Dr Andrew West, former head of AgResearch and current adjunct professor or agribusiness at the University of Waikato, has been appointed as the new vice-chancellor of Lincoln University and took up his new position on 16 April.

Dr West’s career has spanned eduction, science and innovation, agriculture, process manufacturing and tourism. Educated in the UK, Dr West graduated with a BSc in Ecology from the University of Westminister and a PhD from the Council for National Academic Awards prior to emigrating to New Zealand.

He has been particularly influential in his roles as leader of the Institute of Geological & Nuclear Sciences (GNS) and latterly AgResearch Ltd. Throughout his career, Dr West has been involved in a large number of directorships, predominantly with the primary industry sector, but also with a strong emphasis on innovation and commercialisation.

Dr West’s achievements have been recognised by his peers and others as noted by the awarding of the Thomson Medal for outstanding contributions to the development of science and technology from the Royal Society of New Zealand (2008); an Honorary Fellowship of Waikato Institute of Technology (2009); and most recently a Companionship of the Royal Society of New Zealand (2010).

On his appointment, West says it is a privilege “to be asked to lead such a venerated institution, one with a genuinely global and well-earned reputation”. He is looking forward to working with the land-based of New Zealand and those of other countries.