New Zealand Institute of International Affairs (NZIIA) is pleased to present its inaugural event in Rotorua.

Sir Peter Gluckman will speak on what New Zealand needs to do to get its science and technology up-to-speed in the context of revolutionary technological change, economic turbulence, geopolitical instability and climate change.

Welcome remarks will be provided by Her Worship the Mayor of Rotorua, Tania Tapsell.

The event is moderated by Dr Hamish McDougall, Executive Director of New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, with concluding remarks and a vote of thanks by Dr Sanjeev Raikar.

Attendance is free. Please register in advance.

NZIIA is looking at establishing a NZIIA Branch in Rotorua, which will run an event series fostering discussion and understanding of international affairs as they relate to Aotearoa New Zealand. Expressions of interest are welcomed from people interested in getting involved in a NZIIA Rotorua Branch on a voluntary basis.

About Sir Peter Gluckman

Sir Peter Gluckman, Distinguished Professor Emeritus ONZ KNZM FRSNZ FRS is the Managing Trustee of Koi Tū Centre for Informed Futures which he founded in 2020. He trained as a paediatrician and biomedical scientist and holds a distinguished university professorship at the Liggins Institute of the University of Auckland. He also holds honorary chairs in University College London, University of Southampton and National University of Singapore (where he acts as chief science advisor to the Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences). He has published over 700 scientific papers in perinatal and developmental physiology, neuroscience and endocrinology, evolutionary biology and medicine. He has authored both technical and popular science books. He chaired the WHO Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity (2014-2017). He was founder of Neuren Pharmaceuticals, a company listed on ASX.

Sir Peter is president of the International Science Council (ISC). From 2014-2021 he was the inaugural chair of the International Network of Government Science Advice (INGSA), and from 2009-2018 he was the first chief science advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand. He was also science envoy for the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and coordinated the secretariat of the Small Advanced Economies Initiative. He chaired the recent reviews of the Science and Innovation and University sectors for the government and is a member of the Prime Minister’s Science Technology and Innovation Advisory Council. He has written and spoken extensively on science-policy and science-diplomacy and science-society interactions.

He has received the highest scientific and civilian honours in New Zealand and numerous international scientific awards. In 2016 he received the AAAS award in science diplomacy. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of London and the Royal Society of New Zealand, a member of the National Academy of Medicine (USA) and a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), the Pacific Academy of sciences, the World Academy of Sciences for the Developing World and a fellow of the International Science Council.