Our people

Co-directors

Eric Helms

Simon Walters

The Co-directors provide strategic leadership to strengthen the institute’s research capability, reputation, and impact. They collaboratively oversee six portfolios: research impact, partnerships, funding, development, culture, and lab operations.

They lead the institute’s research strategy, align activities with the AUT Entities Framework, support research growth and excellence, and contribute to the wider faculty and university research culture. They uphold AUT’s commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi through Te Aronui, promoting meaningful partnership with tangata whenua and equitable, inclusive, mana-enhancing outcomes.

Research Impact Leader

To be announced soon

Translates research into impact, ensuring it is informed by, understood, and used by stakeholders in the community, among practitioners, and by other researchers. This leader helps members engage with traditional and social media and build their public research profile.

Research Partnership Leader

To be announced soon

Responsible for fostering strategic partnerships and strengthening connections across AUT, throughout Aotearoa, and internationally. This leader regularly works alongside the Co-directors to maintain and engage our strong industry, community and government partnerships in sport. This includes prioritising relationships with Māori and Pacific organisations, iwi, community groups, and public and private sector partners, as well as leading SPRINZ member recruitment.

Research Funding Leader

To be announced soon

This role focuses on securing diverse funding (internal, external, philanthropy and commercialisation opportunities), to support staff and student researchers, research projects, and research infrastructure. This leader assists SPRINZ members in gaining scholarships, funding and in grant acquisition and writing.

Research Development Leader

To be announced soon

Supports researchers across their career-span, from enhancing postgraduate student/staff capability to mentoring early career researchers and providing resources to mid and senior research staff. This leader works with SPRINZ members to foster their research career.

Culture Leader

To be announced soon

The Culture Leader acts as the primary guardian and facilitator of the SPRINZ culture, supporting the wellbeing and engagement of staff and students, helping maintain a productive and supportive research community. In this role, the Culture Leader upholds and enhances SPRINZ mana by embedding Te Aronui and mātauranga Māori across operations, ensuring the research environment is grounded in Tika (integrity), Pono (truth), and Aroha (respect).

Lab Management Team

The Lab Leaders, Lab Technicians, JELCKC leadership, Clinic Manager and the relevant Co-Director make up a distinct Lab Leadership Team. This team oversee the operational governance and ensure the SPRINZ labs support teaching, research, and outreach goals.