Our People

Mel Slade

BE in Electronic Engineering

Systems Engineer
CTEK Combined Technologies

Mel Slade hit the jackpot when he scored a job at one of New Zealand’s largest automation and integration companies, straight out of his BE degree.

The Whangarei Boys’ High School old boy has found himself involved with exciting projects after just a few months with the company.

CTEK is based in Hamilton and specialises in food and beverage, pulp and paper, and chemical industries. The company provides services to Fonterra, NZ and Australia, Dairy Goat, Ravensdown, and other food and beverage projects with CTEK’s partner SAGE Automation in Australia.

Mel’s main duties fall within the dairy industry, designing software which tells Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) how to manage a process or plant. The PLC allows the machine to use sensors such as temperature and pressure, to control outputs such as motors and pumps. He also designs Human Machine Interface (HMI) software, so people can communicate with the machinery.

These skills were put to use recently, when Mel was involved in the addition of an oil cooler to the gearbox of a roller motor at Fonterra Edgecumbe.

“What I enjoy most about working at CTEK is the new challenges that come with each project and the opportunity to be involved with work at a range of sites rather than working exclusively in an office.”

 “Mel has merged well into our organisation and has an excellent future with opportunities in large complex projects both in NZ and Australia. He is showing great technical strength, we are pleased to have attracted him into our organisation,” says Bob Stokes, Managing Director of CTEK.

Kieran Miller

BSc; MSc in Biological Sciences

Graduate/Junior Ecologist
Tonkin & Taylor Ltd

Ensuring high profile infrastructure projects have a minimal impact on the environment is a real buzz for graduate Kieran Miller.

In the field Kieran has enjoyed relocating native skinks and geckos, and working with elite researchers on the ecological implications of a major motorway project in Auckland. In the office a highlight has been creating a translocation plan for tuatara.

Tonkin & Taylor Ltd are an environmental engineering consultancy.

Riki Lewis

BSc; MSc in Earth Sciences

Soil Scientist
Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation (DEEDI), Queensland Government

"The practical skills I learnt during study were invaluable for securing a job after graduation."

For Riki Lewis, studying Earth Sciences at Waikato has led to an exciting job as a Soil Scientist with the Queensland Government.

“I travel to beef feed lots to collect soil samples, which we test on site. Currently I’m in charge of running an experiment in which we’re trying to validate a new experimental method against an older, more trusted method.

The validation experiment involves running a machine which analyses greenhouse gasses (GHG) at very low concentrations. I then collect and process the meteorological data.”

The government will use this data to help determine an acceptable level of GHG emissions from feed lots and to set a limit from which farmers will begin to pay carbon tax.

Riki moved straight onto tertiary study following his teenage years at Cambridge High School.

While studying he attended conferences in New Zealand and Australia, which gave him one on one contact with industry – a valuable bonus when looking for jobs later in his career.

As for study advice? “Study what you find interesting. Subjects you are interested in will be more enjoyable and you’ll do better in them. If you’re unsure about anything, just ask. Lecturers and support staff at Waikato are excellent.”

Cody Wright

BSc; MSc in Chemistry

Instrument Technician
Hill Laboratories

A passion for chemistry has led Cody Wright to an exciting position with New Zealand’s leading analytical testing laboratory.

Cody works in the routine residues division at Hill Laboratories. He tests a wide range of products for pesticide levels using a suite of high-tech equipment. The recent kiwifruit PSA problem has kept him busy in the lab, testing for residues that are being used to combat PSA, such as the antibiotic drug Streptomycin and the pesticide Actigard.

“It’s rewarding to know that my work ensures the quality of products throughout the world.”

Cody went to high school at Katikati College. He was selected for direct entry into year two chemistry classes at university due to his exceptional grades in Year 13 chemistry.

During his studies he worked on a project which was published in a reputable journal of chemistry. “This subsequently allowed me to receive a summer scholarship, which gave me a head start on my research for the thesis portion of my MSc. Since then I’ve had two more papers published. The MSc really gave me a taste for research and I’d ultimately love to end up in a position where I was able to undertake research and development orientated work.”

Jessie Sixsmith

BSc in Earth Sciences

Graduate Geologist
New Hope Corporation Ltd, Brisbane

Recent graduate Jessie Sixsmith says that her science degree set her up perfectly for a job in Australia’s booming resources sector.

Jessie is a graduate geologist with New Hope Corporation Ltd, which is headquartered in Brisbane. The company is an independent energy company focusing on coal mining and exploration. Jessie works on the company’s exploration programmes, which sees her working on sites throughout the state of Queensland.

“I’m involved in New Hope’s exploration programme looking for coal in Queensland. This involves working on a drill rig and analysing the rock samples that are collected. I also spend time interpreting geophysical data obtained from the bore holes. My goal is to gain at least two years’ field experience in the coal exploration industry and then move on to the geological modelling side of exploration and mine planning.”

Jessie also said her degree with the University of Waikato was instrumental in her gaining entry into the resources sector in Australia, and being able to follow her passion for earth sciences. She highly recommended her University of Waikato degree as it gave her the foundation in earth sciences and valuable skill sets she needed to confidently undertake her new career.

Kelly Kilpin

BSc; MSc(Hons); Higher in Chemistry

Postdoctoral Researcher
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland

Developing anti-cancer drugs in Switzerland is an exciting reality for former Thames High School student Kelly Kilpin.

Kelly completed a BSc, MSc and PhD at Waikato University, all in chemistry and loved the hands-on experience she got due to the close-knit chemistry department.

Following her PhD she worked on postdoctoral research at the University of Otago, followed by a Postdoctoral Fellowship award, which gave her the opportunity to work at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland for two years.

“My postdoctoral research focuses on the design and synthesis of ruthenium anti-cancer drugs.  We’re trying to develop new drugs which eliminate some of the problems associated with drugs that are currently used in the clinic today.” 

Catherine Bryan

BSc; MSc in Biological Sciences

Research Assistant
Environmental Research Institute, University of Waikato

“Waikato is one of the top universities to study ecology and is surrounded by so many incredible ecosystems.”

A six-month exchange to Canada, a handful of scholarships and excellent support from lecturers were just a few of the things that made study at Waikato an experience of a lifetime for graduate Catherine Bryan.

“My role as a research assistant is very diverse and exciting and I don’t really have a ‘typical day’. Sometimes I arrive at work, jump in a van and head into the field to investigate vegetation patterns in areas such as the Erua, Taranaki and Waipoua forests. Other days I am busy assisting with the Institute’s research programmes, helping MSc students with their thesis research, writing reports and articles, and sharing our research findings through presentations.”
The Environmental Research Institute combines environmental expertise from different areas in the University to work out how we can improve and sustain the quality of New Zealanders' natural and physical environment.

Catherine began her studies with a Bachelor of Science, specialising in Resource and Environmental Planning, and focusing mainly on Earth Sciences. Following this she undertook a Master of Science, where she decided to alter her focus to Biological Sciences.

“For my masters I concentrated primarily on plant ecology, as I felt that this is an area where I could make more of a difference in terms of environmental conservation and restoration.”

Catherine Charleson

BSc(Tech) in Biological Sciences

Clinical Embryologist
The London Women’s Clinic, Marylebone, London

“I‘m fascinated by the human body and how it works”.

Hearing heart-warming  pregnancy success stories from her patients is the ultimate reward for Catherine Charleson, who works in a London fertility clinic as a clinical embryologist.

Everyday tasks for Catherine include working in a lab with oocytes and sperm to create human embryos; interacting and educating patients; and helping women with IVF cycle management.

Following high school at Waikato Diocesan School for Girls in Hamilton, Catherine studied a Bachelor of Science (Technology), majoring in Biological Sciences and specifying in the Biomedical Sciences programme.  The programme included papers in physiology, genetics, anatomy and biochemistry.

A work placement at AgResearch Ruakura as an embryologist and laboratory technician led her to her first full-time position as a clinical embryologist at Fertility Associates in Hamilton. An aspiration to work overseas took her to London, in mid 2011, where she is now enjoying life in England.  

Bayleigh Petchell

BE(Hons) in Mechanical Engineering

Graduate Mechanical Engineer
Meridian Energy Ltd

Waikato graduate Bayleigh Petchell is experiencing the highs and lows of renewable energy – but not in the way you may expect. Climbing wind turbines and venturing underground to hydro stations is all part of the job – a job which she’s loving every minute of.

As a graduate mechanical engineer for Meridian Energy in Christchurch, Bayleigh has spent the last seven months in a programme which will give her the opportunity to rotate around the varying business units at the company.

Meridian is New Zealand’s largest electricity generator, with seven hydro stations in the South Island and four wind farms including Te Uku, its newest one in the Waikato region.

“A typical working day could be spent working up an 80m high wind turbine on one of our wind farms, 200m underground at our Manapouri hydro station, onsite on one of our hydro stations in the Waitaki Valley, or in our new Christchurch office.”

“I’ve been working in the Engineering Strategy team. Our focus is on foreseeable opportunities 5-10 years in the future and therefore the projects we work on tend to be big and run over a long time period. I’m also working with our Wind Asset Maintenance team, which involves helping out with turbine inspections on site and with some minor projects.”

Bayleigh was attracted to engineering due to the creative problem solving aspect of the profession. She enjoyed maths and physics at school and wanted a degree which would lead to a job that would allow her to get out of the office and into the field. After attending the Faculty’s Engineering Open Day and meeting with staff, she decided that Waikato was for her.

Norzahirah Ahmad

BSc; BSc(Hons) in Materials and Processing

Research Officer
Herbal Medicine Research Centre, Institute for Medical Research, Ministry of Health, Malaysia

Exciting research, rewarding work placements and lots of traditional Kiwi adventures were the highlights of student life at Waikato University for graduate Norzahirah Ahmad.

Norzahirah completed a Bachelor of Science majoring in biotechnology and a Bachelor of Science(Hons) majoring in materials and processing at Waikato University. Following her tertiary studies in New Zealand, Norzahirah returned to her home country of Malaysia, where she is now employed as a Research Officer at the Herbal Medicine Research Centre. The centre is part of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR), which is one of the research arms of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.

“I’m involved in research on local herbs and herb products and evaluating their efficacy and  toxicological effects. Much of the work I’m involved in is confidential, which means I can’t go into greater detail,” says Norzahirah.

“The highlight of my job has been meeting people from different fields of expertise and discovering the types of research being done to help improve the wellbeing of Malaysians.”

Norzahirah completed her schooling in Malaysia and received a scholarship from the Malaysian government to complete her tertiary study in New Zealand. She chose Waikato University as her base due to the relaxed campus environment and the proximity of the campus to several large research facilities such as AgResearch and Hill Laboratories.

Norzahirah enjoyed the Kiwi way of life. “I loved travelling around New Zealand and made the most of the New Zealand lifestyle; going camping, fishing and horse riding, and enjoying the beach and summer barbeques. I even managed to do the Tongariro Crossing trek!”

Dylan Harrison

BSc(Tech); MSc(Tech)(Hons) in Chemistry

Technical Service Representative
NALCO, Auckland

"My long term goal is to move into a management position where I can still use my chemistry background."

For Waikato graduate Dylan Harrison, a career in science has always been on the cards.

A number of university scholarships and awards, work placements at two leading New Zealand science companies and a masters research collaboration with Fonterra, gave Dylan the competitive advantage when seeking employment.

NALCO is a leading provider of integrated water treatment and process improvement services, chemicals, and equipment programmes for industrial and institutional applications.

“My job involves implementing water treatment programmes for companies such as dairy factories, abattoirs, hospitals and food and beverage manufacturers.  My main focus is monitoring chemical programmes on industrial boilers and cooling towers. A typical day would involve travelling to three or four industrial sites. Here I monitor their water treatment programmes and make any changes or recommendations to help optimise the programme based on my onsite test results.”

Ashleigh Bright

BSc; MSc in Biological Sciences

Project Manager / Scientist
Food Animal Initiative Ltd

"I'm doing something I absolutely love every day and getting paid for it."

A passion for animal welfare and a PhD at Oxford University has led to two exciting roles at the Food Animal Initiative Ltd (FAI) for Waikato science graduate Ashleigh Bright.

“My main role is as Project Manager for The Model Farm Project – a partnership between FAI and the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA). The project is based in China, Brazil and the United Kingdom, setting up farm-based networks as demonstrations of commercially-viable humane and sustainable farming. My second role is as a scientist with FAI. I’m involved in any animal behaviour/welfare research projects on the farm and with commercial industry partners. Our role is between academia and industry, taking the scientific research, getting it working on our farm and then out into the wider world."

FAI have just received a new grant from the government; a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with the University of Reading, for which Ashleigh is the industry supervisor. The three-year project  title is 'To develop and embed a method for assessing sustainability of livestock production systems, testing and demonstrating its application by a series of case studies.'

It wasn’t until Ashleigh’s second year at Waikato that she discovered her fascination with animal behaviour. “Originally I was enrolled in marine biology.”

“Keep your options open. What you think you want to do at the beginning of a degree is often not what you want to do at the end. If you come across a subject you find interesting, try it!"

Megan Grainger

BSc; MSc in Chemistry

PhD Chemistry Student
University of Waikato

Waikato University chemistry student Megan Grainger didn't let a few small hurdles stand in her way when it came to her university studies. Following successful undergraduate and masters degrees, this talented student is taking the exciting step up to a PhD.

Megan has a Bachelor of Science (BSc) under her belt and has recently submitted her Master of Science (MSc) thesis for assessment. Always ready for a challenge, she has just started her PhD in Organic Chemistry, studying Manuka honey.

Megan has earned many accolades to her name in her five years at university. She received the award for top chemistry student in her year for three years in a row, was awarded an astounding 10 scholarships throughout the years and presented her masters research at an international symposium in Sydney last year.

Having never studied chemistry or biology at high school due to timetable clashes, the former Hamilton’s Fraser High School student admits her first year in the BSc degree was definitely a challenge. “Because I hadn’t taken the necessary school subjects to be eligible for the BSc, I completed a four-week Science Foundation bridging course to understand the basics of chemistry and biology”.

Brad Hopcroft

BSc; MSc in Earth Sciences

Development Geologist
Chevron, Perth

Waikato graduate and former Tauranga Boys’ College student Brad Hopcroft is part of the Appraisal Subsurface Team for Chevron, a global energy company.

"I’m currently building geological models for gas fields, offshore in Western Australia. The gas fields I'm working on are part of the Greater Gorgon Project which is one of the world’s largest natural gas projects and the largest single resource natural gas project in Australia’s history.

The best thing about my job is the opportunity to develop my career and move to other Chevron business units around the world for work placements. Chevron currently operates in over 180 countries with a global headquarters in Texas, where I recently gave a presentation on oil and gas exploration in Australia.”

David Gilmour

BSc(Tech) in Biological Sciences

Biology Teacher
St Peter’s School, Cambridge

Science enthusiast David Gilmour has found his calling as a senior biology and junior science teacher at St Peter’s School in the heart of the Waikato.

Since graduating, David has explored his scientific interests, working as a Field Biologist for Landcare Research followed by an exciting few years as a Mechanical and Electrical Technician for BBC Technologies, working in North America and Australia. While looking for a teaching position, David worked as a Pyrotechnician – a hobby now utilised during St Peter’s School stage productions.

A lot of preparation goes into teaching, especially in a subject like science. “I usually arrive at school at 7am to finish the final preparation for the day, teach from 8.15am - 3.20pm and then prepare for the following day until 5pm. It’s all worth it to see the students excited about science”.

Timothy Walmsley

BE in Materials and Process Engineering

PhD Materials & Process Engineering Student
University of Waikato

Talented Waikato engineering student Timothy Walmsley is making the most of his time at university.

While studying towards a Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in materials and process engineering Timothy earned a number of prizes and awards. Following his second year at university he was offered the opportunity to join the Metals Research Group in the School of Engineering over the summer break. “As part of my research I travelled to and stayed at Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, a city in north eastern China. Although the weather was below freezing, the experience I gained has been very valuable.”

Most recently, Timothy won a University of Waikato Doctoral Scholarship and the Todd Foundation Scholarship in Energy Research. Both scholarships will support Timothy through his three years of study towards a PhD in engineering

“The overall goal of my PhD research is to increase energy efficiency of powder production by recovering energy from hot humid exhaust air streams. In many industries recovering this energy is technically challenging because the air is laden with a small amount of powder. This powder raises concerns of effectiveness, fouling and blockages, which can lead to plant down time. The research will address each barrier, with the goal of formulating a new low fouling design energy recovery exchanger to apply to major New Zealand companies such as Fonterra”.

“Once I finish my PhD I’d like to find a position as an engineering lecturer. I enjoy teaching at a tertiary level and I love researching complex problems. In the long term, once I have gained sufficient knowledge, experience and connections to New Zealand industries, I would like to start a consultancy with a focus on energy.”

Michael Betschart

BE in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Engineer
Tetra Pak, Hamilton

Michael Betschart spent time in Zambia during his final year at university, using the knowledge from his studies to build shelters and classrooms for children who lived on the streets. Now a mechanical engineer, Michael works in the drawing office at Tetra Pak.

 “A normal day usually involves problem solving, drawing and designing dairy processing equipment using 2D and 3D CAD packages, and making construction drawings to send to workshops for fabrication.”

“My degree gave me a solid knowledge base from which to build my career. It also helped me to develop the people skills required to work with the diverse range of people and organisations in the global marketplace.”

Christina Strawbridge

BSc(Tech); MSc(Tech) in Chemistry

Master of Science(Technology) Student
University of Waikato

"It’s all about getting your foot in the door and showing them what you can do."

For Christina Strawbridge a masters research collaboration with Dow Agrosciences was the icing on the cake, following a successful work placement during her undergraduate degree at the University of Waikato.

Dow Agrosciences is a global leader in agricultural solutions, offering agricultural crop protection chemicals including herbicides, insecticides, fumigants and fungicides.

The research collaboration came about following a work placement in 2009, through the University of Waikato. “Completing my placement with Dow was such an enjoyable experience. The skills I learnt were invaluable and were skills that just can’t be taught or perfected in a classroom / laboratory environment.”

“My placement began completing routine analyses using High Performance Liquid Chromatography in the analytical lab and within a month or so, I moved onto helping research and develop new herbicides laboratory under the supervision of Derek Hopkins.” Christina explains that her placement gave her the opportunity to develop a great rapport with the team and Dow.

Along with fulltime study for a Masters of Science and Technology, Christina also demonstrates part time in a first year laboratory session and tutors a level three Materials and Process Engineering paper.

Stacey Walsh

BSc(Tech) in Earth Sciences

Water Laboratory Technician
SGS Minerals, Waihi

From the young age of five, Stacey Walsh wanted to be a scientist. Now a Laboratory Technician at SGS Minerals, she has fulfilled that ambition.

“Every day we receive water samples into our lab which need testing for things such as heavy metals, pH, ammonia levels and turbidity. The samples are prepared, tested and a report is created and sent to the client. I also make up any solutions that we need in the lab or which external clients require.”

“One of the highlights of my job so far has been learning how to use different instruments. I’ve been lucky enough to use an ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer) and an AA (Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer).”

Vanessa Brown

BSc(Tech) in Environmental Planning

Hydrogeologist
Sinclair Knight Merz Ltd, Auckland

"No project is ever the same ... that’s what makes the work so interesting."

A degree focusing on resource and environmental planning gave Vanessa Brown the science background, management skills and ethical insight needed for an exciting career as a hydrogeologist.

The former Havelock North High School student works within the Water Resources division at Sinclair Knight Merz Ltd (SKM), a global engineering, science and project delivery firm. She was offered the position following a successful work placement as part of the BSc(Tech) degree.

“Our work is all about finding and providing sources of water to those who require it, without having adverse effects on the environment.”

“I’m involved in many facets of water resource science and management. My main area of focus is in groundwater projects. In a typical project I will be involved in technical desktop studies, scoping and implementation of field investigations, technical analysis and reporting, preparation of resource consent applications, assessment of environmental effects reports and project management.”

Varun Dennis

BE in Mechanical Engineering

Mechanical Design Engineer
RML Engineering, Hamilton

"Watching my designs come to life is a real highlight."

From a childhood spent playing with Lego and tinkering with remote control cars, to teenage years spent fixing his own car, Varun Dennis describes his choice to study Mechanical Engineering as a natural progression.

While at Waikato University Varun took advantage of the WESMO (Waikato Engineering Student Motorsport) team. “WESMO provided me with the initial exposure to the practical side of engineering. I really enjoyed the challenge of building an open-wheeler race car with a good bunch of mates.”

“I’m currently part of a team that designs end-of-line automation solutions to a wide range of clients. My main duties involve designing concepts on SolidWorks (a computer program used for design), developing them into components and creating final drawings ready for manufacture.”

“I’m trying to absorb as much as I can as a design engineer, in the hope of progressing into engineering management in the future."

Hamish Smith

BSc(Tech) in Earth Sciences

Environmental Scientist
AWT New Zealand Ltd

“During my time at AWT I’ve been involved in a wide variety of projects covering the multidisciplinary field of earth/environmental science and resource management. This variety ensures that in general no project is ever the same and no day could be classified as typical by any means. I’ve got no regrets in regards to my career choice.”

Joe Butterworth

BSc; MSc in Biological Sciences

Contractor (Bay of Plenty Regional Council), Technical Officer (The University of Waikato)

Joe Butterworth enjoys a variety of roles in the Waikato and Bay of Plenty, and believes life is all about having the right attitude and following what you’re most passionate about.

“As a contractor for the council I draft biodiversity management plans for private land owners, who are passionate about protecting the environment. It’s great being able to contribute to Tangata Whenua environmental aspirations.”

“I’m also involved in a Waikato University research project to monitor and restore the quality of Rotorua’s lakes; a position made possible through the contacts I gained at university.”