New Board Members for Research Foundation
Minister of Research, Science and Technology Pete Hodgson has appointed three new Board members to the Foundation for
Research, Science and Technology.
The new members are Dr Ken Taylor, Professor Tom Barnes and Dr Grant Ryan. In addition, Dr Andy Pearce has been
reappointed for another term.
Mr Hodgson said all the appointees were highly respected in their professions.
“They are highly experienced specialists who bring to the Foundation a wide range of skills and experience in research,
science and technology from both the private and public sectors.
“The blend of business leadership, research expertise and academic brilliance they offer, combined with their extensive
international experience, will be invaluable to the Foundation’s work.”
The Foundation invests nearly $400 million annually in a wide range of research, science and technology initiatives with
economic, social and environmental benefits for New Zealand.
Mr Hodgson also paid tribute to Maxine Simmons who is retiring from the Board after 3.5 years.
“As the chief executive of a biotechnology company, Maxine’s knowledge and expertise has been very useful to the
Technology New Zealand investment committee. Technology New Zealand invests in businesses to increase their
technological abilities in order to benefit New Zealand and Maxine chaired the investment committee for the last 2.5
years.”
Foundation for Research, Science and Technology: www.frst.govt.nz
New Foundation Members Background:
Dr Ken Taylor
Dr Ken Taylor is currently chief executive officer of Antipodean Biotechnology Limited, a venture capital firm based in
Auckland. He holds honours and doctorate degrees in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Otago. He has held
positions at Johns Hopkins University, Princeton University and the Squibb Institute of Medical Research. In 1975 he
joined Roche in Sydney and in 1981 he was appointed Medical Director for Roche in New Zealand while concurrently holding
a professorship in clinical pharmacology at the Auckland University School of Medicine. In 1986 he was appointed
Managing Director for Roche in New Zealand and later became Managing Director of the Roche UK affiliate based in Welwyn
Garden City, before moving to California in 1994 to convert Syntex from a corporate pharmaceutical company to Roche
Bioscience, a research centre. In 1996 he returned to New Zealand to reassume management of the Roche affiliate.
Professor Tom Barnes
Tom Barnes is Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) of the University of Auckland and Professor of Physics. After completing
a PhD in the UK, he worked in the fluid dynamics field. He came to New Zealand in 1981 to join the DSIR in the Physics
and Engineering Laboratory, in charge of the optical manufacturing workshop. From 1987 to 1991 he worked in Japan on
optical research. Since 1991, he has progressed from Lecturer to Professor at the Physics Department at the University
of Auckland. Professor Barnes holds several patents and collaborates in research with Industrial Research Limited and
universities in New Zealand, the UK and Japan.
Grant Ryan
Dr Grant Ryan has a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Canterbury and PhD in Chemical and Process
Engineering. He worked for two and a half years as a scientist for Industrial Research Limited. He also led a research
project into impediments to the uptake of new and emerging technologies. He has been involved in numerous international
research projects, including three months at the Universite de Versailles in Paris on an EC research project modelling
pollution flows in European economies. Dr Ryan also has extensive business experience. He is the originator of the
internet search technology that led to the formation of Global Brain in March 1998 and is currently CEO of RealContacts
Ltd. He is also on the board of the Venture Investment Fund.
Andrew Pearce
Dr Andrew (Andy) Pearce is Chief Executive of Landcare Research Ltd, a Crown Research Institute specialising in
environmental research. He has held that position since 1992. He has authored numerous articles on land erosion and
forest water use.