Grape Days 2025 Speakers

Seth Laurenson, Bragato Research Institute

Seth is Bragato Research Institute's Sustainability Research Leader and is responsible for identifying, developing, and managing research in these areas. Seth was previously a Senior Scientist at AgResearch Farm Systems and Environment group. His PhD from the University of South Australia was focused on viticultural soil management issues across the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale. Seth is an adjunct lecturer at Lincoln University and has expertise in soil physical health and how this influences soil health and water use. 

Meagan Littlejohn, New Zealand Winegrowers

Meagan is Programme Manager – Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ). She hails from Canada with a Masters degree from the University of Ottawa focussed on behaviour change, and a background in research and project management. She first joined the SWNZ team in May 2018 as the Systems Administrator and has been managing the daily operations of the SWNZ programme as Programme Manager since January 2020. Meagan and the rest of the SWNZ team are based in Blenheim. The SWNZ programme began in 1995 and leads the way internationally with approximately 98% of all producing vineyard area in New Zealand SWNZ-certified. Meagan is passionate about advancing the sustainability efforts and credentials of the New Zealand wine industry. 

Dr Darrell Lizamore, Bragato Research Institute

Darrell is the Principal Research Scientist on Bragato Research Institute's Sauvignon Blanc Grapevine Improvement programme and leads the Grapevine Improvement team based in Lincoln. Originally from the Stellenbosch wine region in South Africa, Darrell established BRI’s Lincoln-based Grapevine Improvement Laboratory in 2019. He now leads a brilliant team of scientists working to improve genetic traits associated with resilience, sustainability and profitability of winegrowing in New Zealand. Darrell manages a variety of research projects ranging from the rehabilitation of New Zealand’s National Vine Collection to the development of non-GMO tools for regulating the expression of plant traits (e.g. in response to inter-seasonal climate variations). The largest of these, the Sauvignon Blanc Grapevine Improvement Programme, is a 7-year Ministry for Primary Industries/NZW partnership that is currently developing New Zealand’s own Sauvignon Blanc clones to increase the resilience of the New Zealand wine industry. 

Dr Annabel Whibley, Bragato Research Institute

Annabel is a Bioinformatician in BRI's Grapevine Improvement team. Her role explores genomic datasets to glean insights into grapevine biology. Annabel completed her PhD in plant molecular genetics at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. Since then she has applied genomics technologies to questions in clinical research, evolution and conservation. As a bioinformatician at BRI she is characterising genetic and epigenetic diversity in new and existing grapevines to develop more resilient plants for the future. Annabel also holds an Honorary Academic position in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland.

Dr Cen Liau, Bragato Research Institute

Cen joined BRI's Grapevine Improvement team in November 2022, as Postdoctoral Scientist – Grapevine Epigenomics. Cen primarily works on the Tuned Vines project to study epigenetics of grapevine in different climates or in response to stress. Originally from Indonesia, Cen completed her PhD in human genetics at the University of Otago – Christchurch in 2020, focusing on the application of novel genomic technologies and bioinformatics. She has molecular genetics background from her previous roles in molecular diagnostic and clinical genetic laboratories.

Ross Wise MW, Bragato Research Institute

Ross is a viticulturist and winemaker previously based in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. He began his career in Hawke's Bay, completing a Bachelor of Viticulture and Advanced Diploma in Wine Science at the Eastern Institute of Technology. Since then, Ross has worked in viticulture, winemaking, and consulting roles across many wine regions in New Zealand and Canada. Most recently, he held the position of Director of Winemaking for Andrew Peller Limited, overseeing wine production at five BC wineries, and leading winemaking at the iconic Black Hills Estate Winery. In 2020, Ross became Canada’s 7th Master of Wine. His MW Research Paper studied the potential implications of climate change on viticulture in the Okanagan Valley looking ahead to the 2050s. He has been heavily involved with Canadian wine industry organisations over the last decade, with roles including administering research activities, leading knowledge and technology transfer programmes, and assisting in the establishment of a clean plant material network.

Dr Paul Epee, Bragato Research Institute

Paul has a PhD in Agronomy and Viticulture from Lincoln University. His research characterised and quantified the pruning decisions made by an expert human pruner, which in turn will be used to train Artificial intelligence (AI) systems in cane pruning, thus contributing to alleviating manual labour in vineyards. His research also investigated the effect of changing node loads on the grapevine vegetative and reproductive growth. Paul holds a master’s degree in Agronomy from the University of Queensland (Australia) as well as a bachelor’s degree (Honours) in Agronomy from his home country, Cameroon. He has over a decade of experience in agriculture advising and research management in a range of crops including banana, barley and grapevine. Paul’s role at BRI is to conceive and deliver applied research projects in cooperation with winegrowers, BRI staff, and researchers from partner institutions. Complementing this, he also takes a lead in extension – working with winegrowers and scientists to ensure that new knowledge is accessible to viticulturists and winemakers, and that this knowledge is employed to benefit the winegrowing businesses.

Dr. Romy Moukarzel, Lincoln University

Romy is a lecturer in plant protection at Lincoln University. Her research expertise is in plant-microbe interactions and plant biochemistry, with an emphasis on the molecular characterisation of microbial communities using a range of molecular techniques. Her work investigates the biotic and abiotic factors influencing beneficial microbes, particularly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and their beneficial effects on plant growth, nutrient uptake, and resistance to diseases. Additionally, she studies the impact of management practices on soil microbial dynamics, plant physiology, and the accumulation of metabolites within plant bio-compartments.

Dr. Stewart Field, NMIT

Stewart developed an early interest in plants, leading him to pursue degrees in Plant Science, including a doctorate in viticulture. His academic journey included studies in New Zealand, USA, Australia, and Canada, focusing on grapevine physiology. After working in the industry in Wairarapa and Hunter Valley, Stewart returned to academia in 2014, first as a lecturer at Eastern Institute of Technology and then at Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology from 2018. His research emphasises irrigation, nutrition management, and plant hormones, aiming to inspire future viticulture students in New Zealand’s wine industry.