Calum Barrett (Chair)

Membership role: Ability to articulate issues from a consumer perspective

Calum Barrett was appointed to ACART for a period of three years beginning on 21 December 2021.

Calum currently works for the Tertiary Education Commission, having previously worked in policy roles with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and New Zealand Police.

He holds a Bachelors of Laws (2011), a Bachelors of Arts (2013), and a Masters in Bioethics and Health Law awarded with Distinction (2015), the dissertation of which proposed ACART guidelines for the regulation of Mitochondrial Replacement Therapy in New Zealand.

Calum lives in Wellington with his wife and three young children.


Dr Karaitiana Taiuru (Deputy Chair)

Membership role: Expertise in Māori customary values and practice and the ability to articulate issues from a Māori perspective

Dr Karaitiana Taiuru PhD, JP 

Iwi affiliations: Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Toa. 

Karaitiana was appointed to ACART in August 2020.

Karaitiana completed his PhD in Māori Genetic Data - Inalienable Rights and Tikanga Sovereignty in 2021 at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, after a life time of being immersed in Te Ao Māori and mātauranga. He is a nationally recognised Tikanga Māori expert with significant networks with Iwi and Māori organisations.

Karaitiana is a father of six children who range in ages from adults to young children and is a Pōua to four mokopuna. 


Edmond Fehoko

Membership role: Layperson with community perspectives

Dr Edmond Fehoko was appointed to ACART in 2021. Dr Fehoko is a Health Research Council of New Zealand Pacific Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Auckland and is a Senior Lecturer in Human Nutrition at the University of Otago. Dr Fehoko has published in areas such as infertility and assisted reproductive technologies from a Pacific perspective.

Some of Edmond's previous roles include Pacific Partners Consultant at Manukau Institute of Technology, a Learning Advisor and Pasifika Student Support Advisor at AUT University. He is a member of the Auckland Tongan Council and Member of the Royal Society of New Zealand.

Edmond is engaged with a range of research projects relating to improving health in New Zealand and is fluent in Tongan.


Seth Fraser

Membership role: Ability to articulate the interests of people with disabilities

Seth was appointed in August 2020.

Seth lives in Wellington. He is a practicing barrister with experience in the disability sector of the law including numerous clients with disabilities in various Courts.  He has also been appointed by the High Court and Court of Appeal to assist litigants with disabilities.

Seth has a Master's degree in Law and a Bachelor of film with Honours from Victoria University. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Digital Media from the National College of Design.

Seth has three children.


Neuton Lambert

Membership Role: Layperson with expertise in law 

Neuton was appointed to ACART in August of 2023. 

Neuton is a Solicitor at a general law practice in the Auckland CBD, and graduated from law school at the University of Auckland in 2013. Neuton began his legal career as a Barrister, practicing in crime, civil, and the Waitangi Tribunal jurisdictions.

Neuton has extensive experience across a diverse range of legal disputes and has advised hapū, iwi, and whānau on Treaty of Waitangi issues and general civil matters, as well as Māori land trusts and incorporations. Neuton is also fluent in te reo Māori and has a particular interest in tikanga approaches as a forum for dispute resolution. 

Neuton is of Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Kahungunu, and Ngāti Ruapani descent.

In his spare time Neuton enjoys spending time with his son and partner, camping, and listening to music.


Amanda Lees 

Membership Role: Layperson

Amanda is a senior lecturer in AUT's Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences. She leads interdisciplinary courses in applied healthcare ethics, including postgraduate studies in the ethics of emerging biotechnologies. She is a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy. Amanda’s research explores ethics education, ethical decision-making in clinical practice, the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, and research ethics.  Her current doctoral studies explore research participants' perspectives of ethical conduct in research.

Amanda lives in Auckland and has three adult children.


Minu Punchihewa

Membership role: Layperson with expertise in child rights advocacy and policy 

Minu was appointed to ACART in August 2023.

Minu is a child rights advocate with policy expertise. Minu has a Masters in Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, with a specific interest in public health and health promotions. She has a published research background in HIV prevention in Aotearoa.

Some of Minu’s other roles include Engagement Manager for the London International Youth Science Forum (LIYSF). She is also a Professional Member of the Royal Society of New Zealand.


Karen Reader

Membership role: Expertise in human reproductive research

Karen Reader has been appointed to ACART from December 2021 for three years.

Karen is a Lecturer in the Department of Pathology at the University of Otago, undertaking research and teaching in reproduction, ovarian and prostate cancer. She was awarded a Rutherford Foundation New Zealand Postdoctoral Fellowship in 2015 and a Lottery Health Fellowship in 2017.

Karen completed her PhD in 2014 at the University of Otago and AgResearch, studying oocyte (egg) quality. Before this, she worked in the Reproductive Biology Group at AgResearch for 13 years, researching ovarian factors that regulate fertility. During this time, Karen established an in-vitro fertilisation laboratory for sheep fertility research. She has a strong interest in both the scientific and ethical aspects of human assisted reproductive technologies.


Catherine Ryan

Membership role: General layperson

Catherine was appointed to ACART in August 2020 for two years. 

Catherine is a graduate of Education and Law. She has taught law at the University of Waikato Commerce Faculty and worked in Private Practice and as Legal advisor for Waitemata DHB.

Catherine’s medical experience is in Research Ethics at Waikato DHB and Clinical Ethics for Auckland, Waitemata and Counties Manukau DHBs. At present, Catherine is a member of Counties Manukau Clinical Ethics Committee.

Catherine is a member of 2 Medsafe Committes; Medicines Adverse Reaction Committee and Medicines Assessment Advisory Committee.

Catherine is a Trustee of the Waikato DHB Complaints Service which facilitates resolution of complaints between the Provider and the Consumer.


Dr Sarah Wakeman

Membership role: Expertise in assisted reproductive procedures

Sarah was appointed to ACART in 2021 for the three year period beginning on 21 December 2021.

Sarah is a graduate of Otago Medical School and trained as an obstetrician and gynaecologist in Hawkes Bay and Christchurch. She then went on to subspecialise in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, spending time working in Christchurch and Melbourne, and gained her CREI (Certificate of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility) in 2008. She has been working in the area of infertility for 16 years. She is the medical director of Fertility Associates, Christchurch, which provides both public and private fertility related services. She has special interests in recurrent miscarriage, genetic testing and fertility preservation. She has ongoing involvement in clinical research and teaching of medical students and graduates.

Sarah is married and has three school-age children.


Professor Debra Wilson

Membership role: Layperson with expertise in the law

Debra was appointed to ACART in December 2021.

Debra is a professor of law at the University of Canterbury where she teaches in the areas of Medical and Criminal Law.

Debra has a strong interest in researching and teaching medical law, particularly relating to surrogacy. She has previous Fellowships in Medical Law for a range of universities such as Oxford University and Cambridge University. Debra is a member of the Expert Advisory Panel for the New Zealand Law Commission (Surrogacy Laws) and has previously been an Expert Advisor to the United Kingdom Law Commission on Surrogacy Reform.

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