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Meet our team
Emma Cuttance - Managing Director
Emma started her career as a dairy veterinarian and developed a passion for data driven problem solving early on as one of the vets pioneering the use of infovet for farmers.
From this developed an insatiable passion for research that improves animal welfare.
In 2012 Emma completed her Masters in Veterinary Studies majoring in epidemiology and then completed a PhD in 2020.
After almost a decade of building research expertise within her previous veterinary practice, Emma and her colleagues co-founded EpiVets with a shared vision of making a meaningful difference to animals and rural communities through data driven problem solving.
Now Emma leads the EpiVets team and is has developed a passion for management and governance.
Out of work, Pirongia-based Emma, her husband and their four children enjoy their many animals and getting out and about exercising.
From this developed an insatiable passion for research that improves animal welfare.
In 2012 Emma completed her Masters in Veterinary Studies majoring in epidemiology and then completed a PhD in 2020.
After almost a decade of building research expertise within her previous veterinary practice, Emma and her colleagues co-founded EpiVets with a shared vision of making a meaningful difference to animals and rural communities through data driven problem solving.
Now Emma leads the EpiVets team and is has developed a passion for management and governance.
Out of work, Pirongia-based Emma, her husband and their four children enjoy their many animals and getting out and about exercising.
Winston Mason - Epidemiologist and Director
Winston began his career as a dairy veterinarian. He spent 12 years in this role working for practices across the North Island of New Zealand and the UK before moving full-time into epidemiology after seeing first-hand the notable difference that the epidemiological approach of using farm data to solve problems on farm could make, regardless of the farming system.
For the past six years, Winston has worked with various animal populations as a trained epidemiologist and member of the Australian New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (epidemiology). From cattle to dogs, chickens to horses, and everything in between.
Winston’s main objective is to produce research outputs that improve the well-being of both animal populations and stakeholders.
Outside of work, Raglan-based Winston enjoys dabbling in guitar, (very) social sport, and taking any opportunity he can to travel the world. He is also currently finishing up a PhD focused on reducing the impact of dairy cattle lameness in New Zealand.
Greg Chambers -
Epidemiologist
Greg graduated from Massey University with a BVSc in 2002 and spent ten years working in South Island rural clinical practice and as a locum in the United Kingdom.
In 2012 he changed tack – taking up the field veterinarian and Veterinary Operations Manager position for Zoetis New Zealand.
At Zoetis, Greg was involved in several field trials covering dairy reproduction, mastitis, and vaccines. He built his passion for research, analysis, and innovation here, prompting him to complete an MVS (Veterinary Epidemiology) in 2020.
Greg joined Emma and Winston’s Research team as an epidemiologist in 2021, before co-founding the dedicated research and epidemiology business, EpiVets, in early 2022.He loves that he can follow his passion full-time as part of the EpiVets team and is currently completing his PhD with a focus on mastitis in New Zealand Dairy Sheep.
Greg lives in Cambridge with his wife and two children. You will find him exercising, listening to random podcasts, or cooking up an eclectic feast when he is not working or studying.
Matthew Edwards - Epidemiologist
Matthew (Matt) is the newest member of our team.
He's a veterinarian, epidemiologist, data scientist, ecologist, GIS analyst and machine learning programmer... a jack of all trades!
Matt has a BSc in Conservation Biology/Ecology and graduated from Massey with a BVSc in 2022.
Alongside his veterinary studies, he completed an MSc in One Health/Epidemiology and he has been working as an epidemiologist for various groups around the world including Australia, Canada, the USA and Scotland.
Closer to home Matt has worked for MPI, assisting in the Mycoplasma bovis response from 2019 to early 2021 as a Data Modelling Analyst.
Matt's passions are in the One Health space looking at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health, and how a multi-disciplinary approach is needed to solve complex problems.
When not with our team, he is a locum veterinarian at various clinics in the Wellington region.
Matt loves various creative pursuits - from cheese making to pyrography to leathercraft and woodworking. He also makes a mean pizza in his earth oven!
Sarah Hurst - Research Technician
Sarah grew up in the King Country and cut her teeth working in the rural sector on docking gangs.
She studied a Bachelor of Science in 2003. She has had15 years in various customer service roles as part of planning, administration, and auditing teams. In 2020 Sarah joined the Vetent Research team, where her diverse experience and many talents were swiftly put to good use as a research technician.
These days, Sarah splits her time between the EpiVets office planning and organising projects, and on-farm, experiencing, first-hand, the team's efforts coming to fruition.
Laura Deeming
- Senior Scientist
Laura has a strong and varied background in animal health, welfare and behaviour science, from hands-on research with wild and farmed animals, to teaching and government policy. Hailing from the UK, she completed her BSc in Zoology at the University of Leeds and her MSc in Conservation Biology at Plymouth University. Laura's early career focussed on research with primates, which saw her spend time in South Africa working with baboons, and in Indonesia evaluating the behaviour and welfare of captive Javan gibbons.
Laura moved to New Zealand in 2014 and soon began a PhD in Animal Welfare through Massey University, based at the AgResearch Ruakura campus. The PhD turned Laura's attention to production animal welfare with her research focussing on lameness, hoof health and hoof conformation in dairy goats. During her time at AgResearch Laura was also involved in several trials in the dairy sector, including heat stress in grazing cows, and calf rearing.
Prior to joining EpiVets Laura gained experience in programme coordination and teaching in tertiary education, and most recently worked in a government science team providing technical advice to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.
Based in Karapiro, Laura enjoys tramping, spending time with her Labrador Molly, and jumps at any opportunity to travel.
Laura moved to New Zealand in 2014 and soon began a PhD in Animal Welfare through Massey University, based at the AgResearch Ruakura campus. The PhD turned Laura's attention to production animal welfare with her research focussing on lameness, hoof health and hoof conformation in dairy goats. During her time at AgResearch Laura was also involved in several trials in the dairy sector, including heat stress in grazing cows, and calf rearing.
Prior to joining EpiVets Laura gained experience in programme coordination and teaching in tertiary education, and most recently worked in a government science team providing technical advice to the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee.
Based in Karapiro, Laura enjoys tramping, spending time with her Labrador Molly, and jumps at any opportunity to travel.
Stacey Brew
- Research Technician
Stacey graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Applied Science in 2007. Since then she has enjoyed a variety of 'hands on' positions in both the dairy and equine industries. These have included work in a quarantine facility, a reproduction centre, work with support businesses LIC and PGG as well as some seasons calf rearing. This has given her a broad understanding of NZ agricultural systems.
She enjoys her time out on the farms and enjoys connecting with all farming staff.
Originally from rural Tairawhiti, she now calls King Country her home, based in Te Kuiti she and her partner enjoy pottering on their wee block of land. In her spare time you can find her near stables either coaching or competing her own dressage horse.
She enjoys her time out on the farms and enjoys connecting with all farming staff.
Originally from rural Tairawhiti, she now calls King Country her home, based in Te Kuiti she and her partner enjoy pottering on their wee block of land. In her spare time you can find her near stables either coaching or competing her own dressage horse.
We'd love to hear from you
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