NZ Nutrition Foundation adds to expertise

18 July, 2008

New Zealand Nutrition Foundation adds to wealth of expertise

New appointments to a range of roles within the New Zealand Nutrition Foundation add a diversity of nutrition expertise to the Foundation.

Recently appointed as Medical Director, Dr Richard Gearry takes over from Professor Cliff Tasman-Jones who retired at the end of 2007. The key role of Medical Director includes membership of the Executive Council and leadership on all medical aspects of the Foundation’s work.

The second appointment is that of registered dietitian and sports nutritionist Ien Hellemans, to the NZNF Scientific Advisory Group. As a sports nutrition specialist Ien’s role on the group will involve advising on and reviewing sports nutrition material and supporting Foundation staff in other related activities.

The Foundation has also made two new appointments to its Working Group for Nutrition of Older People.

Dr Graham Davison was previously an adviser to the Group while he also worked as a geriatrician with the Auckland District Health Board. Having recently retired he is now able to participate in the Foundation’s work on nutrition for older people.

Sione Tupou divides his time between his role as Health Promotion Advisor for the Community Child Health and Disability Services for the Auckland District Health Board and as Facilitator for the Tongan Langafonua Trust’s Disability and Old People project. He is also a member of the Pacific Island Food and Nutrition Advisory Group. Sione joins the Foundation’s Working Group for Nutrition of Older People as a committee member.

CEO Sue Pollard describes the appointments as vital to the Foundation’s scientific credentials.

“All positions are important in underpinning our scientifically robust approach to nutrition-related issues. Each person generously contributes their unique skills voluntarily to help achieve our goal of healthy and informed food choices and an active lifestyle for all New Zealanders”.

About Dr Richard Gearry
Dr Gearry is a Senior Lecturer in Medicine at the University of Otago in Christchurch and a Consultant Gastroenterologist at Christchurch Hospital. He is also Medical Advisor to the Canterbury Crohn’s and Colitis Support Group. He spent a year with Professor Peter Gibson at Box Hill Hospital, Melbourne where he developed further expertise in dietary management of gastroenterological disease.

About Ien Hellemans
Ien is a lecturer in sport and exercise nutrition at the Department of Human Nutrition at the University of Otago and a nutrition consultant to the South Island Academy of Sport and Triathlon NZ. Ien was the dietitian for the New Zealand Olympic Team in Athens and is currently assisting the New Zealand Triathlon Team in their nutritional preparation for the Beijing Olympic Games. Ien’s research interests include dietary supplement use in sport, dietary assessment of athletes and energy balance in ultra-endurance sport.

ENDS

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