Meet our genetics team

Our team brings together expertise in genetics, research, and extension. Read more about who we are, what we do, and how we’re helping farmers make more informed breeding decisions for their operation. 

Our purpose 

Driving profitable genetic gain across New Zealand’s sheep and beef industry by delivering tools, data, and insights that help farmers make more informed breeding decisions – tailored to their farm systems and environments. 

We bring together science, technology, and industry collaboration to ensure genetic improvement is profitable, sustainable, and aligned with the needs of farmers.   

Our work is grounded in: 

  • Genetic information infrastructure – the systems, tools, and frameworks that support the collection, analysis, storage, and use of genetic data, so breeders and farmers can access reliable, up-to-date evaluations.
  • The New Zealand Genetic Evaluation (NZGE) – we maintain the national sheep genetic evaluation system, ensuring breeding values are accurate, connected, and relevant to New Zealand farming conditions.
  • Genetic tools – like nProve which translate complex genetic data into user-friendly formats, helping farmers choose sires that align with their breeding goals.
  • Progeny testing – benchmarking sires across breeds and environments to validate genetic performance.
  • Extension and technology transfer, ensuring insights and innovations reach farmers in practical, usable ways.
  • Applied research and innovation, including initiatives like the Progeny Tests, which explore the real-world value of genetic investment.  

Get in touch 

Beef + Lamb New Zealand Genetics 
Level 2, Queens Gardens Court, 3 Crawford Street, Dunedin 
PO Box 5501, Dunedin 9054 
Phone: 0800 745 435 
Email: [email protected] 

For queries related to nProve and our sheep genetic evaluation: 
Phone: 0800 745 435 
Email: [email protected] 

For advanced breeder resources : including tools for performance-recording sheep breeders who generate EBVs through the New Zealand Genetic Evaluation – please visit our breeder website

Our genetics team 

Operations and extension 

image of Katie Clark

Katie Clark

Genetics Operations Technician
image of Kirsty Thomson

Kirsty Thomson

Genetics Office Administrator

Genetics' research

image of Dani van der Linden

Dani van der Linden

Genetics Technical Manager
image of Franzi Weik

Franziska Weik

Geneticist – Livestock

Genetics systems 

image of David Campbell

David Campbell

Genetics Systems Manager
Abi stanley

Abigail Stanley

Genetics Systems Analyst
Georgie walker

Georgie Walker

Genetics Systems Technician
image of Victor Salamat

Victor Salamat

Genetics Data Analyst
image of Sharon McIntyre

Sharon McIntyre

Genetic Evaluation Technical Manager
Michael Lee

Michael Lee

Lead Scientist