Board Chair’s report - Annual Report 2024

7 June, 2025

Hēmi Rolleston

Board Chair

Tēnā koutou katoa

I am delighted to bring you my third Chair's report. Once again, I am amazed firstly by the calibre of inspiring passionate people involved with the Institute, and secondly by the research being undertaken towards our common goal.

Like every year, one thing that is constant is change, and we have farewelled some very key people. First and foremost, my fellow board members Joe Manning (GNS representative 2018-Jan 2025) and Ian Wright (University of Canterbury representative 2021-2024). Alongside that we farewelled Professor Justin Hodgkiss who has made a huge contribution to the Institute over a significant period of time, firstly as Deputy Director Commercialisation and Industry Engagement from 2015-2017, and then as Co-Director from 2018-2024, all the while running a large research group, and building his own start-up company Advemto along the way. We wish him all the best with Advemto and look forward to hearing of his success in the commercialisation arena. While saying a fond haere rā, we also said a big haere mai to Blanche Morrogh and Marny Reakes who joined the Board as independent directors bringing great new expertise and energy. We were also very pleased to welcome Nicola Gaston into the role as the sole Director.

I invite you to read and celebrate the Institute's achievements. It gives me great pleasure to see the ongoing success of the Discovery Scholarship programme (which has now run for five years, 2020-2024) and to watch these rangatahi go on to further study in the sciences. We couldn't do this alone, and I extend a warm welcome to our newest co-sponsor Spirax Sarco who, along with our longtime co-sponsor GNS Science, enable us to do this important mahi.

It's impressive to see the impact of the tranche one research coming through in the science stories within this report, and to read about the continued success for our researchers in the commercial sphere, to see the impact of our outreach grow for example in the deepening relationships in Northland, and to watch our graduates 'fly' as they take off into the world, especially - referencing the words of Sir Paul Callaghan - celebrating the achievements of 'Our Inspired One Hundred', our alumni who go into the world of deep tech here in Aotearoa New Zealand.

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