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 two young children.
Membership role: Expertise in Māori customary values and practice and the ability to articulate issues from a Māori perspective
Dr Karaitiana Taiuru PhD, JP
Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Rārua, Ngāti Kahungunu
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 holds several national board and academic appointments as the expert Māori advisor and currently works at the University of Otago Christchurch as a Researcher.
Karaitiana is a father of six children who range in ages from adults to young children and is a Pōua to three mokopuna.
Membership role: Ability to articulate the interests of children
Kathleen was originally appointed to ACART in April 2015 and was reappointed for a further three years in August 2018.
Kathleen works for the Children's Commissioner, Judge Andrew Becroft, and advocates for the rights and wellbeing of all children in New Zealand. Kathleen joined the Office of the Children's Commissioner in 2013.
In the past, Kathleen had a 13-year research career in human and animal reproduction and genetics, graduating in 1998 from Newcastle University Medical School (UK) with a PhD in reproductive physiology. Subsequently, she was a policy analyst in science research and investment for the Royal Society of New Zealand and then a science strategy advisor for the New Zealand government.
Kathleen lives in Wellington with her husband and two teenage children.
Membership role: Ability to articulate issues from a disability representative
Seth was appointed in August 2020.
Seth grew up in Wellington. He is a practising barrister sole with significant experience in the disability sector of the law. Seth has represented numerous clients with disabilities in various Courts, including being appointed amicus curiae in both the High Court and Court of Appeal to assist litigants with disabilities.
Seth is currently completing a Masters in laws and also holds a Bachelor of film with Honours (2006) from Victoria University. He also holds a Graduate Diploma in Digital Media from the National College of Design.
Seth is married with three children.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Membership role: Layperson with community perspectives
Whakatōhea, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Rangitāne and Ngāi Tahu
Shannon was appointed to ACART in December 2021.
Shannon is an experienced and skilled professional who has recently relocated back to New Zealand from the United Kingdom, where he held a number of public health related roles such as Director of Policy and Research Director at Campaign for Fairer Gambling UK, and Programme Manager of Workplace Health and Wellbeing at West Sussex County Council UK.
Shannon has recently been appointed to the National Ethics Advisory Committee and will bring a useful ethics perspective to ACART. Shannon also brings a Māori and rainbow community perspective to ACART.
Membership role: Layperson with expertise in the law
Debra was appointed to ACART in December 2021.
Debra is an Associate 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 Kingdrom Law Commission on Surrogacy Reform.
