UCD Animal Science and Agriculture PhD alum Dr. John Roche who has been appointed New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's Chief Science Advisor.

UCD Animal Science and Agriculture PhD alum Dr. (opens in a new window)John Roche who has been appointed New Zealand Prime Minister (opens in a new window)Christopher Luxon's Chief Science Advisor. The (opens in a new window)Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) New Zealand executive joins a number of other key personnel as part of the Prime Minister's Science and Technology Advisory Council and he will also act as as deputy chair for the Council. 

Prime Minister Luxon said “The council is a new initiative to get clear, independent advice to ensure our investments in science and technology are delivering real outcomes for New Zealanders,”

"I also expect them to provide bold and courageous advice about those areas that aren't delivering value for New Zealanders and may need to be deprioritised. It's about making sure we are investing in what will have the greatest impact for New Zealanders."

The council will provide its first formal advice to the New Zealand prime minister and Minister Reti later this year.

John Roche, who grew up on a dairy farm in Castleisland, was appointed MPI’s chief science adviser in June 2018.

He leads MPI’s science forum, chairs the science governance group at MPI and the independent Mycoplasma bovis strategic science advisory group.

John is also a member of the Prime Minister’s chief science adviser’s forum and is an adjunct professor in University of Auckland’s School of Biological Sciences.

He was previously DairyNZ’s principal scientist for animal science and has held science appointments in Ireland and Australia.

John has an Honours degree in Animal science, a Masters in farm systems and pasture management, and a PhD in animal nutrition.