ABSTRACT
Microbes have co-evolved with plants, but only some have had the temerity to become pathogens. The breadth and sophistication of the mechanisms these microbes employ to colonise plants has never ceased to amaze me. I’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to follow my research interest in how microbes cause disease in plants for the majority of my scientific career. For the past fifteen years I’ve been working on the kiwifruit pathogen Psa. The team I’ve been working with has made a huge contribution into understanding how this pathogen causes disease and how it has evolved on-orchard since its initial incursion into New Zealand in 2010. Teaching this topic has been an important part of my career for the past 20 years, more so since the inception of the Plant and Food Joint Graduate School. The interaction of microbes with plants touches all aspects of, and is fundamental to, a productive bioeconomy. Hence the need for trained graduates in this field. I’ve been fortunate in my career that there has never been a dull day and I’ve been inspired along the way by many teachers, colleagues and students.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
I was born in Wellington but only spent about half of my early life there. Much of my schooling was overseas, which had a significant influence on my career choices. Upon returning to New Zealand, I attended Otago University where I completed an honours degree and PhD at the Department of Biochemistry. I was fortunate to be hired by the then Plant Diseases Division of the DSIR in 1984 and have navigated its many subsequent iterations. I had a post-doc at the Salk Institute in the late 1980s, which helped develop my skills in molecular biology. This consistent employment has enabled me to spend most of my scientific career working on understanding how microbes cause disease in plants, an area that has never ceased to fascinate me. Since arriving in Auckland, I’ve always had strong links to the University, both through personal friendships and teaching. I’ve been part of the Plant and Food Joint Graduate School since 2011, this has enabled me to teach courses in plant microbe interactions, a discipline I’m particularly passionate about.
