Until recently Helen was the Chief Executive of the Ministry
of Research, Science & Technology.
Prior to this Helen was MoRST’s Chief Scientific Adviser for more than
five years.
She sees her role as helping research, science and technology improve New Zealand, and during her tenure she has made a significant contribution to increasing the impact of research, science and technology on a wide range of policy issues. Helen has played a central role in determining high level science priorities, enhancing New Zealand’s research infrastructure, and encouraging greater private sector research and development.
She has also been closely involved with the development of the Oxygen Group, Vision Matauranga, and the Capitalising on Research and Development Action Group (CRAG). In October 2009 she was appointed to the Crown Research Institute Taskforce.
An expert in seismology, in particular the mechanics of large earthquakes, Helen has a Ph.D. in Geophysics from the University of Cambridge. She was a practicing scientist at both New Zealand’s Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and one of its successors, Geological and Nuclear Sciences (GNS), a Crown Research Institute.
Helen has received several awards including a Fulbright Senior Research Scholarship for study at the University of California (1990), a Chevening Aotearoa Public Science Fellowship (2002) and the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal (1993). In 2007 she won a Work & Life Award from the Equal Employment Opportunities Trust in recognition of her support for work-life balance.
Before Helen came to MoRST, she was Director of Earth and Ocean Sciences in Dunedin, a collaborative effort between GNS and Otago University. As deputy chair of Transfund (1996-2001) she managed an annual roading budget of more than $1 billion. She was president of the New Zealand Geophysical Society (1993-1995), and the Minister of Research, Science and Technology's representative on the Biotechnology Taskforce. She was also a member of the board of the Leadership Development Centre, which works to develop leadership in the New Zealand public service.
In 2009 Helen was elected as a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and was appointed to the board of Fulbright New Zealand. She is an inaugural member of New Zealand Global Women, a leadership organisation formed in 2009 comprising leaders from a range of disciplines and industries.
Helen has also represented New Zealand at several international forums, including APEC and OECD Ministers’ meetings.