University of Otago researcher, senior leader and wahine toa Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie has been appointed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as a Departmental Science Advisor.
Highly regarded University of Otago researcher, senior leader and wahine toa Professor Louise Parr-Brownlie (Ngāti Maniapoto me Te Arawa), of the School of Biomedical Sciences’ Department of Anatomy has been appointed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) as a Departmental Science Advisor.
MBIE’s Departmental Science Advisors play a crucial role as connectors, fostering innovation and communication between MBIE and the science community and drawing upon their extensive networks and expertise to bring fresh perspectives to work such as the current Te Ara Paerangi – Future Pathways science system reforms.
Acting Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Health Sciences, Neil Gemmell says, “Patricia Priest, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and I congratulate Professor Parr-Brownlie on her appointment to this key role - it is a fitting reflection of the mana she holds in Aotearoa’s science community.
“Her role with MBIE will be a part-time secondment and she will continue with neuroscience research in her lab and will retain her many other leadership positions.”
Professor Parr-Brownlie is a biomedically trained neuroscientist with a wide range of experiences in working with Māori, the health research sector and government policy experts.
She obtained her undergraduate and PhD degrees from the University of Otago. Her research speciality is Parkinson’s disease, and her internationally recognised expertise is in understanding how brain cell activity controls movement and the changes associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Professor Parr-Brownlie has been the Chair of the Rauika Māngai (Māori leaders across the National Science Challenges and Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga), a member of the Brain Research New Zealand Rangahau Roro Aotearoa Centre of Research Excellence as well as Deputy Chair of the Science Advisory Committee for the Neurological Foundation of New Zealand.
She is the current Director of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge, a member of the Biomedical Research Committee at the Health Research Council, co-Chair of the health peer panel for the 2026 Performance Based Research Fund quality evaluation round, a member of the Mātauranga Science Insights Panel for the Ministry for the Environment, Board member for the Dodd Walls Centre Te Whai Ao Centre of Research Excellence, and Professor and Deputy Head (Māori) of the Anatomy Department at University of Otago in Dunedin.
Professor Parr-Brownlie says, “I have accepted this role because the Ministry is developing and embedding the research, science and innovation sector for the next 20 years.
“I will draw on my experiences in Ageing Well and Rauika Māngai to ensure that the future science sector is improved, and delivers equitable outcomes for whānau, hapū, iwi and diverse Māori communities.”
The Chair of Ageing Well, Dr Will Edwards, was effusive in his praise for the impact that Professor Parr-Brownlie has had upon the organisation.
“Ageing Well has been fortunate to be led by such a strong, intelligent, and compassionate wahine Māori,” says Dr Edwards.
Ageing Well Co-Director Professor David Baxter says, “this appointment represents a significant recognition for our Director, and of the work she has led at the Challenge.”
“While we are sorry to lose her, she is taking on a significant role which will help shape the future of science in Aotearoa New Zealand,” he added.
Professor Parr-Brownlie will finish in her role of Director of Ageing Well National Science Challenge in early October and will commence in her new role at MBIE on 9 October 2023.
Kōrero by Sally Knox, Communications Advisor