About the B+LNZ research team

Dan Brier, General Manager Farming Excellence 

Dan Brier has been the General Manager of Farming Excellence at Beef + Lamb New Zealand for five years - a role which encompasses research, product development & extension design and Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics. Dan grew up on sheep and beef properties before training as a veterinarian. After 6 years as a vet in Te Awamutu and Gisborne, Dan and his family began sheep and beef farming near Te Awamutu. In 2013, he started a role at Landcorp/Pamu overseeing the organisation’s northern and eastern North Island sheep and beef properties. Dan loves working for farmers and trying to help figure out ways to make their farm systems more successful. 

Suzanne Keeling, PhD – Head of Science and Research 

For over two decades, Suzi has applied her expertise across diverse fields, including animal diseases, environmental health, human health, and food authenticity. Her doctoral research in Victoria, Australia, focused on wastewater safety for irrigating dairy pastures and involved working closely with farmers. Post-studies, Suzi has driven advancements in sector priorities, biosecurity, food integrity, and market access. A significant part of her work experience has involved confidential or commercially sensitive activities.  

She leads multidisciplinary teams and builds partnerships with industry, government, and academia.  Suzi contributes to the scientific leadership of Beef + Lamb New Zealand's research portfolio, aiming to maximise outcomes for sheep and beef hill country farmers. Her primary focus is delivering robust, practical science in collaboration with farmers and ensuring effective research communication for accessibility. 

Cara Brosnahan, PhD  – Principal Scientist, Animal Health Research

Cara, raised on a South Canterbury sheep, beef, and cropping farm, studied biological sciences in Wellington. Before joining B+LNZ, she worked in marine bioactives, animal health, disease diagnostics, and surveillance at the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and the Ministry for Primary Industries.  During this time, she led and participated in multiple research projects in collaboration with industry and iwi and played lead roles in exotic disease incursions.   

Cara obtained her doctorate from the veterinary sciences school at Massey University where she investigated disease events in New Zealand salmon aquaculture. As Principal Scientist, Animal Health Research, Cara is involved in a range of research from conception to dissemination focusing on facial eczema and parasite management. 

Gemma Jenkins, PhD – Portfolio Manager, Genetics Research Programmes 

As Portfolio Manager – Genetics Research Programmes, Gemma drives industry engagement and oversees the development of genetic tools for the New Zealand beef industry. She completed her PhD in sheep genetics at the University of Melbourne and has since worked with AgResearch, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, and AbacusBio. Her experience spans biotech and food production across sheep, beef, and dairy industries, both domestically and internationally. 

Gemma believes in combining innovative science with practical industry input to ensure the success of the genetics research portfolio. 

Angela McFetridge (EMBA, Master of AgriBusiness) Extension design – research programmes 

Ange has combined practical experience with formal education throughout her career in the food and fibre sector. Growing up in farming and rural communities, she started in animal pest management and earned a senior woolhandler qualification while working weekends in woolsheds. Her hands-on experience managing a farm merchandise store further honed her skills. 

After raising a family and balancing farm life with studies, Ange completed a Bachelor of Business Studies, an Executive MBA, and a Master of Agribusiness. At Beef + Lamb NZ, she contributes to research in animal health, extension design, rural communities, and innovation. As a 2024 Food Transitions 2050 scholar, she continues to blend practical experience with formal learning, staying grounded with ongoing farm work. 

Mhairi Sutherland, PhD – Senior Scientist, Animal health and welfare 

Mhairi completed her Master’s at Massey University, studying pain management for dehorning calves and castrating and tail docking lambs. She earned her doctorate from the University of Illinois, focusing on breed effects on stress and disease in pigs. Mhairi then spent three years at Texas Tech University researching pig welfare issues. 

Returning to New Zealand in 2009, she worked as a scientist at AgResearch before joining B+LNZ in 2020. As Senior Scientist in Animal Health and Welfare Research, Mhairi leads projects on ewe and lamb survival, ectoparasites, early disease detection, and animal welfare. She also manages the Hill Country Futures programme and contributes to various research initiatives. 

Rebecca Dymond, Senior Advisor – Farmer Engagement and Partnerships  

Born and raised on a family farm in Mid Canterbury, Becky has a unique blend of practical on-farm experience, science degree and creative problem solving.  Becky likes to develop fit-for-purpose solutions to tackle critical issues that rural communities face.  Becky's primary focus at B+LNZ is to engage with farmers, industry professionals, and researchers to collectively develop and embed solutions aimed at reducing the impact of Facial Eczema on New Zealand’s farming businesses.  

Becky's passion for agriculture led to a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Massey University where she then pursued a career as an agronomist with Barenbrug.  She then joined DairyNZ’s Sustainable Dairying team supporting various environmental and farmer led initiatives.  Becky has also completed the Kellogg Rural Leaders Scholarship, focusing her study on the future of Gene Editing and Genetic Modification in New Zealand’s Pastoral Industry.  

Lucas MacDonald, Programme Manager – Eliminating Facial Eczema Impacts 

Lucas, originally from the West Coast of the South Island, studied environmental science at the University of Canterbury and the University of Auckland. In 2023, Lucas joined B+LNZ as the Programme Manager for Facial Eczema research. Lucas is passionate about ensuring cutting edge research can be delivered on the ground in a practical way leading to improved animal health outcomes, benefitting farmers and the communities around them. 

Lucas began his career by working for local government focusing on regulatory compliance and freshwater biosecurity for three years. He then continued his public service career, moving to a central government role, joining the Department of Conservation where he managed large-scale predator control projects. 

Dionne Needham, Programme Coordinator 

Dionne grew up on a dairy farm in the Far North, where she saw her parents work together to build a business. She knows firsthand the many roles and responsibilities farmers have, having pitched in on her parents’ farm herself. 

Dionne is passionate about communication and engagement, making sure we always remember who we’re doing this for and why. Her passion and skills are vital in her role as Programme Coordinator, where she supports Programme Managers with Facial Eczema and Informing New Zealand Beef.  Never shying away from a challenge, Dionne has managed complex programmes, including integrating 40 organizations into Fire and Emergency New Zealand, as well supporting B+LNZ’s Environment Team. 

Orin Robb, MSc – Research Contracts Manager

Orin works across the research and genetics teams as a Research Contracts Manager helping to ensure our contracts are robust and that the deliverables are of high quality.  Orin previously worked for the Health Research Council of New Zealand, where he served as the Portfolio Lead for Health Delivery and Public Health investments, overseeing a research funding portfolio of approximately $100 million.

Before his role at HRC, he was a Fund Analyst at the Ministry for the Environment, where he collaborated directly with farmers and landowners on on-farm restoration projects under the Jobs for Nature programme. Additionally, Orin has experience as a Science Investment Manager at the Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment, where he managed Endeavour Fund contracts within the environmental portfolio, including the Pastoral Genomics partnership. Orin has a master’s in science with expertise in the development of biosensors.