SESNZ EXECUTIVE Board

Andrew Kilding

Andrew Kilding

Professor, Auckland University of Technology

About Andrew

Andrew is a Professor of Sport and Exercise Physiology at AUT’s Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand. Andrew teaches under- and post-graduate students in a range of sport science papers as well as supervising several Masters and PhD students. He has a wide range of research interests but the majority of his research focusses on strategies to enhance aerobic responses, adaptations and performance in endurance sport. Andrew has published almost 100 scientific articles and is an Associate Editor for the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. From an applied practitioner perspective he has provided physiology support to a range of athletes and is currently Head of Performance Physiology at HPSNZ. Andrew has served on the executive board at SESNZ previously and returned in 2018 to contribute further to the ongoing growth and development of the organisation.

Andy Foskett

Andy Foskett

Treasurer, SESNZ; Associate Professor, Massey University

About Andy

Associate Professor Andy Foskett is the founding Head of the School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition at Massey University. Andy has a keen interest in high performance sport from physiological, nutritional and S&C perspectives and has worked with multiple high performance athletes across a diverse range of sports. In addition to his role with SESNZ Dr Foskett has held various Governance roles within sport and exercise and is currently President of the Tertiary Council of Physical Activity and Sport Science (TCPASE); Chair of the Massey University Blues Committee; and a member of NZ Football’s High Performance and Player Welfare Committee.

Rich Masters

Rich Masters

Professor, University of Waikato

About Rich

Prior to taking up his current position at the University of Waikato in 2014, Rich was Director of the Institute of Human Performance at the University of Hong Kong. Before that, he lectured in the School of Sport and Exercise Sciences at the University of Birmingham, England. Rich holds a BSc (Hons) and an MA (in Psychology) from the University of Otago and a D.Phil (Experimental Psychology) from the University of York, England. He sits on the Health Panel for the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) 2018 Quality Evaluation. Rich is interested in the psychology of human performance and is well known for his work in implicit (unconscious) motor learning.

Lara Vlietstra

Lara Vlietstra

Lecturer, University of Otago

About Lara

Lara is a lecturer in Physical Activity and Health at the School of Physical Education, Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin. After successfully graduating as a physiotherapist (2014, The Netherlands), she obtained two master’s degrees (2017, Clinical Health Sciences and Geriatric Physiotherapy, The Netherlands) before joining the University of Otago to complete her PhD (2021, Department of Medicine & School of Physiotherapy). Her ongoing research projects are focussed on healthy and positive ageing, and the prevention of age-related diseases, with a particular focus on physical activity to prevent sarcopenia, frailty, and falls. Besides her teaching and research, she is currently the co-director for CARE, New Zealand Council member for the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research, Otago/Southland Regional Hub Representative for the New Zealand Association of Gerontology, and an Associate Editor for the Australasian Journal on Ageing.

Stacey Pine

Stacey Pine

Practitioner - AEP

About Stacey

Stacey worked as an Accredited Exercise Physiologist in Australia for 12 years before moving to the South Island at the end of 2019. Her experience is primarily in musculoskeletal rehabilitation, and her specialties are working with chronic pain, auto immune conditions, pre and post orthopaedic procedures, and exercise for women’s health. Stacey has delivered Professional Development for ESSA over the past few years in Pregnancy and Postpartum Exercise Programming and teaching Reformer Pilates to Exercise Professionals, and recently started a business in Oamaru offering Exercise Physiology and Pilates Services to private clients..

Glenn Kearney

Glenn Kearney

HPSNZ Representative

About Glenn

Prior to taking up his current position as Research Manager at HPSNZ in late 2022, Glenn was a performance nutritionist in NZ for Athletics NZ and Canoe Racing NZ leading in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. He was also a member of the NZ Olympic team as head of Nutrition for the games which culminated in Aotearoa having its biggest ever medal haul despite the underlying pandemic constraints.

 

Glenn has also spent a considerable amount of time overseas, primarily in the UK where he worked as Lead nutritionist for the British Athletics team (2009-2013), following by the lead nutritionist role for the LTA (2013-2018). During this time he continued a deep dive into elite Tennis where he was contracted by the ATP to educate elite players worldwide and privately by Andy Murray. Those years proved to be the most successful for Andy Murray, winning Wimbledon for a second time and ending 2016 as World number #1. The British Davis Cup team also enjoyed success during this time by winning the Davis Cup – ending a 79 year wait for success in the global team tournament.

 

Glenn studied at the University of Otago where he completed a Exercise Science degree (Phed), a Nutrition degree (BSc), followed by an MSc (Dist.) with the topic of his research being comparing acute diet manipulation in Elite Rugby Union players. This work combined with his teaching of Sports Nutrition at the Human Nutrition department was spotted by New Zealand Rugby. Shortly after finishing his teaching and research at the University of Otago he began working for the All-Blacks rugby team (2002-2008) becoming the first Nutritionist to travel widely with the team in a support and research capacity.

Justin Richards

Justin Richards

Ihi Aotearoa /Sport New Zealand Representative

About Justin
Justin Richards currently holds a dual appointment as Academic Lead at Sport New Zealand Ihi Aotearoa and Associate Professor in Physical Activity & Wellbeing at Victoria University Wellington Te Herenga Waka. His expertise is in the evaluation and surveillance of physical activity and associated wellbeing outcomes. He has been recognised for his cross-cultural research and his work with various population groups experiencing inequities globally. This includes ongoing evaluations of physical activity and sport-for-development initiatives in several low- and middle-income countries as well as various population groups in high-income settings. Justin is passionate about practical research translation as is evidenced by his previous track record working across physical activity research (University of Oxford, University of Sydney), policy (NSW Ministry of Health, WHO, UNESCO) and practice (clinical physiotherapy, tertiary teaching).
Vanessa Groome

Vanessa Groome

National Manager

About Vanessa

Vanessa takes pride in her role as National Manager and ensures that all needs of SESNZ members are met. Her strengths are organising, listening and planning so the highlight of her year is the Annual Conference. This also allows her to interact with SESNZ members and really get a feel for the direction of the organisation. Vanessa is very excited about the future of SESNZ and the memorandums of understanding with seven International Sport and Exercise Science bodies and she looks forward to what this will bring. She’d love to hear from you, so please get in touch.

Nicole Spriggs (Ngāi Tahu)

Nicole Spriggs (Ngāi Tahu)

Student Rep

About Nicole

Nicole is a PhD students at Lincoln University investigating the affect of collisions in junior rugby on female adolescent players brain structure and function. Prior to this Nicole completed her BSc (Hons) at the University of Otago. Nicole is passionate about creating and promoting a safe sporting environment especially for our tamariki and wahine.

Matthew Blair

Matthew Blair

Program Coordinator & Principal Lecturer, Otago Polytechnic

About Matt

Matt is the program coordinator for postgraduate studies (pg DipAppSci) and the Academic Leader for the Strength and Conditioning specialty. Matt has a Master’s in Physical Education (Distinction), and an undergraduate qualification in Nutrition, both from the University of Otago. With this, he has a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Learning and Teaching from Otago Polytechnic.

 

Matt has led the development of new undergraduate programs in Personal Training and Physical Conditioning as well as the postgraduate program in Strength and Conditioning. In 2014 Matt was awarded an OP Excellence in Leadership and in 2019 was a part of the postgraduate research team that won an award for excellence. His passion is with physical activity and nutrition, especially conditioning for elite-level athletes. Matt has his own consultancy business where he works as an expert Physical Conditioning Coach, in both community and high-performance environments. He has experience in postgraduate supervision, taking a student-led approach, and encouraging creative thinking.

NICK GANT

NICK GANT

Associate Professor, University of Auckland

About Nick

Nick Gant is an Associate Professor at the University of Auckland, where he leads teaching within the Department of Exercise Sciences. Dr Gant specialises in Exercise Physiology, Human Neuroscience, and Exercise Nutrition. He works within elite sport, the food and beverage industry, and defence science & technology sectors. Nick serves as the SESNZ-appointed director of the International Confederation of Sport & Exercise Science Practice (ICSESP), representing New Zealand’s academic and professional communities in the development and advocacy of the profession. He is passionate about enhancing human performance & health and is dedicated to training the next generation of exercise scientists and practitioners.

Committees

Accreditation Committee

Chair Andy Kilding

AEP Committee

Chair Stacey Pine

NZSCA

Chair Mat Blair

Sport Science Committee

Chair Glenn Kearney

Early Career Researcher Committee

Chair Nicole Spriggs

Communication Committee

Chair Lara Vlietstra

Conference Committee

Chair Mat Blair

Finance Committee

Chair Vanessa Groome

LIFETIME MEMBERS

Life Membership may be granted at the AGM, on the recommendation of the Board, to a member who has given significant sustained service to SESNZ. There are currently two life members:

DR MIKE MARFELL-JONES    DR ALAN WALMSLEY