Professor Amanda Black (Tūhoe, Whakatōhea, Whānau-ā-Apanui) is the Director of Bioprotection Aotearoa, a TEC funded National centre of research excellence hosted at Lincoln University. Her research expertise is environmental soil and water biogeochemistry, focusing on soil health . She has recently focused her Rutherford Discovery Fellowship research on ecosystem resilience, forest health and tree dieback, with a particular focus on investigating ecological disturbance and how this translates into resilience to withstand challenges such as climate change.

Dr McIntosh is a Professor and Researcher in Sociology at The University of Auckland. Completing her doctorate in sociology in 2002, she has lectured at the University since 1999, and in 2004-2005 was a Fulbright Visiting Lecturer in New Zealand Studies at Georgetown, Washington D.C. Tracey was also a Joint Director and sole Acting Director of Ngā Pae o te Māramatanga (NPM). She brings a wide level of experience to her role at NPM in international work, community development, student equity and her contributions to the academic community.