SESNZ EXECUTIVE Board

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.

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.

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 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..

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.

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 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.