Our people

Caryn Zinn
Caryn Zinn
Co-director
Simon Walters
Simon Walters
Co-director
Grant Schofield
Grant Schofield
Human Potential Centre Director
Chris Whatman
Chris Whatman
Sports Kinesiology Injury Prevention and Performance Research Group Leader
Michael Naylor
Michael Naylor
Sport Leadership and Management Research Group Leader
Andrew Kilding
Andrew Kilding
Sports Physiology and Nutrition Research Group Leader
John Cronin
John Cronin
Strength and Conditioning Research Group and Sports Technology Research Group Leader
Kirsten Spencer
Kirsten Spencer
Youth Sport Development Research Group Leader
Jennifer Nikolai
Jennifer Nikolai
Health and Physical Education Research Group Leader

Adjunct professors and other research associates

Adjunct professors are external individuals who provide global expertise through national and international research connections, and contribute meaningfully to an AUT teaching or research programme.

SPRINZ adjunct professors include:

Research associates are researchers from other universities and organisations who are actively involved in SPRINZ-related research, and who acknowledge they are a SPRINZ research associate in their joint publications and communications.

Research associates are appointed to help improve research capability and capacity and to promote cooperation with external researchers in related disciplines. They collaborate with SPRINZ on research projects, postgraduate supervision, and teaching, workshops and seminars.

SPRINZ research associates include:

  • Professor Thor Besier, The University of Auckland
  • Dr Marelise Badenhorst, Independent Contractor – Researcher, South Africa
  • Dr Rodrigo Bini, La Trobe University, Australia
  • Dr Matthew Brick, Orthosports New Zealand
  • Dr Micheál Cahill, Vice President of Strategy & Registrar at Setanta College, Ireland
  • Professor Anis Chaouachi, High Institute of Sports and Physical Education, Tunisie
  • Dr Sian Clancy, Drug Free Sport, NZ
  • Dr David Cooper, Owner Kinetics Physiotherapy
  • Dr Ryan Crotin, Los Angeles Angels, MLB, USA
  • Dr Bruce Hamilton, High Performance Sport New Zealand
  • Sayumi Iwamoto
  • Helen Kilding, NZ Defence Force
  • Dr Doug King, Hutt Valley District Health Board, New Zealand
  • Dr Stephven Kolose, WorkSafe New Zealand
  • Dr Warren Leigh, Orthosports New Zealand
  • Dr Seth Lenetsky, Self-employed, Canada
  • Associate Professor Andrew McDaid, The University of Auckland, New Zealand
  • Jody McGowan, Kinetics Physiotherapy (Senior Physiotherapist), NZ Rugby (Research Assistant)
  • Dr Chloe McKenzie, High Performance Sport New Zealand
  • Associate Professor Sarah-Kate Millar, University of Canterbury, NZ
  • Dr Vincent Minjares, North Harbour Basketball Association
  • Dr Jono Neville, Sports Engineering Consultant, Australia
  • Dr Ian O’Boyle, University of South Australia, Australia
  • Dr Ken Quarrie, New Zealand Rugby
  • Dr Justin Richards, Sport New Zealand and University of Sydney
  • Dr Jeffrey Rothschild, High Performance Sport New Zealand
  • Dr Katie Rowe, Deakin University, Australia
  • Dr Michael Rumpf, Self-employed, Germany
  • Dr Brian Russell, Contempo Lab
  • Dr Danielle Salmon, New Zealand Rugby
  • Dr Michael Schofield, High Performance Sport New Zealand
  • Professor David Shilbury, Deakin University, Australia
  • Dr Stacy Sims, DrStacySims, LLC; and ERW Ltd, New Zealand
  • Associate Professor Gary Van Guilder, Western Colorado University, USA
  • Dr Casey Watkins, Seattle University, USA
  • Dr Denny Wells, Logemas Pty Ltd, Australia
  • Associate Professor Jon Welty Peachey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA
  • Dr Hannah Wyatt, University of Canterbury, NZ

Community associates are generally people from community organisations who may not be active researchers but are assisting with SPRINZ projects.

SPRINZ community associates include:

  • Dr Henry Duncan

Contact us

Get in touch to find out more about our research or to partner with us.

Contact details