Mr Antony Ambler – BSc(Hons), MSc,
Phone: +64 3 479 3046
antony.ambler@otago.ac.nz
Tony moved to New Zealand at the start of 2010 to work on Phase 38 of the study. Prior to this, he was (and will continue to be when he returns in 2012) the Data Manager for the E-Risk study at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, UK. This E-Risk study is a longitudinal birth cohort of 1116 pairs of twins born in 1994/1995 in England and Wales, which investigates how genetic and environmental factors shape children's development. Tony's background is in statistics, in which he has an undergraduate degree, and following this he gained a Masters degree in Medical Statistics. Originally hailing from Leeds, West Yorkshire in the North of England, Tony moved to London 10 years ago to study and enjoyed the bright lights/big city so much he ended up staying. Tony plans to stay in New Zealand for the duration of phase 38, then going home in 2012 to work on the new phase of the E-Risk study.
Ms Bronwyn Driver
bron.driver@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 8508
Bron has been involved with the Study since the age 26 assessment phase. In between assessment phases, she assists with administrative tasks associated with the day-to-day running of the Unit, and arranging travel for staff and participants in Dunedin Study sub-studies. During an assessment phase, her role involves arranging the travel schedules, accommodation and co-ordination of interview days for Study members, ensuring their visit to the Unit in Dunedin is as enjoyable as possible.
Mrs Carol Mackie
carol.mackie@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 8512
As the Cohort Tracer for Phase 38, Carol's position involves tracing Study members' location and assisting the Travel/Interviewer Co-ordinator with assessment day appointments. Carol previously worked for Telecom as a Corporate Credit Controller. She is also an English Language Tutor with English Language Partners (ESOL).
Ms Dee Yang – BSc,
PGDipSci
dee.yang@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 7469
Dee is responsible for the management, maintenance and security of the Dunedin Study Biorepository during the age 38 assessment phase. She has been studying and working in New Zealand for seven years, since commencing her studies for her BSc in biochemistry at the University of Otago in 2003.
Mr Sean Hogan –
BA(Hons), MSW, GIPM
sean.hogan@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5551
Sean has about 15 years experience in Mental Health (Social Work) in the UK and, since 2003, in New Zealand. Sean was employed as an Interviewer at assessment Phase 32, and is the Team Leader for the age 38 assessment staff.
Miss Amanda Bauman - BNurs
amanda.bauman@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Amanda is from Calgary, Canada and has been in Dunedin since March 2010. Amanda is a registered nurse and graduated with a bachelor degree in 2008. Since graduating, she has worked in surgery and maternity (high risk labour and delivery).
Mrs Jane Columb - RN
jane.columb@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Jane is a Registered Nurse and has held a life long interest working in healthcare, having most recently been employed as an Infection Control Practitioner.
Mr Kirk Jurgens - BSc
Kirk.jurgens@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Kirk recently graduated with a BSc in Physiology at the University of Otago. He is part of the Respiratory Health team.
Mrs Judith Smillie - DipDentSchNurs
judith.smillie@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Judi was first employed at the University of Otago in 1982 in the Toxicology Unit. In 1986, she moved to the Department of Surgery in the Vascular Assessment Unit where she worked until 2009.
Ms Hanne Stegen - RN
hanne.stegen@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Hanne has worked as a Registered Nurse for nearly 30 years, predominantly in Coronary Care and Cardiology.
Mrs Jane Carroll - BEd, PGDipLitEd
jane.carroll@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Jane trained as a Primary Teacher and Speech-Language Therapist at the Christchurch College of Education and worked for just over 20 years within both pre-school and school systems for the Ministry of Education, Special Education. Jane completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Literacy Education in 2006 and is currently enrolled part-time in the PhD programme at the University of Canterbury investigating Phonological Awareness knowledge and classroom teaching practices.
Mrs Denise Ching - RN
denise.ching@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Denise is a registered psychiatric nurse and has been nursing for about 28 years. Denise did her training at Porirua Hospital in Wellington, but soon after graduating moved back to Dunedin, where she has worked (and still continues to do so part-time) at Ashburn Clinic for nearly 24 years.
Ms Rebecca (Becky) Everdon - BSc
bek@psy.otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Becky is an American by birth, Kiwi by choice. Her field of research is behavioural psychology, and her focus is the psychology of safety. As well as her part-time position with the Study, Becky is currently working on her PhD programme, which is a crash and injury prevention strategy for a group of high-risk lone workers.
Mrs Glenys Forsyth - DipSptSt, BPhysEd
glenys.forsyth@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
As well as her position with the Study, Glenys also has a part-time teaching fellow position with the School of Physical Education. She has always had a great interest in exercise and a passion to help people to include physical activity into their lives, and this has culminated in the recent submission of her PhD in Exercise Psychology.
Ms Vanessa (Ness) Hayes - BA(Hons), MSocWk
vanessa.hayes@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Vanessa has a background in Social Work. She moved to New Zealand from the UK in 2003 and since then has mainly worked at the University of Otago. Vanessa previously worked at the Research Unit on the Family Health History Study, interviewing the parents of the Study members.
Dr David Ireland - BmedSc(Hons), PhD
david.ireland@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
David is originally from Sydney and moved to Dunedin in 1999 to commence a postdoctoral position in the Psychology Department at Otago University.
Mrs Kay McDonald - BA(Hons), PGDipPH
kay.mcdonald@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Kay moved to Otago from the Coromandel in 2006. After leaving school, Kay completed a pharmacy diploma. She then spent 10 years living in the UK where she worked in many NHS hospitals around England. Whilst in London, she also completed a management degree. Following the move to Dunedin, Kay decided to do a post grad diploma in public health which she completed in late 2009.
Mrs Katherine Skillander - BA, PGCertTESOL
katherine.skillander@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Katherine has a diverse professional background, working mainly in the film and television industry, as well as teaching English in Australia and Russia. As well as her role as a research interviewer for Phase 38, Katherine is completing a PGDip Arts in film and media studies. She has made several documentaries and has a keen interest in film, dance and genealogy.
Ms Meagan Stephenson - BA(Hons), MA
meagan.stephenson@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Since completing her Masters in Arts degree in psychology in 2000, Meagan has worked in developmental and health research, and lived in three countries including New Zealand. Her interests in terms of human development are in the relationship between nutrition and physical and mental health status, and positive psychology and character strengths that protect against the development of mental health problems.
Ms Ros Sydney - BA, DipTchg
ros.sydney@otago.ac.nz
Phone: +64 3 479 5550
Ros has a long association with the Research Unit and the Study having first been employed in 1986, just after the Study members had been assessed at age 15 years. She has interviewed at every assessment phase since then.