Cawthron Institute has boosted its science and aquaculture capability with the appointment of senior scientist Dr Jacquie Reed as its new head of aquaculture.
“We are excited to further strengthen our science leadership team with this new appointment,” Cawthron Institute Chief Executive Professor Charles Eason says.
“Dr Reed is an accomplished scientist with extensive, proven scientific expertise and specialist knowledge of the commercial aquaculture sector. She will complement and enhance our existing research, while bringing a fresh approach, new energy and drive to this important role.”
Dr Reed will lead the Aquaculture Group, manage the further development of the Cawthron Aquaculture Park and spearhead research and development to support new and existing partners, including SPATnz, Kono and Aotearoa Fisheries Limited.
Dr Reed was formerly Aquaculture and Business Development manager at Northland INC, Northland’s economic development agency, and before that was a group manager at NIWA for six years.
She is firmly focused on commercialization of research and the role of science in providing environmentally sustainable solutions for commercial aquaculture development.
An excellent collaborator, Dr Reed is looking forward to working with a range of sectors to establish a strong seafood industry for New Zealand.
“The greatest opportunity for New Zealand’s seafood sector is to position itself as the premier source of high quality, safe seafood,” she says. “I see my role as working with Government, industry, iwi and researchers to help make that happen.”
Originally from London, Dr Reed began her science career at the United Kingdom’s prestigious Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) where she was research programme leader of coastal and freshwater environments focusing on shellfish and fish health research.
“That’s where I gained my passion for aquaculture,” Dr Reed says.
Her responsibilities at CEFAS included heading multi-million dollar research programmes and providing expert advice to the UK and Dutch Government on risks associated with contaminants in shellfish, fish sediments and water in estuaries and marine environments.
While at NIWA, Dr Reed developed and led millions of dollars in research for commercial projects, identified new commercial opportunities and drove its science business in freshwater and estuarine systems. As head of aquaculture at Northland INC she designed and launched the regional aquaculture strategy for Northland, working closely with local iwi to support Maori aquaculture in the region while helping ensure sustainable development of the industry.
“I see greater potential for Maori-led initiatives in aquaculture,” Dr Reed says. “Cawthron is already working closely with iwi in a range of areas including aquaculture, and I’m keen to help further develop those relationships, and the research that will underpin economic growth.”
She says it is a privilege to now be leading the aquaculture group at Cawthron Institute, New Zealand’s largest independent science organisation.
“I chose to move to Cawthron because of the world-class independent science that is being done here and its reputation for turning research into results for industry, a great example being the Cawthron Aquaculture Park which is an innovative facility that will keep on growing as new research comes on-line,” Dr Reed says. “This is an exciting time for aquaculture and I see many research and commercial opportunities here.”
