Education, Health and Human Development, University of Canterbury

Professor Gillon’s area of research focuses on understanding the relationship between spoken and written language development and, in particular, the importance of children’s phonological awareness to reading and spelling development.

Karitane Fellow in Early Childhood Obesity, Otago University

Professor Rachael Taylor leads the Healthy Weight theme for A Better Start. Her areas of interest include determining how body weight is affected by sleep, diet and physical activity, particularly in childhood. Her current research includes work focused on sleep, feeding and infants, play, and prevention of overweight in infants.

University of Auckland

Dr Sarah Hetrick is a clinical psychologist, Associate Professor of Youth Mental Health and Cure Kids Research Fellow in the Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland. She has a strong background in evidence synthesis, including as the joint Coordinating Editor of the Cochrane Common Mental Disorders Group. Much of the focus of her work is on youth depression and suicide prevention. She has had a key role in a large number of clinical trials and now leads work on digital interventions to assist young people to manage intense emotions, including suicidal ideation and to prevent self-harm.

School of Teacher Education,
University of Canterbury

Professor McNeill is an international expert on literacy development in children with childhood apraxia of speech. Her research also focuses on developing and evaluating methods to better prepare teachers to support children’s early literacy development. She is on the management team of the New Zealand Institute of Language, Brain and Behaviour and leads its language acquisition research theme.

Director, Centre of Methods and Policy Application in the Social Sciences (COMPASS), University of Auckland

Dr Milne focuses his research on longitudinal studies in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, particularly in the area of mental health. His areas of expertise include micro-simulation, administrative data, longitudinal studies, socio-economic and ethnic inequalities and child development.

Research Centre for Hauora Heealth, Massey University

Associate Professor Riz Firestone is a senior researcher at the Research Centre for Hauora and
Health at Massey University.
She is of Samoan descent, and is a leading Pasifika researcher with considerable mana across the
New Zealand research community.
Her research involves investigations on health inequalities and inequities, specifically non-
communicable diseases among Pacific peoples in New Zealand. She has authored almost 40
publications.
Associate Professor Firestone is the Principal Investigator of a major new research project for A
Better Start National Science Challenge aimed at the prevention of obesity, prediabetes and poor
dental health among Pasifika children.

Māori Education Research Lab,
University of Canterbury

Angus Macfarlane is Professor of Māori Research at the University of Canterbury. His research focuses on exploring Indigenous and sociocultural imperatives that influence education and psychology. Avid about Māori advancement, he has pioneered several theoretical frameworks associated with culturally responsive approaches for professionals working in these disciplines. His prolific publication portfolio and exemplary teaching abilities have earned him national and international standing in his field of scholarship.