Members

NAEAC is made up of a chairperson and nine other members who are appointed by the Minister responsible for animal welfare and serve a term of three years.

When making appointments, the Minister must consider the public interest in the use of animals in RTT and ensure that there is a balance in the committee between members who are currently involved in RTT and those who are not. Members are chosen to ensure the committee holds knowledge and experience in the following areas:

• veterinary science
• medical science
• biological science
• the commercial use of animals in research and testing
• ethical standards and conduct in respect of animals
• education issues, including the use of animals in schools
• the manipulation of animals in research, testing, and teaching
• environmental and conservation management
• animal welfare advocacy
• any other area the Minister considers relevant.

For further information on the appointments process, contact naeac@mpi.govt.nz

Current membership

NAEAC chairperson

Professor Natalie (Nat) Waran – BSc (Hons), PhD

Professor Emeritus (EIT Te Pūkenga); Hon Professor (Edinburgh University); Hon Professor (Hartpury University); Visiting Professor (Nottingham Trent University). Trustee and Hon Fellow (International Society for Equitation Science).

Appointed 01.11.2021

NAEAC members

Dr James (Jim) Webster – B.Agr.Sci, M.Agr.Sci (Hons), Ph.D.

Jim is the Director of EthicoNZ Ltd as well as the Director AAALAC International. He has a background in physiology, animal welfare research, animal ethics evaluation/approval, auditing and certification. He has served as a director, chair, and committee member on several boards of other animal welfare professional organisations.

Jim was appointed the NAEAC Deputy Chairperson for 2026.

Appointed 29.01.25

Professor Laura Bennet – MA, PhD

Laura is a Professor of Physiology and Head of Department with The Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Physiology at The University of Auckland. She was nominated by the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Appointed 01.11.2021

Dr Janine A Duckworth – BAg Sc (Hons), PhD

Janine works as a Research Scientist (Wildlife Ecology and Management) for Manaaki Whenua, Lincoln, and for the last 30 years has specialised in the reproductive biology and biological control of wildlife pests. She lives near Te Waihora in Selwyn and she feels fortunate to have all her close family living nearby. Janine enjoys organic gardening, watching birdlife, caring for her dogs and chooks, and wandering the local walking tracks. She likes being part of a welcoming rural community and volunteers at the Waihora Park Reserve and tennis club and developing local native plantings. Janine also gets a lot of satisfaction as trustee on the Canterbury Environment Trust at Craigieburn, offering young people a chance to experience New Zealand’s wonderful natural environment.

Appointed 01.11.2021

Dr Jessica K Walker – BAppAnimTech, GDipHE, MSc, PhD

Jessica is currently the National Science Manager for SPCA New Zealand and was nominated by the RNZSPCA. Over the past 15 years she has worked in both academic and industry animal welfare management roles. She is particularly interested in Shelter Medicine Research and improving animal welfare in the shelter environment but has always held an interest more generally in the use of animals in research, testing, and teaching. Jessica is a current member of AEC committees.

Jessica obtained her PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia where she explored whether animals have an emotional experience akin to human grief. Prior to this she completed her MSc in Animal Behaviour and Welfare at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She was among the first cohort of under-graduates from the Bachelor of Applied Animal Technology at Unitec and holds a graduate teaching qualification in higher education. Jessica’s home life is shared with her husband and two boys (aged 7 & 5), as well as two black labs and 3 Burmese cats.

Appointed 21.12.2022

Dr Timothy Kelly – BSc, Msc, PhD

Tim was nominated by the Ministry of Education and has a background in psychology and neuropharmacology and knowledge of laboratory animal use. He teaches science and practical agriculture, which makes him familiar with on farm livestock practices and keeping animals in a school setting. He also has leadership experience, holding a position on the New Zealand Association of Psychology Teachers Committee.

Appointed 29.01.25

Dr Gabriella Grönqvist

Gabriella is currently working as the Programme Manager for the Whenua Haumanu programme at Massey University where she oversees multi-disciplinary teams and manage complex projects that integrate scientific rigor with strategic execution. She has a research background in production animal science, animal welfare and behaviour. Gabriella has also spent several years in industry, running GCP and GLP clinical veterinary studies.

Appointed 31.07.2026

Dr Tosh Stewart

Tosh completed a PhD in animal ethics at the University of Sydney before going on to further academic roles – first at the University of Sydney and then at Fiji National University.  Tosh now works as a Senior Teaching Fellow in Philosophy at the University of Otago, where he teaches a variety of topics in ethics and introductory philosophy.

Tosh has extensive experience in higher education governance and secretariat management of key committees at the University of Otago, including Senate.  Alongside his teaching role, he serves as a Senior Academic Specialist in the Division of Health Sciences, supporting academic governance processes.

His philosophical interests span ethics and policy issues, and he is also a published historian.

Appointed 31.07.2026

Dr Alaina O’Brien

Alaina a qualified veterinarian with expertise in animal health and welfare, with experience across research and mixed veterinary practice, including equine medicine and applied animal science roles in New Zealand and internationally.

Appointed 31.07.2026

Prof. Bart Ellenbroek

Bart has worked in the fields of psychopharmacology and behavioural neuroscience for more than 40 years. Over this time, his research has evolved from the use of animal models of mental health conditions to investigating the developmental origins of mental health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on genetic and early-life environmental risk factors.

His current research focuses on three main areas: understanding the determinants of mental health and wellbeing in children; investigating the effects of psychedelic drugs, including through the analysis of online testimonials; and using planaria (flatworms) as a model organism to study the molecular biology, pharmacology, neuroplasticity, and development of the nervous system.

Appointed 31.07.2026