Board

I am a Senior Lecturer of Ruminant Nutrition and Meat Science in the Animal Production and Health group of the Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences at Massey University. Current research projects investigate feed requirements for gaining body condition score in sheep, effect of slaughter age on meat quality of lamb and quality of beef from crossbred steers.

I grew up on a farm in Pokeno (North Waikato) and then moved to the Manawatu to engage in tertiary studies. I obtained an Honours degree in Animal Science from Massey University and followed this by PhD studies at Massey University and AgResearch looking at the effect of feeding forages on lamb flavour. I spent two years as a post-doc at the Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) in Clermont-Ferrand, France studying the development of muscle in beef cattle and returned to New Zealand in 2008 to take on my current role at Massey University.  

From July 2016, I will be the President of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production and also the Lower North Island Director for Zonta in New Zealand. I also hold roles as: Associate Editor for the New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, Facilitator for the Massey University division of the Red Meat Network and I am a member of Graduate Women Manawatu.

I live on a 1.6ha lifestyle block on the outskirts of Palmerston North with my partner Thomas, a 16-year-old cat called Friesian, 13 mixed-age ewes, 2 rams, 7 hoggets  and 7 chickens.

Tim's work as an Equine Clinician covers all aspects of performance horse practice, including lameness workups & treatments, poor performance evaluations, treating respiratory problems and some surgical procedures. He also provides advice and expertise in breeding work using artificial insemination or thoroughbred stud work.

In his 30 years servicing the equine industry, Tim has been extensively involved with Show Jumping Teams internationally. He's been the Show Jumping Vet to Team New Zealand, and he's been to the Olympics three times. Tim develops close relationships with his clients, and he's passionate about helping them achieve on-going high performance of their horses.
Tim is married to Trish who is also a vet and a keen equestrian. He spends most of his spare time with his family, training, riding and managing their own race horses, show jumpers and hunters.

Mark is a practicising equine veterinarian of 25 years experience who currently manages his family’s thoroughbred horse stud, Haunui Farm. Having started his veterinary career at the Auckland Veterinary Centre with renowned veterinarians Dr Charles Roberts and Dr Andrew Grierson, Mark elected to return to the family thoroughbred business as Managing Director in 2001. He has always held a high degree of interest in equine reproduction, nutrition and neonatal foal medicine and is well respected in New Zealand’s thoroughbred breeding industry. He currently sits on the board of the NZ Hall of Fame and Equine Trust having recently retired as Vice President of the NZ Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

Completed a degree in agricultural science followed by a PhD in equine endocrinology at Lincoln College, University of Canterbury. Having developed a method of measuring follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in horses, subsequent studies involved investigation of the effect of stimulants and suppressants of FSH production and the effects on ovarian follicle growth. Completed a post-doctoral programme at the University of Kentucky. A study performed at Lincoln on uterine infections showed that clearance of material and bacteria introduced at mating was of great importance in a mare’s resistance to infection. Employed as a scientist in endocrinology by Canterbury District Health Board for 30 years.

2012 Lincoln University Bledisloe Medallist.
Former secretary, NZ Society of Endocrinology, former member International Symposium on Equine Reproduction Committee (16 years) and scientific editor, member and current chairman NZ Equine Research Foundation, ESNZ Eventing Board member, Eventing Canterbury Committee and current Chairman, member Joint Technical Committee for NZ Equine Trust and NZ Equine Research Foundation.

Professor Jan Thomas commenced as Vice Chancellor of Massey University in January 2017.  From 2012 Jan served as Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia.  Prior to that, she held various senior executive positions at Murdoch University and the University of Notre Dame Australia from 2003.

Professor Thomas has a PhD in Veterinary Science from Murdoch University and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute for Company Directors. She has received numerous awards for her leadership in education. 

Professor Thomas currently holds the position of Chair for the Managing Council of the Association of Commonwealth Universities based in London and is a member of the Hong Kong Quality Assurance Council. 

James joined the NZRB in July 2015 as Senior Marketing Manager with the Event Marketing & Logistics team (now The Races). In October 2017 he moved to his current position, as Government and Industry Relationship Manager.

Within this role James’ focus is largely within the racing industry, together with a number of National Sporting Organisations. James also sits on the Racing Ministers Racing Safety Development Fund, NZ Equine Health Association and the RIU Equine Code & Veterinarians Association, as NZRB’s representative.