Joanne Hort took up the position of Fonterra-Riddet Chair of Consumer and Sensory Science at Massey University (NZ) in July 2017, moving after 15 years at the University of Nottingham (UK) where she was latterly SABMiller Chair of Sensory Science. She earned her Ph.D. in Food Science from Sheffield.
Hallam University in 1998. She is a founder member and previous Chair of the Sensory Science Group of the Institute of Food Science and Technology and previous Chair of the European Sensory Science Society. She was made a Fellow of the UK Institute of Food Science and Technology in 2012 recognizing her contribution to food Science through Sensory Science research and leadership. Her research focuses on a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the factors affecting consumer perception of food and beverages and consequent choice behaviour.
Professor Nicole Roy is a Research Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago with research interests in nutrition and health, host-microbiome interactions, and gastrointestinal physiology since 2020. Nicole is also the Head of the Department of Human Nutrition since 2024. Prior to joining, Nicole was a Professor at the Liggins Institute of the University of Auckland in 2020 and has been an Adjunct Professor in the Riddet Institute at Massey University since 2016 and a Scientist at AgResearch from 1998 to 2019. Nicole completed her BSc, MSc, and PhD studies at Laval University (Québec, Canada). During her PhD studies, Nicole was an Academic Fellow at the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Nicole did part of her PhD research at Agriculture Canada (Lennoxville, Canada) and at the Nutrition Unit of the Meat Animal Research Centre in Clay Centre (Nebraska, USA). Her PhD (awarded in 1997) was followed by Postdoctoral studies at the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen (Scotland, 1997-1998). Professor Roy was part of the team that established the High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge and led the digestive health research within that Challenge from 2015 to 2024. She also leads research focusing on nutrition and food structure and their effects on digestion and host-microbe interactions as part of the Riddet Institute Centre of Research Excellence since 2008 and other research programs throughout her career.
