ABOUT US
About the MacDiarmid Institute
We are a Centre of Research Excellence, a network of scientists, innovators, entrepreneurs, collaborators, environmentalists, educators, mentors, students, community members and life-long learners.
The MacDiarmid Institute pulls together passionate and committed investigators from seven institutions across Aotearoa who combine their expertise to find new ways to positively transform people’s lives.
The institutions include five of New Zealand’s universities - the University of Auckland, Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington, the University of Canterbury and the University of Otago - along with government innovation agency, Callaghan Innovation, and GNS Science, the country’s leading provider of Earth, geoscience and isotope research.
Visit the MacDiarmid Institute website for more information>
Meet the Committee
ERIN LEITAO
(chair)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Discovering new catalytic ways to link earth abundant main group elements together with the eventual aim of making long chains (polymers) either with the same atom or two different atoms alternating along the polymer backbone. Read more here>
ANNA GARDEN (member)
University of Otago
Research Areas:
Using a computational approach to investigate catalysis of small molecule reactions on both extended and nanoparticle catalysts.
Read more here>
CAMERON WEBER (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Understanding of intermolecular interactions and use of alternative solvents such as ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents and switchable solvents. Read more here>
CAMERON WEBER (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Understanding of intermolecular interactions and use of alternative solvents such as ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents and switchable solvents. Read more here>
DANIEL SANDO (member)
University of Canterbury
Research Areas:
Using perovskite oxide thin films in the development of new materials systems for future low energy computation. Read more here>
DANIEL SANDO (member)
University of Canterbury
Research Areas:
Using perovskite oxide thin films in the development of new materials systems for future low energy computation. Read more here>
FREDDY LYZWA (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Explores and manipulates quantum materials and complex systems, to find & design next-generation materials and photonic concepts which can offer alternative pathways for the data science, biotechnology and aerospace sector. Read more here>
FREDDY LYZWA (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Explores and manipulates quantum materials and complex systems, to find & design next-generation materials and photonic concepts which can offer alternative pathways for the data science, biotechnology and aerospace sector. Read more here>
JAMI SHEPHERD (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Developing new medical imaging capabilities with ultrasound and photoacoustics. Both of these techniques use non-ionising waves to achieve multiple centimeter imaging depths at sub-millimeter resolution non-invasively.... Read more here>
KEVIN SHEEHY (member)
MacDiarmid Institute
MacDiarmid Institute Role:
Commercialisation and Industry Engagement Manager
KEVIN SHEEHY (member)
MacDiarmid Institute
MacDiarmid Institute Role:
Commercialisation and Industry Engagement Manager
KIRSTY DOYLE (member)
MacDiarmid Institute
MacDiarmid Institute Role:
Strategic Manager Māori
KIRSTY DOYLE (member)
MacDiarmid Institute
MacDiarmid Institute Role:
Strategic Manager Māori
NICOLA GASTON (member)
University of Auckland/Victoria University of Wellington
Research Areas:
Understanding the development and variation of physical properties in materials as a function of size, from few atom clusters to large nanoparticles and the bulk. Read more here>
NICOLA GASTON (member)
University of Auckland/Victoria University of Wellington
Research Areas:
Understanding the development and variation of physical properties in materials as a function of size, from few atom clusters to large nanoparticles and the bulk. Read more here>
PATRICIA HUNT (member)
Victoria University of Wellington
Research Areas:
Theoretical development and applying computational modelling to address a range of problems and projects within inorganic, materials and bio related chemistry. Read more here>
ROSALYN FALCONER (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Developing new catalysts featuring earth-abundant elements (e.g. Ti, AI) using surface organometallic chemistry and molecular techniques. Read more here>
ROSALYN FALCONER (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Developing new catalysts featuring earth-abundant elements (e.g. Ti, AI) using surface organometallic chemistry and molecular techniques. Read more here>
ROSIE WAYTE (member)
MacDiarmid Institute
MacDiarmid Institute Role:
Institute Manager
ROSIE WAYTE (member)
MacDiarmid Institute
MacDiarmid Institute Role:
Institute Manager
SHANGHAI WEI (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Designing and developing advanced alloys and nanostructured materials for energy storage and electrocatalyst applications. Read more here>
SHANGHAI WEI (member)
University of Auckland
Research Areas:
Designing and developing advanced alloys and nanostructured materials for energy storage and electrocatalyst applications. Read more here>
TANIELA LOLOHEA (member)
Auckland University of Technology
Research Areas:
Continuing on from his Postdoctoral Fellowship, into exploring the fundamental aspects of plasma-material interactions and how these interactions can be utilized to control features of novel surface coatings. Read more here>
VANESSA YOUNG (member)
MacDiarmid Institute
MacDiarmid Institute Role:
Strategic Engagement and Communications Manager
VANESSA YOUNG (member)
MacDiarmid Institute
MacDiarmid Institute Role:
Strategic Engagement and Communications Manager
SALLY BROOKER (member)
University of Otago
Research Areas:
The design of new spin crossover systems, including new classes of ligands that support spin crossover active dinuclear helicates and tetranuclear cages, as these have potential as sensors. Read more here>
SALLY BROOKER (member)
University of Otago
Research Areas:
The design of new spin crossover systems, including new classes of ligands that support spin crossover active dinuclear helicates and tetranuclear cages, as these have potential as sensors. Read more here>
SIMON BROWN (advisor)
University of Canterbury
Research Areas:
A variety of areas of nanotechnology, semiconductor and solid state physics. His current research interests focus on properties of devices fabricated from nanoparticles, as well as scanning probe investigations of nanoscale systems. Read more here>
SIMON BROWN (advisor)
University of Canterbury
Research Areas:
A variety of areas of nanotechnology, semiconductor and solid state physics. His current research interests focus on properties of devices fabricated from nanoparticles, as well as scanning probe investigations of nanoscale systems. Read more here>
KAYLA PRENDERGAST (student)
University of Otago
Research Areas:
Applying computational chemistry methods to catalysis at the nanoscale and green hydrogen production
Previous Conferences
2025, AMN11 Christchurch
2023, AMN10 Rotorua
2019, AMN9 Wellington
2017, AMN8 Queenstown
2015, AMN7 Nelson
2013, AMN6 Auckland
2011, AMN5 Wellington
2009, AMN4 Otago
2007, AMN3 Wellington
2005, AMN2 Queenstown
2003, AMN1 Wellington