Cath McLeod

Cath McLeod has extensive experience in the field of food safety and research. Cath currently holds the position of Chief Science Officer at the Cawthron Institute, a role they have been in since January 2022. Prior to this, they served as the Director of the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre from September 2019 to January 2022, where they played a crucial role in coordinating food safety research and enhancing New Zealand's reputation as a safe food source.

From 2013 to 2019, Cath McLeod worked as the Director of Seafood Safety Assessment, where they focused on ensuring the safety and quality of seafood. Cath also served as the Chair of SafeFish from April 2010 to June 2013, a national partnership aimed at providing technical advice to the Australian seafood industry to overcome trade barriers and ensure the safety of seafood.

Prior to these roles, Cath McLeod held leadership positions in the field of seafood research and safety, including serving as the Leader of the SARDI Seafood Programme at the South Australian Research and Development Institute from 2008 to 2013. Cath also chaired the Australian Shellfish Quality Assurance Advisory Committee from 2009 to 2011, where they were responsible for maintaining national shellfish policies and addressing food safety issues in the shellfish sector.

Cath McLeod started their career as a Senior Advisor at the New Zealand Food Safety Authority in 2000, where they gained valuable expertise in food safety regulations and advisory roles. Overall, Cath McLeod's work experience highlights their significant contributions to food safety research and their commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of food products.

Cath McLeod's education history includes a PhD in Foodborne Viruses from Victoria University of Wellington, which was obtained from 2002 to 2006. Prior to that, they pursued a Master of Science (MSc Hons) in Harmful Algae from Victoria University of Wellington, from 1998 to 2000. Cath'sundergraduate degree is a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Biochemistry and Genetics, which they completed at Massey University from 1994 to 1996.