist working on the Sauvignon Blanc Grapevine Improvement project.

He is a distinguished biologist and passionate about understanding how crops perform under constantly changing environmental conditions and linking advanced molecular biology research from the lab to the field. He is excited to join BRI’s highly skilled and multidisciplinary team, whose aim is to understand plants’ natural evolution and contribute to developing resistant grapevines with novel traits.

Born and raised in a farming community on the southeast coast of India, Bhanu was always attracted to the agricultural sciences, developing a curiosity to find solutions for various farming challenges. He holds a PhD in microbiology, specialising in pathogen evolution and molecular plant-microbe interactions, from the University of Otago in collaboration with the James Hutton Institute, UK, and Plant and Food Research, NZ. He has also obtained a Master of Research in Plant Sciences from the University of Glasgow and an MSc in Biotechnology from the University of Madras.

For the past five years, he has worked closely with New Zealand Winegrowers on numerous projects, particularly on grapevine trunk diseases. He has previously worked in various research capacities at Plant and Food Research and Lincoln University.

Dr Ellie Bradley

Postdoctoral Researcher – Applied Epigenomics

Ellie joined the BRI team in October 2022 as Postdoctoral Researcher – Applied Epigenomics. Ellie works primarily on the molecular biology aspect of the Tuned Vines project.

Originally from Hawke’s Bay, and later Manawatu, she has studied her BSc, MSc, and PhD at Massey University and has a background in molecular genetics with a focus on plant-associated fungi/oomycetes.

Ellie has joined the BRI Grapevine Improvement team and is looking forward to applying her molecular knowledge and lab skills to the grapevine system.

Dr Annabel Whibley

Bioinformatician

Annabelle joined the Grapevine Improvement team in 2022, taking up the position of Bioinformatician. Her role explores genomic datasets to glean insights into grapevine biology.

Annabel completed her PhD in plant molecular genetics at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. Since then she has applied genomics technologies to questions in clinical research, evolution and conservation.

As a bioinformatician at BRI she is characterising genetic and epigenetic diversity in new and existing grapevines to develop more resilient plants for the future.

Annabel also holds an Honorary Academic position in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland.

Dr Cen Liau

Postdoctoral Scientist – Grapevine Epigenomics

Cen joined the Grapevine Improvement team at BRI in November 2022, as Postdoctoral Scientist – Grapevine Epigenomics. Cen primarily works on the Tuned Vines project to study epigenetics of grapevine in different climates or in response to stress.

Originally from Indonesia, Cen completed her PhD in human genetics at the University of Otago – Christchurch in 2020, focusing on the application of novel genomic technologies and bioinformatics. She has molecular genetics background from her previous roles in molecular diagnostic and clinical genetic laboratories.

She is looking forward to applying her molecular and bioinformatic skills to study the effect of different terroirs and environmental stress on epigenetics regulation of grapevine.

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 oversees laboratory administration.

Prior to joining Bragato Research Institute, she worked as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Canterbury studying methanogen-inhibitory compounds.

Amy has a background in microbiology and molecular biology. She holds an MSc from the University of Canterbury and in 2021 completed her PhD at the University of Cambridge where she studied gene regulation in bacteria.

Amy is looking forward to applying her skills in molecular biology to the grapevine system and working in such a vibrant New Zealand industry.

Chris Ireland

Viticulture Technical Specialist

Chris is a Viticulture Technical Specialist, focused on establishing BRI’s new commercial viticulture field trial unit. Chris leads client and industry-funded projects focused primarily on the evaluation of crop protection products, with responsibility for pricing, trial establishment and delivery through to reporting.

Chris has more than 30 years of experience in New Zealand’s wine industry, a science degree in viticulture from Charles Stuart University, and runs his own viticulture consultancy business. Chris is a Blenheim local and owns a small vineyard, which he farms organically.

Dr Paul Epee

Research and Extension Specialist

Paul has a PhD in Agronomy and Viticulture at Lincoln University. His research was to characterise and quantify the pruning decisions made by an expert human pruner, which in turn will be used to train Artificial intelligence (AI) systems in cane pruning, thus contributing to alleviating manual labour in vineyards. His research also investigated the effect of changing node loads on the grapevine vegetative and reproductive growth.

Paul holds a master’s degree in Agronomy from the University of Queensland (Australia) as well as a bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Agronomy from his home country, Cameroon. He has over a decade of experience in agriculture advising and research management in a range of crops including banana, barley and grapevine.

Paul’s role at BRI is to conceive and deliver applied research projects in cooperation with winegrowers, BRI staff, and researchers from partner institutions. Complementing this, he also takes a lead in extension – working with winegrowers and scientists to ensure that new knowledge is accessible to viticulturists and winemakers, and that this knowledge is employed to benefit the winegrowing businesses. This is a unique opportunity for him he says to use his experience in research and extension for the benefit of New Zealand grape growers and the wine industry.

Ngarita Warden

Research Winemaker

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

Well-known on the Marlborough Research Centre campus, Ngarita joins us from NMIT where she was the wine science tutor. She also runs a WSET course provider, The New Zealand Academy of Wine and Spirits.

After completing a double major in Microbiology and Zoology at Otago University, Ngarita spent a year at Lincoln University studying for the Post Graduate Diploma in Viticulture and Oenology. After a number of vintages in New Zealand and Australia, the UK became home for 6 years. There Ngarita was the wine buyer for St Johns College, Cambridge University and worked for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) educating on wine as well as managing the research and program development projects.

On return to New Zealand Ngarita became involved again in winemaking in the greater Auckland region and Central Otago before most recently lecturing at NMIT in the wine science program. Ngarita also runs her own business teaching WSET courses, is a WSET Diploma holder and is a certified WSET Educator. In her spare time, she can be found hanging out with her 8-year-old boy, playing cricket and hiking and camping at the many great spots around Marlborough and Tasman.

Sachi Rana

Research Programme Manager

Dr Sachi Rana is a Research Programme Manager and looks after our winemaking innovation projects, including the Pinot Noir programme extension.

Sachi is passionate about innovation and has a PhD in Biotechnology (specialised in Nanotechnology). She has held a variety of roles in the New Zealand wine industry, most recently as Assistant Winemaker at Indevin.

Sachi has also been accepted into the prestigious Master of Wine programme at The Institute of Masters of Wine this year.

Fraser Broom

Science Strategy Manager

Dr Fraser Broom is the Science Strategy Manager. After completing a horticultural science degree at Massey University, he worked for several years as a horticultural consultant for NZ’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, before gaining a PhD. investigating bitter pit, a physiological disorder of apples. Five years as a plant physiologist and breeder followed, working with apples, kiwifruit, berries, and Antarctic lichens and mosses. In 2000, Fraser began work with the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, the Government’s science funding agency. He had a succession of investment management and strategy roles, becoming Director for primary sector research. In that role, Fraser’s team was responsible for investment strategy and investment management across the land and water based primary sectors.

In 2011, Fraser left the public service and took up a role as manager of ANZCO Foods’ Primary Growth Partnership programme. This role brought together the Crown and one of NZ’s largest exporters in a commercial programme focused on added-value meat products. The programme, known as FoodPlus was successfully concluded in late 2019. Following this Fraser started a contracting and consulting business, focusing on the interface between science and commerce in the primary sectors. He is excited to be working with BRI. “I am passionate about science that delivers outcomes to New Zealand’s primary industries, and it is exciting to be a part of building a new organisation to benefit New Zealand’s winegrowers.”

Sarah Rowley Adams

Senior Communications Advisor

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

She previously worked at New Zealand Winegrowers as the Communications and Digital Advisor, where she led the digital communications, social media strategy and website.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts with honours and has seven years of communications and content experience at well-known New Zealand export brands including Yealands Wine Group and Trilogy Natural Skincare. She is passionate about digital storytelling and helping brands communicate, educate, and connect with audiences.

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 managing our accounts and events.

Katie has 5+ years in Office Management & Administration as well as previous background in the Fitness Industry.

Dr Jacquie Harper

General Manager – Research & Innovation

Jacquie is the General Manager – Research & Innovation. She leads the Research and Extension teams and shapes BRI’s research strategy.

Jacquie was previously the Science Director and Chief Scientist at Overseer, and has held science leadership roles with BRANZ, Weltec and Whitireia and Malaghan Institute.

She has a PhD in Chemistry and Physiology from the University of Otago. She holds two occasional roles, as a contract lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington and the Deputy Chair of the National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee at the Ministry of Primary Industries.

Jacquie is excited by BRI’s stage of development and looks forward to bringing her wealth of experience to deliver research outcomes for the New Zealand wine industry.

Jeffrey Clarke

CEO

Jeffrey Clarke, previously General Manager Advocacy & General Counsel at New Zealand Winegrowers, was appointed in June 2021. Mr Clarke has worked for NZ Winegrowers since 2014 and been involved with BRI since its inception. His work as general legal counsel included the original contracts to establish BRI, as well as ongoing advocacy and legal support.

Mr Clarke also represented the New Zealand wine industry on international wine bodies such as the OIV and World Wine Trade Group.

“I’m thrilled by the opportunity to help lead BRI at this exciting stage of its growth. We have an opportunity to consolidate our great start with exciting new programmes, deepening our relationships with the research community to deliver meaningful impact to winegrowers throughout New Zealand,” said Mr Clarke.

Jacqueline Maclaurin

Programme Coordinator

Jacqueline joins BRI as Programme Coordinator for our Sauvignon Blanc Grapevine Improvement Programme 2.0.

Jacqueline has a passion for viticulture and the wine industry, with over 10 years of experience in Marlborough, in various leadership positions including managing operational teams.

Jacqueline brings skills to the team in project management, financial planning and organisation and a keen drive to cultivate relationships with our industry and programme stakeholders.

Michelle Barry

Research Programme Manager

Michelle joined the BRI team in September 2019 as the Technicial Communications Specialist. Her background in environmental science and soil science provides her with a unique perspective on winegrowing. She is now a Research Programme Manager and leads BRI’s research on soil and land management,  as well as studying for her PhD in agricultural economics looking at diversification as a climate change adaptation strategy.

Michelle runs a wine brand and produces small volumes of Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc and Rose with her partner Tom.

Dr David Armour

Research Programme Manager

David’s focus is working with BRI’s research partners to manage two of the industry’s key research programmes: Vineyard Ecosystems, examining how vineyard management practices can enhance biodiversity and improve grapevine performance; and looking at Pinot Noir quality and productivity.

David completed a PhD in plant genetics and breeding at The University of Queensland. After this, he followed his passion for growing fruit crops and developed physiology and research programme management experience across a broad range of horticultural crops from lucerne to mangoes, avocados to kiwifruit. In 2015 David moved to New Zealand and spent four years in the Innovation team at Zespri. Following this, David started a R&D consulting business to focus on the delivery of science into growers’ and post-harvest operations. David says he relishes the theoretical and practical challenges of delivering higher yield, quality, taste, and reduced environmental impact in horticultural crops.

Stephanie Flores

Project Manager

Stephanie joined BRI in 2020 to lead the communications function through the establishment phase of the organisation, then served as Science Strategy Advisor to assist with funding and strategy for the next wave of the industry’s major research programmes.

Stephanie also launched the New Zealand Wine Futures Fund, to seek collaborations and novel ideas for the wine research ecosystem.

Now a Project Manager, she’s overseeing projects from the Futures Fund, as well as overseeing the conclusion of the Vineyard Ecosystems, the Pinot Noir Programme and their spin-off projects.

Stephanie’s passion is environmental management, with a focus on the business case for restoring natural capital. A former accountant, she holds a Master’s in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master’s in Environmental Management and Policy from Lincoln University.

Dr Jessica Rivera-Perez

Molecular Research Technician

Jessica’s previous research used innovative molecular techniques to study diets, microbiomes and gastrointestinal diseases preserved in subfossils from ancient civilizations and prehistoric animals. Now transitioning into viticulture, Jessica will apply the knowledge she’s acquired throughout 9 years of leading novel genetic research to the molecular assessment of new and improved NZ grapevines. “I’m really excited to collaborate on such a pivotal project for New Zealand and its exemplary wine industry”, she said.

Jessica is fluent in English, Spanish and salsa dancing.

Dr Carmo Vasconcelos

Extension Specialist

She began her studies with a degree in Agriculture Engineering at the Technical University of Lisbon, before moving to Switzerland to continue at Zurich’s Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). She obtained her PhD in grapevine physiology in 1990, conducting her research at the Swiss Federal Research Station for Fruit Growing, Viticulture and Horticulture in Wädenswil.  Following her graduate studies, Carmo also did a post-doc at Wädenswil on sustainable viticulture, and a second post-doc on grapevine cold hardiness at Michigan State University.

Dr Vasconcelos was an Associate Professor and Extension Specialist of Viticulture at Oregon State University from 1994 to 2006.  She provided leadership in research on the physiology and sustainable production of high-quality winegrapes in Oregon.  Her own research continued in grapevine physiology, particularly carbon assimilation and allocation, water relations, and the impact of rootstock on scion physiology.

Carmo joined HortResearch (now Plant and Food Research) Marlborough as Senior Scientist in 2007, where she conducted research on Pinot noir.  She joined Elanza Technologies in 2010, where she developed tools to optimise category performance of fresh produce, including kiwifruit, avocados, apples, tomatoes, berry fruit, seafood, and red and white meat in retail chains.

From 2013 to 2017, Dr Vasconcelos was an Associate Professor of Viticulture at the Eastern Institute of Technology in Napier. She taught grapevine physiology and researched viticulture issues relevant to the New Zealand winegrowing industry while concurrently assisting with the crop development programme at Elanza Fresh.  She became Innovation Manager at Elanza Fresh in 2017, where she oversaw the breeding programmes for blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and tamarillos, developed production systems for high tunnel fruit crops, and adapted scientific research in the areas of hydroponics and protected cropping to commercial growing conditions to achieve an 8 to 12 month supply.

After a short period at Fruition Horticulture, where she developed the curriculum for a level six Horticulture diploma, she joined BRI and returned to her beloved viticulture.

Josh Rowley

Cellar Manager and Viticultural Research Technician

Josh Rowley joined the Research Winery team during vintage 2022 and now holds the position of Cellar Manager and Viticultural Research Technician. Previously, he was a brewer with Urbanaut Brewing Co. in Auckland. In early 2021, post the 2020 lockdowns in Auckland, he relocated to Blenheim to join the wine industry and escape the city. He completed a Cellar Operations certificate at NMIT, while experiencing his first vintage with Pernod Ricard, and from there went on to a role at Marisco Family Vineyards.

Josh was drawn to BRI’s Research Winery as the experimentation and smaller scale reminded him of his roots in brewing. He’s now enjoying the work-life balance that Marlborough provides, and his dog Pinot is often present at the winery.

Dr Dianne McCarthy

CRSNZ CNZM

Dr McCarthy holds a BA BSc MSc (Hons) and PhD from the University of Auckland.  She has extensive experience in a number of senior management and governance roles in the tertiary education, science and health sectors. She is Deputy Chair of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, a Member of the Governance Board of the Dodd Walls CoRE, a Trustee of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and the Hearing Research Foundation (NZ) and Pro-Chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington. She was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to Education in 2008, a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand for her services to Science in 2015, and a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to science, business and women in 2016.

Professor Charles Eason

BRI Board Member

Professor Charles Eason joined the Board in an advisory role in December 2020, following his retirement from the Cawthron Institute. Prof. Eason had been at Cawthron since 2003, initially as a Board Director, and then CEO from 2012-2020. His science background includes senior research and management positions overseas and in New Zealand, including with multinational companies, a Crown research institute, a university and a manufacturing business.

As a Lincoln University professor, he is the Director of the Centre for Wildlife Management and Conservation, and associated with research aimed at better protecting endangered native species. In 2019 Prof. Eason was appointed as a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (CNZM) for his services to science and wildlife conservation.

He is also a Companion of the Royal Society Te Apārangi and was awarded their Thomson Medal in 2017 for outstanding leadership in his research career and for his achievements as head of the Cawthron Institute. At the time, the medal selection committee said Prof.Eason’s ability to link scientific innovation with commercial experience had a global impact in the areas of chemical toxicity, pest control, food safety, aquaculture, drug development, and environmental protection. Prof. Eason holds a PhD (Pharmacology and Toxicology) from the University of Surrey, United Kingdom, 1981.

Mark Gilbert

Independent Chair – NZWRC

Mark retired as Managing Director of BMW Group New Zealand in 2012.

He has nearly 30 years automotive industry and management experience, working in both New Zealand and Asia for international companies Volvo and the BMW Group, where he held a number of senior executive roles. During this time, the BMW Group more than trebled its retail sales numbers, and became market leader worldwide with improvements in both shareholder returns and a strong profit orientation.

Since 2012, Mark has applied his skills as a Professional Director, performing non-executive Director and/or Chair roles, in a diverse range of organisations, covering Local Government; Central Government, Commercial SME’s and the NfP sectors. A number of these roles are retail related and small to medium sized family businesses; so similar in some respects to the New Zealand wine industry.

Mark tends to come at things with a customer centric viewpoint, but with strong profit, shareholder and triple bottom line orientation; and has successfully implemented the strategic changes necessary to embed these where necessary. He always seek to make a positive difference – be it for the company, the shareholders and the employees.