Executive Managers

Chief Executive
Alex Malahoff
PhD, University of Hawaii, BSc, MSc and DSc (Hon), Victoria University of Wellington
Alex leads the Management Team and oversees the day-to-day management of the Company. He directs the team in strategy, policy, investment, and science and engineering programmes. Alex is a geophysicist and, before taking up his present role in 2002, he served as Professor of Oceanography and Chair of the Ocean Engineering Department at the University of Hawaii. He was also Director of the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory. Before that he was Program Director, Marine Geology and Geophysics at the Office of Naval Research and Chief Scientist at the National Ocean Survey, NOAA in the US.

Director, Research
Ian Graham
PhD, Victoria University of Wellington, BSc (Hons I), MMin Tech, University of Otago
Ian is responsible for maintaining an overview of the public good research undertaken across the organisation. He monitors the quality and delivery of contracted research, seeks ways to ensure viable research revenue streams, and ensures that lines of communication with Government funding bodies, other Crown Research Institutes and universities are open and constructive. Ian is an isotope geochemist with specialist expertise in volcanology, mineral deposition, climate change, and terrane evolution.

General Manager, Strategy
Desmond Darby
PhD, State University of New York at Stony Brook
Desmond leads our strategy formation across the government and the private sectors, and advises the Chief Executive in these areas. He also manages the public relations and outreach staff. He previously managed our crustal dynamics team, and led the major research programme on The Effects of Plate Tectonics on New Zealand. Desmond is a Director of New Zealand Synchrotron Group Ltd. He has chaired FRST's Postdoctoral Fellowship Advisory Committee..

Director, Natural Hazards Division
Terry Webb
PhD, University of Canterbury
Terry leads the Natural Hazards Division which undertakes research and consultancy in earthquakes, volcanoes, landslides, tsunami, and geological mapping. He has been with GNS Science since 1992. A seismologist by training, Terry specialises in seismic and tsunami hazard and risk assessment.

Director, Geological Resources Division
Kevin Faure
Kevin is responsible for the Petroleum Geoscience, Geothermal, Marine Geoscience, and Paleontology sections. Kevin is a geochemist, specialising in stable isotope geochemistry. Since his training at the University of Cape Town, he has worked as an exploration and mining geologist in South Africa and as a research scientist at the Geological Survey of Japan. He joined GNS Science in 1997. He has worked primarily on New Zealand ore deposits and has collaborated with other GNS Science researchers working on submarine volcanoes, gas hydrates and geothermal springs.

Director, National Isotope Centre
Frank Bruhn
PhD, Bochum University, Germany
Frank is the Director of GNS Science's National Isotope Centre (NIC). The NIC is New Zealand's premier source of applied isotope science capability, comprising research teams and commercial service units in the IsoScan and Isotope Biogeoscience sections. Frank is a geochemist, specialising in the use of isotopes as tracers in biogeochemical cycles. He joined GNS Science in 2002 after having worked for the CSIRO in Australia and a radiocarbon dating laboratory in Germany.

General Manager, Business Development
Rob Johnston
BSc, Dip ORS, Dip Tchng
Rob’s portfolio includes managing the Company’s commercial operations and intellectual property issues. Rob joined GNS Science in 2004. He has extensive experience in managing information systems, corporate functions and processing operations in New Zealand companies. This includes senior positions with Tasman Forestry and with Public Trust.

Chief Financial Officer
Graham Clarke
CA, BCA, Victoria University of Wellington
Graham leads the Company’s finance operations ensuring appropriate policies, procedures and practices are developed and maintained. His team provides the full range of financial services to support the Company’s operations, including financial reporting and advice to management and to the Board to allow them to effectively undertake their respective roles. His team also takes responsibility for various operational aspects including procurement, property, insurance, and internal audit.

General Manager, Human Resources
Tony Stone
Tony joined GNS Science in 2003 and was appointed General Manager, Human Resources in 2007. He has a Diploma in Industrial Relations from Victoria University and is a trained mediator. He is also a mentor for the Human Resources Institute of New Zealand mentoring programme. Tony’s responsibilities include payroll, training, recruitment, health & safety, and employee relations. Prior to joining GNS Science, Tony held HR positions in a number of private, public and health sector organisations.

General Manager, Māori Strategy
Rawiri Faulkner
BA, Victoria University of Wellington
Rawiri has the role of building strong relationships which seek to unlock the innovation potential of iwi/Mâori communities for the benefit of all New Zealanders. He also provides support for GNS Science staff and management to ensure Mâori research and innovation is an integral part of what we do. Rawiri brings extensive experience to GNS Science which include previous positions at the Foundation for Research Science and Technology and the Ministry of Research Science and Technology, as well as a variety of roles in local government. He also holds a number of governance roles. He has Iwi affiliations to Ngâti Whakaue, Ngâti Huia, Ngâti Toa Rangatira and Ngai Te Rangi.

Manager, Information Services
Tony Charles
BA, Victoria University of Wellington
Tony joined GNS Science in 2008. Tony's portfolio includes managing the Company’s Information Services group comprising IT Infrastructure, Applications, Records and Library Information Services. He has extensive experience in the Information Technology arena, building and managing information systems, within New Zealand and Internationally. This includes senior positions with the Department of Conservation, Inland Revenue, and in Banking in New Zealand, the Middle East and Malaysia.

Manager, Natural Hazards Research Platform
Kelvin Berryman
PhD, Victoria University of Wellington
Kelvin manages the research platform that integrates all of New Zealand’s government-funded research in natural hazards. The portfolio ranges from geological and weather-related hazards, integrated natural hazard risk, resilient engineering and infrastructure research, and societal and land-use planning aspects of natural hazard mitigation. Kelvin has a research background in geology with specialisations in mapping, active fault studies, tsunami deposits, and hazard and risk assessment.

General Counsel
Barrister and Solicitor
Peter Barker
Peter provides legal and commercial advice to GNS Science. He is a commercial lawyer with experience in intellectual property. Peter has been a partner in a national law firm, and has worked in the finance and entertainment industries.