National Executive Committee

National Committee

Katherine (Kat) Holt
President
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Kia ora, I joined the society in 2004 as a PhD student. I've served on the National Committee since 2009, with a short break from 2017-2019. My research is concentrated on palynology (pollen analysis) with a focus on Quaternary environmental reconstructions. I have a special interest in the Quaternary history of the Chatham Islands, where I carried out my PhD research. I'm really pleased to be able to continue as a National Committee member, and very proud of the work the Society does in supporting the Geoscience community in Aotearoa. 

Sam McColl
Vice President
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I work at GNS Science in the Engineering Geology team. My research as a geomorphologist focuses on hillslope and alpine landscape processes, evolution, and hazards. On the GSNZ national committee I am the Vice President and  have responsibilities for the sales and distribution of the GSNZ publications.

Alan Orpin
Treasurer
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I have been a member of the Society since the early 90's as a student and I'm the current Treasurer of the GSNZ, based at NIWA Wellington. My current research is primarily focused on post-glacial marine dispersal and depositional events on continental shelves, slopes and basins. This work includes the application of detailed analysis of sediment cores, event chronology, and paleoseismology, in concert with sedimentary physical properties, high resolution seismic, multibeam bathymetry and backscatter. It embraces a range of environmental drivers for sedimentary processes including climate, tectonics, volcanism, and human-induced land-use change. In addition, my research and commercial activities are ongoing into techniques for seafloor characterization and quantifying sediment dispersal.

Jenny Stein
Secretary
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Kia ora, I am a free-lance geologist and science communicator with a diverse background in mineral exploration, teaching, research and presenting scientific information in ways that are accessible and meaningful to non-scientists. I joined the GSNZ National Committee in 2020 and look forward to helping promote geoscience around New Zealand and overseas.

James Scott
Immediate Past President
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I am interesteed in geochemical processes spanning the shallow Earth, to the evolution of Earth’s mantle, to the formation of the solar nebula.
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Alex Nichols
Publications Sales
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Lecturer in petrology at the University of Canterbury. My research focuses on the geochemistry of volcanic rocks, in particular, the role volatiles play in magmatic processes from source to eruption. I use a variety of in-situ micro-analytical techniques (e.g., electron microprobe, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) to analyse silicate glass and minerals.
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Matthew (Matt) Sagar
Publications Convenor
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I am a geochronologist/sedimentologist at GNS Science, Lower Hutt. My research mainly involves using geology, petrology and various radiometric dating techniques to understand the geological evolution of the New Zealand continent (Zealandia) over the past ~500 million years. As the Publications Convenor I am primarily responsible for facilitating and promoting new GSNZ publications.

Nicki Sayers
Administrator
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Nicki has been the GSNZ Administrator since October 2018. In addition she works freelance helping charities and schools with fundraising.

Nicki has over 20 year's experience working in the non-profit sector and has philanthropic research, administration, marketing and communications experience. Nicki is the first point of contact for all member enquiries.

Angela Griffin
Member
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Angela Griffin is a geologist in the Basin Analysis Team at GNS in Lower Hutt, and has been working at GNS Science for the last 12 years. She holds an MSc in Earth Science and Geography from the University of Waikato. Angela’s professional interests were predominantly centred around borehole image log and wireline log analysis, however since the dis-establishment of government-funded petroleum geoscience research at GNS, Angela is currently retraining and redeploying her skills in other areas of research, in particular liquefaction and groundwater studies. Angela is also the project leader of GNS’s carbon emissions reduction plan.

Andrew La Croix
Member
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Andrew has been a co-opted member of the GSNZ National Committee since 2020. He is a Lecturer in Sedimentary Geology at the University of Waikato. Andrew is originally from Canada, and arrived in New Zealand in 2019 after living and working in Brisbane as a Postdoctoral Researcher. Andrew is keen about geological field work, as well as science education and communication. In his spare time he likes to swim, hike, and spend time with his family.
Sebastian Naeher
Member
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I am Organic Geochemist/Biogeochemist at GNS Science and Lead Scientist of our GNS/VUW Organic Geochemistry Laboratory. My research is focused on biomarkers (organic compounds, often called molecular fossils), and their compound-specific stable isotope composition to reconstruct environmental and climate changes from sediments (lakes, coastal and marine environments), soils, sedimentary rocks and petroleum. I am also Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington and serve as Associate Editor of Biogeosciences, NZ Journal of Geology and Geophysics and NZ Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. I am also the Convener of Geochemistry Special Interest Group.

Michael Rowe
Member
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I have been a resident of New Zealand since 2013 working as a geochemist for the University of Auckland, School of Environment in the Earth Sciences. Although my PhD is in igneous/high-temp geochemistry and petrology, nowadays, my research and supervision really focuses on the whole-Earth system, primarily looking at the space where fluids and minerals overlap. However, my specialty really is in finding new ways to problem-solve with geochemistry, so I have collaborations crossing over into archaeology, engineering, environmental science, and planetary sciences.
Shannen Mills
Member
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Kia ora, I'm a PhD student at Massey University. I joined the society in 2017 as an Honor's student and joined the GSNZ National Committee in 2022 as the ECR Representative. My PhD research is looking at Stratovolcano response to edifice collapse using tephra formations from Mt. Taranaki. As the ECR I want to make sure that ECR's have a voice and increase engagement within the society.