Senior Management Team

Peter Landon-Lane

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Peter Landon-Lane graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Science (Physiology & Psychology) and later completed a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) at Victoria University, Wellington. Mr Landon-Lane took up the role of CEO at Plant & Food Research in September 2008, following a number of senior positions within Fonterra and one of its predecessors, the New Zealand Dairy Board, including heading the business in Japan (1998-2004) and Europe (2005-2008). Mr Landon-Lane started his career at the former Department of Trade and Industry which included serving as a trade commissioner in China and the Philippines.
 
Mr Landon-Lane has a strong background in general management and international business in the food and agri-industry. He is currently a director of several Plant & Food Research subsidiaries and joint ventures, including Prevar Limited, Rhindo International Limited and Seafood Innovations Limited and he is on the governance boards of the  Riddet Institute and the Vital Vegetables Research Partnership.

Dr Bruce Campbell

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

Dr Bruce Campbell holds a PhD in Plant Sciences from the University of Sheffield, UK, and has research interests in biotechnology, genetics, sustainability and climate change. As Chief Operating Officer, Dr Campbell is responsible for the science staff within Plant & Food Research and for providing effective leadership of company strategy, operational excellence and productivity, business growth, capital investments, regulatory compliance and enhancing relationships with Maori.

Dr Campbell is a member of The Royal Society of New Zealand, Institute of Directors in New Zealand and of the International Society of Horticultural Science, and is a director on several Boards; Horticulture NZ Vegetable Research and Innovation Board; National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies; Jukebox NZ Limited; and Kiwifruit Supply Research Limited.

David Hughes

Group General Manager Commercial

David Hughes studied at Massey University, NZ, gaining both a BTech (Manufacturing) 1st Class Hons and a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Statistics. Mr Hughes, as Group General Manager Commercial, oversees all aspects of the commercial groups within Plant & Food Research, including client and customer management, marketing and communication, international business development, and the commercialisation of plant varieties and cultivars.

Mr Hughes joined Plant & Food Research in July 2009 and has a successful track record of business development and innovation within the food sector, including several high-profile roles within the dairy industry in New Zealand, Australia, USA, Japan and Bahrain. He is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors, a Director of KiwiNet and Chair of the Biopolymer Network Limited.

Dr Ian Ferguson MNZM

Chief Scientist

Dr Ian Ferguson is a fellow of the NZ Royal Society and has been a member of many NZ Government funding and science bodies. Dr Ferguson has had a long research career, specialising in plant and fruit physiology, postharvest science, biochemistry and biotechnology. He has extensive experience both in fundamental plant research and in research and development for the NZ horticultural industry, and is Joint Editor-in-Chief of the leading international journal Postharvest Biology & Technology.

Dr Ferguson is also involved in a number of international collaborations, including  Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand, and a 10 year collaboration with Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, where he is Guang Biao Visiting Professor.

Michael James

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Mr James' responsibilities include the finance, IT, property and legal functions of Plant & Food Research. He has over 10 years experience in senior management roles with innovative and high technology companies, is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance and Accounting) from Otago University.

Mr James' past positions include CFO at Navman, a global supplier of GPS based navigation products for marine and land applications, and General Manager, Europe for Dynamic Controls, a global supplier of electronic control systems for power wheelchairs and scooters.

Craig Jensen

General Manager Human Resources

Craig Jensen, as General Manager Human Resources, is responsible for Plant & Food Research’s people-related activities including organisational and workforce development, recruitment, employment relations, remuneration and health & safety. He has a strong interest in the relationship between employee engagement, leadership and organisational culture and performance.

Mr Jensen has extensive experience in human resource management within the New Zealand science sector, and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel and Employment Relations from the University of Auckland.