Jane has been active in R&D in New Zealand and internationally for 30 years. Jane specialises in commercial innovation in food, natural products and biotechnology.

Following a successful career in science and science management with what is now Plant and Food Research, Jane created Catalyst^® in 2000.

Jane worked with ZESPRI International for five years as Innovation Manager for New Cultivar Development.

Jane has worked with many other businesses in reviewing their commercial goals and designing R&D programmes to deliver on them. This has also involved accessing investment funding for the companies to support their R&D. Companies worked with include: Market NZ, a nutraceutical company, Sealord,  ANZCO, Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), Bomac - a developer, manufacturer and exporter of animal remedies.

Malcolm has been involved in research and R&D management in New Zealand for 20 years, in the public and private sectors.

Following a career in science and science management with what is now AgResearch Malcolm created Catalyst R&D Ltd in 2000.

Malcolm also worked for ZESPRI International where he was involved in the development and implementation of a range of significant R&D projects.

Malcolm has worked with many businesses in reviewing their commercial goals and designing R&D programmes and projects to deliver on them. Companies worked with include: Bell-Booth Ltd an animal feed developer and manufacturer, Sealord, ANZCO, Livestock Improvement Corporation (LIC), Te Runanga O Ngati Porou.

Life Cycle Assessment has become an area of increasing focus and Malcolm has lead a number of significant projects in this area. He has a good knowledge of the processes, standards and commercial reality of undertaking LCA for businesses.

Malcolm has the following capabilities

• Experience in the strategic analysis of R&D
• Skills and experience in project design and implementation
• Specialist knowledge in horticulture
• Experience in the financial evaluation of R&D

Malcolm is a graduate of Lincoln University, with B.HortSci. (Hons) Ist class and has an MBA.

Maria is a chemical engineer and has been involved with the bioplastics industry in New Zealand and in Europe, for over a decade.

She managed the development of a patented biodegradable packaging technology in a private industry venture for six years which gives her a comprehensive understanding of both the advantages and limitations of bioplastic materials.

Maria has provided consultancy services in the area of competitive technology analysis of bioplastic and traditional packaging materials. Her involvement in the development of a variety of bioplastic solutions means she has in-depth knowledge of the different technologies available, and their advantages and limitations, and can help clients to quickly identify the best options for their own needs.

Maria's capabilities include:

• Comprehensive understanding of the bioplastics industry
• Knowledge of commercial bioplastic product and end-user issues
• Experience in identifying key technical performance requirements for packaging applications
• Ability to recognise technically feasible bioplastic technologies suitable for commercial application

Maria holds a BE (Hons) from the Chemical and Process Engineering Department at Canterbury University, majoring in environmental engineering.

After 11 years as a researcher Wymond became interested in commercializing the outcomes of research and has undertaken consultancy work for Auckland Uniservices Ltd and GeneDetect Ltd. Wymond also worked for Vialactia, a research arm of Fonterra, evaluating the commercial potential of opportunities around herd genetics in the dairy industry.

Whilst he was a researcher, Wymond's career was in medical research, working in several laboratories as a senior scientist in neuroscience based gene therapy labs at Auckland University and Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. In this role Wymond worked on developing a novel genetic vaccine for epilepsy and helped optimize viral gene delivery to the brain.

Wymond now works closely with the dairy industry through the management and development of nutritional products, and the benchmarking of stock productivity for a New Zealand manufacturer. With an interest in sustainable farming practice Wymond has also undertaken significant farming and cropping carbon footprinting projects. In addition to determining the environmental impacts of business operations Wymond has extensive experience in LCA (life cycle assessment) - the determination of the environmental impacts of products, services and systems over their lifetime.

Wymond's key capabilities include:

• Carbon accounting (operational carbon inventories and product LCA)
• Experience and understanding of the biotechnology industry
• Expert user of LCA software
• Project management expertise
• Knowledge of the New Zealand dairy industry
• Knowledge of the ACVM regulations for livestock feeds and treatments

Kimberly Robertson has been involved in research and development for 15 years in New Zealand and internationally, with a focus on carbon accounting related to climate change, land use, forestry and renewable energy. She worked for Forest Research (Scion) for 7 years in the Climate Change and Energy Group before heading to Austria for 18 months to manage a International Energy Agency (IEA) Bioenergy project (Greenhouse Gas Balances of Biomass and Bioenergy Systems).

More recently her work has focussed on the use of life cycle thinking and assessment of products and services to improve their environmental impact. She has provided consultancy services to companies (a range of forest companies, ZESPRI), government (Ministry for the Environment, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry,) and international organisations (IEA Bioenergy Task 38, UNFCCC).

Kimberly's key capabilities include:

• Specialist knowledge of national and international climate change policies and land use carbon accounting systems
• Carbon accounting -at all levels including product, company and national including the review of United Kingdom forest and New Zealand land use carbon accounting systems.
• Carbon accounting of bioenergy systems
• Life cycle assessment of products and use of LCA specialist software. 
• Greenhouse Gas Inventory Reviewer for UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol - as a LULUCF expert
• Experience in design and implementation of research projects

Gerard is an agribusiness innovation manager with an extensive knowledge of supply chain, climate change and sustainability issues in Australia, with a particular focus on horticulture.

Gerard managed strategic planning and specific programmes for a range of horticultural industries with Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL) for over thirteen years. He also held senior management positions, leading major whole-of-industry programs in sustainable development. These included the "Horticulture for Tomorrow" Environmental Assurance program and the Horticulture Water Initiative.

Gerard's strength is in integrating knowledge and expertise from different fields to reveal fresh insights. For example, his development of a strategic Supply Chain Management plan combined marketing, technical and people issues. He explored these issues through broad consultation with commercial, academic and government stakeholders. The resulting framework focused on driving change through know-how, transparent rewards, market knowledge and commercial innovation.

Gerard undertakes consulting assignments in aspects of all aspects of supply chain management. As well as understanding commercial agribusiness issues, Gerard draws on outstanding networks in all aspects of rural R&D.