Personnel and partners
General Manager and Lead Scientist
Ian McIvor M. Sc.
Ian manages the poplar and willow breeding programme. He is based at Plant & Food Research, Palmerston North. In addition, Ian researches root behaviour, and root responses to environmental conditions on hill slopes. Ian heads the National Poplar Commission and represents New Zealand on the International Poplar Commission (IPC), and chairs the IPC Working Party on Poplar and Willow Genetics, Conservation and Improvement.
Scientist
Trevor Jones PhD
Trevor is based at Plant & Food Research and is researching poplar and willow water use, and wood properties. Trevor has expertise in assessments of old and new tree trials.
Business Manager
Allan Frazer
Allan is our Business Manager. He is also a business manager for The Ahuwhenua Trophy – BNZ Māori Excellence in Farming Awards, Deputy Chairman of the NZ Wool-classers Association, and an olive farmer.
Research Partners
Associate Scientists
Plant & Food Research, AgResearch, Landcare Research and Scion and Massey University
John Charles (Plant & Food Research) insect pests, Vice-Chairperson IPC Working Party on Poplar Insect & other Animal Pests
Dr Brent Clothier (Plant & Food Research) Soils and stakeholders
Dr Grant Douglas (AgResearch) effectiveness of conservation trees, on-farm applications of poplars and willows
Dr Alec Mackay (AgResearch) soil quality and soil carbon
Dr Mike Marden (Landcare Research) erosion and erosion management
Dr Chris Phillips (Landcare Research) root development
Consultant
Alan Wilkinson
Education Partners
Massey University - Professor Peter Kemp, Head of Institute, INR
Agriculture ITO - Fred Hardy Strategic Business Development Manager