New Zealand Branch

I am a dual forensic-biometric identification specialist (MSc Forensic Speech Science, U of York; MA Forensic Linguistics, U of Cardiff, PhD Speech Science, Rice U). My post-doctoral research at NZILBB at the University of Canterbury focussed on mapping social-behavioural traits on the acoustic speech signal, such as drug use and speaker height. Since 2009 I’ve served as an independent forensic expert in speaker comparison in anonymous recordings, authorship analysis of anonymous documents, resolution of disputed utterances and semantic disputes, training advanced police negotiation teams and evaluating comprehension by non-native participants in the legal process. I am currently a Principal Data Scientist at Immigration NZ.

I am a Professor of Statistics, and currently Head of Department at the University of Auckland. Most of my career has been spent on the academic side of forensic science, working closely with John Buckleton and others on advances in the statistical interpretation of evidence. I am currently the President of ANZFSS, as well as being the immediate past President of the NZFSS. I am a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences DNA Consensus body as well as an affiliate of the Human Biology section of OSAC. I spend a lot of time working with these organisations to help set standards for DNA evidence.

I started work in the NZ Police in 1990 and trained over 5 years to qualify as a NZ police fingerprint expert. In 2002 I become the NZ Police National Fingerprint Training Officer (based at The Royal NZ Police College) I role I enjoy and still hold. I joined ANZFSS around 1995 and have been continuously member since then. I am a member of the NZ Wellington branch and the current Chairperson.

I enjoy networking with people interested in sharing insights in forensic science and finding ways novel ways to communicate this to the public and judiciary. As an educator in current Covid times I am passionate about how learning has changed and the methods we can use to connect people effectively. I am keen to develop this further for the near future of NZFSS.

I have been NZFSS Secretary and a NZFSS member since 2021. I am qualified with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science double major in Human Genetics and Molecular Pathology and currently work as a Fingerprint Technical Support Officer for the NZ Police Upper North Island Forensic Fingerprint Services. My role consists of providing laboratory and administrative support to Fingerprint Officers including exhibit management. Prior to this I was a Qualified Medical Laboratory Technician in Histology and Cytology for private and DHB laboratories. My area of passion for helping people changed from medical to forensic when my husband was completing his training as a police recruit, and I was exposed to what NZ Police do and the various roles offered to non-sworn. From there I was successful for a position in Fingerprints and wanted to become more involved in forensics so showed interest when this Secretary position became available. This role offers avenues to engage with various forensic departments and groups and gives me the opportunity to give back to a field of science that plays an important role in solving crime and preventing revictimization. In addition, I am studying towards gaining a Postgraduate forensic qualification and have recently joined North Harbour Community Patrols NZ as a volunteer patroller.

I’ve been an ANZFSS member since 2010, having a brief absence in the middle while in the UK. Having benefited from being a member of the Society through the professional networking, opportunities to present on research projects, and scholarships to attend two ANZFSS Symposia, I felt like it was my time to contribute back to the NZFSS in role of Treasurer. In the coming year I will enjoy tackling the challenges of the Treasurer’s role, understanding the financial aspects and responsibilities of the Society, and whether any efficiencies or opportunities can be realised.

I am a Senior Forensic Scientist working at ESR (Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd). Mt role at ESR involves the analysis of items submitted by NZ Police and NZ Customs for the presence of controlled substance. I have held this role for almost 30 years.

I provide training and mentoring of new staff in the Drug Chemistry team and lecture at the University of Auckland on Forensic Science and supervise students undertaking research for the Masters in Forensic Science programme. I co-ordinate and deliver Expert Witness training course to ESR, NZ Police and members of the public, whose role it is to act as an expert witness in the New Zealand legal system

I am the current NZFSS Auckland Branch chairperson, a role I have had since 2015. I have been a member of ANZFSS since joining in the late eighties. Over this time, I have presented at and attended conferences. I have been involved in the organizing and delivering of the two ANZFSS conferences and associated workshops held in Auckland. I was awarded the ANZFSS Alan Hodda Memorial Award in 2011.

Kia ora, I have been involved in NZFSS since 2003, while still completing my Master’s degree at Auckland University. This relationship continued while working for the New Zealand Police, attending meetings at the Auckland branch. I found myself volunteering to step into the newly created President Elect role before moving into the NZFSS Presidents role in 2020.

I have always had an interest in teaching and in mid-2019 I moved from Forensic Supervisor, Auckland City District, to Crime Scene Trainer at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Wellington. In this role I work with SOCO’s across the country to update the forensic training programme, taking advantage of new technology to create a blended training programme which is accessible, achievable, relevant and to a high standard.

Hello, my name is Eva and I’m a Senior Fingerprint Officer based at the Upper North Island Forensic Fingerprint Services, NZ Police. An opportunity arose 10 years ago and I haven’t looked back since, forensics is where my passion is and I’m grateful to be a part of this community.

I’ve always wanted to give something back so I decided to volunteer as a council member, and a few years back I created the NZFSS Facebook page. I recently attained another job title, mummy to my baby girl Mathilda Vera. Maternity leave life has been fulfilling and every day is so full of joy. Look forward to be back and see you all in real life again.

I am a Senior Science Leader and the DNA Technical Leader of the Forensic Biology Group of Environmental Science and Research Inc (ESR) in Auckland, New Zealand and has been a forensic scientist since 1988, specializing in body fluid identification and DNA analysis. I have supervised over 60 student researchers, including over 50 MSc students and 9 PhD students and is currently an Honorary Lecturer in the Forensic Science program and an Honorary Academic, in the Department of Statistics at the University of Auckland.

I lead an active research team which has led to the introduction of new techniques in casework such as Y STR profiling and mRNA testing. Current research includes new sequencing technologies such as epigenetics, mitochondrial DNA, phenotype and ancestry determination. More recently I have been part of a team sequencing SARS COV 2 as part of ESR’s pandemic response. I was awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2021.

I am a Senior Forensic Technician in the Physical Evidence Team of ESR at the Mount Albert Science Centre in Auckland. I have been involved with NZFSS since 2014 while studying as a student down at the University of Otago, Dunedin. I was fortunate enough to attend the 2016 ANZFSS Symposium in Auckland as a student assistant while studying towards my Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Science from the University of Auckland.

I also attended the 2018 ANZFSS Symposium in Perth, where I presented my Masters research on methamphetamine manufacture (also through the University of Auckland), carried out with the Clandestine Laboratory team at ESR. I was interim NZFSS treasurer during 2020, and am still assisting with some Treasurer tasks, as well as being a general committee member.

I am a Lecturer of Forensic Statistics and a member of the Centre for Forensic Science (CFS) at University of Technology Sydney in Australia. I am interested in statistical interpretation of forensic evidence, as well as other Data Science related problems in this field. I have been a member of ANZFSS since 2016 and been on the NZFSS council since 2020.