I am current Associate Dean of Research in the School of Physiotherapy at the University of Otago in New Zealand and have been a member of ISB since 1980. I was initially trained as a teacher, studying biomechanics under the late Jim Hay, and gained a masters and PhD at the University of Illinois under Charles Dillman. My current teaching interests are in movement analysis techniques and injury mechanisms, and have successfully supervised a large number of masters and PhD students. I have extensive administrative experience, having been head of a university department, and currently run a well-equipped gait laboratory. My contribution to biomechanics includes chairing the Organizing Committees for both the XIXth ISB Congress and the 6^th Footwear Biomechanics Symposium held in New Zealand in 2003, and serving as Education Officer on the ISB Executive Council since 2005.

My area of research focuses on biomechanical analysis of musculoskeletal stress in basic motor skills, occupational tasks and recreational activities, with an emphasis on injury prevention and rehabilitation. Specific areas include: Spine morphology and cervical and lumbar spine degeneration in contact sport participants, and Cumulative loading of the spine in rural occupations.

My vision for the ISB is the continued development of biomechanics through the sharing of biomechanical knowledge, bringing together of various sub-disciplines within biomechanics, and encouragement of young and developing researchers. Over my 2 years on Council, I have seen first-hand how international collaboration fosters the development of biomechanics, and the benefits to emerging scientists through this cooperation.