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The Programme
Our program features a diverse lineup of speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities designed to engage you. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, this conference sets out to provide valuable knowledge and practical tools to enhance your professional development. Thank you for being part of this vibrant community committed to advancing nutrition science.
The Speakers
Join us at the upcoming Nutrition Society of New Zealand Conference in Christchurch, where esteemed experts in the field of nutrition will be delivering insightful presentations on a variety of topics. With a deep understanding of nutritional science and its impact on overall health, our speakers will explore the latest research, innovative dietary strategies, and practical approaches to nutrition.
Professor Jeremy Krebs
He Rourou Whai Painga; A collaborative community-based research partnership testing the impact of a New Zealand Mediterranean dietary pattern on cardiometabolic health and wellbeing.
Professor Krebs is an Endocrinologist with a particular interest in obesity and diabetes. He trained in Endocrinology at Wellington Hospital in New Zealand and then did his doctorate with the Medical Research Council - Human Nutrition Research unit in Cambridge England. His thesis was on the impact of dietary factors on obesity and insulin resistance. Prof Krebs returned to New Zealand in 2002 where he is an Endocrinologist at Te Whatu Ora, Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley Health and Professor with the University of Otago. He previously set up and directed the Clinical Research Diploma at Victoria University. As well as clinical and teaching activities, Prof Krebs maintains active research interests in the area of obesity and diabetes, with a focus on nutritional aspects and diabetes service delivery.
Professor Robin Daly
Muscle health matters – Navigating the landscape of sarcopenia from diagnosis to management
Professor Robin Daly, PhD, FASMF, FASBMR, holds the position of Chair in Exercise and Ageing and is Head of the Musculoskeletal Health and Mobility group within the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition at Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. He has >30 years of experience in conducting clinical and implementation trials to understand how exercise and nutritional approaches can prevent and manage diseases, particularly sarcopenia, osteoporosis, falls and fractures, type 2 diabetes and cognitive related disorders. His work has led to the implementation of evidence‐based, community and telehealth-based exercise programs and nutritional products to optimise musculoskeletal health and body composition. He is a Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR), current co-chair of the European Geriatric Medicine Society sarcopenia special interest group, a member of the medical and scientific advisory committee of Healthy Bones Australia and a Fellow of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Dr Fiona Lithander
Parkinson’s disease is one of the world’s fastest growing neurological conditions; does nutrition play a role?
Dr Fiona Lithander is an Associate Professor in Nutrition at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland. Her main research interests are in short- and medium-term outcomes after dietary interventions including bioactives, nutrients, foods and dietary patterns. She is specifically interested in metabolic health, ageing, and neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease.
Fiona holds a PhD in nutritional physiology from the University of Cambridge, is a Registered Nutritionist, and a NZ Registered Dietitian. Fiona has established a programme of research at the University of Auckland having previously led translational research groups at Trinity College Dublin and the Australian National University.
Dr Catherine Wall
Gut Health: Translating diet and gut microbiota research into practice
Dr Catherine Wall is a New Zealand registered dietitian and a Research Fellow in Department of Medicine, University of Otago Christchurch GUTS research group. Dr Wall completed a PhD focused on nutritional therapy for adult Crohn’s disease in 2016 followed by a post-doctoral fellowship at King’s College London, United Kingdom. Dr Wall’s research focuses on diet and nutrition assessment and interventions in gastrointestinal diseases including inflammatory bowel disease and bowel cancer as well as gastrointestinal disorders including disorders of gut brain interaction. Dr Wall also works clinically at Christchurch Hospital as the sole expert inflammatory bowel disease dietitian in New Zealand and is the founder of Gut Nutrition, a private practice that specialises in working with people with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis across New Zealand.
Mafi Funaki-Tahifote
Pacific nutrition and dietetic practice in Aotearoa, New Zealand - bridging for healthier outcomes
Mafi Funaki-Tahifote is Tongan and one of the few registered dietitians with an MBA. She has an extensive experience in the health field, both as a dietitian (in public health and clinical dietetics) and in senior management roles and external technical advisory roles, mainly to government ministries. Mafi also has considerable governance experience, ranging from community and education board of trustees to government-appointed boards. She is currently a member of her children’s high school’s Board of Trustees. Mafi is also Treasurer of the Federation of Oceanic Nutrition Societies.
For most of the week, Mafi works in the philanthropic sector as one of the Heads of MAS Foundation and continues to work part-time as a clinical dietitian. She is still actively involved in the nutrition space as a consultant, technical advisor and as a volunteer. She is also an active member of her Tongan community at her local church and enjoys walking, table tennis and spending time with her family of seven and wider extended fāmili and kāinga. Mafi is passionate about improving health and wellbeing equity and finding community-led solutions to issues that are ‘very preventable’ and yet, often systemic.
