Staff
Alison Forster BSC - Chemistry (NZ), MSc - Forestry (USA), Dr. rer. nat. (Germany)
Alison's key research areas include the performance enhancement of agrichemical products, development of techniques for quantification of surfactants in plant tissue, and spray droplet adhesion and retention modelling. Her current research focus is on the understanding and modelling of agrichemical diffusion through plant foliage.
Robyn Gaskin MSc - Crop Protection
Robyn originally trained as a chemist and her professional speciality is on research and development of agrochemical adjuvants to optimise and reduce pesticide use. She has extensive experience in the use of organosilicone surfactants in forestry and horticultural applications.
Kevin Steele NZCS - Chemistry
Kevin is involved in laboratory and field work, as well as sales and marketing of the Weed-a-Metre granule applicator. His main area of expertise is in chemical analysis and controlled environment facility management.
David Horgan BSC - Plant Biotechnology (currently finishing MSc in soil science)
David has a background in plant physiology, tissue culture and transformation, as well as the use of plants and microbes in remediating contaminated sites. David's key research area involves the use of chlorophyll fluorescence (as a screening technique) to determine plant responses to herbicides and other plant stresses.
Rebecca van Leeuwen BSC - Design
Rebecca has previously worked in herbicide spray trials and pesticide studies. She assists with spray adhesion modelling, retention studies, adjuvant research, field and laboratory trials. She maintains plant stocks for our experiments. She produces PPC's graphics and website.
Justin Nairn Ph.D. – Chemistry (Synthetic Inorganic Chemistry / nano-materials), M.Sc. – Chemistry (Electrochemistry), B.Sc. – Zoology and Ecology, Dip. Sc. – Chemistry
Justin completed his Ph.D. in the United States synthesising organometallic nano-materials for advanced solar cells. Despite a recent focus on chemistry Justin has a strong biological background and an interest in the environment and sustainability. Justin’s current research area involves the use of Fractal Dimensions to describe leaf surface roughness for modelling of spray deposition.
Associates
Jerzy (George) Zabkiewicz PhD - Chemistry, FNZIC Dip. Management, BSc. Business Studies.
Jerzy retired as a director of PPCNZ in 2010 and is now an associate.
Jerzy is an analytical chemist with a strong interest in plant growth processes. He has worked with plant growth regulators, fungicides (natural and synthetic), chemotaxonomy, insect attractants, herbicides and vegetation management of various weeds. He is strongly involved in pesticide formulation development, mechanism of action and modelling the interactions, and leader of plant protection research at Forest Research for over 20 years.