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Dawn Willix-Payne

Name: Dawn Willix-Payne

Your role in AWIS: Secretary

Academic background: M. Phil (Biological Sciences) – Waikato; nearly a Grad.Dip.Sci. (Psychology) – Massey extramural (it’s only taken 5 years!!)

Current job title: Business Development Manager

Organisation: AgResearch

Area of science: I’m involved in the commercialisation of science from the AgResearch Applied Biotechnologies Group – including advanced reproductive technologies; genes involved in muscle growth and development; methods of increasing lactation in dairy cows.  Day to day, I’m dealing with scientists and customers, managing projects and contracts, both looking at the ‘big picture’ and making sure all the details are covered.

Past jobs/career path

· 1 year as a Research Associate at a small dairy company, developing new products
· 18 months in biomedical research at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London
· 8 years in dairy science research at AgResearch, starting as a research associate and ending up as a senior scientist/team leader
· Started current position in the Commercial Group at AgResearch in 2005

Extra-curricular activities: what do you enjoy doing in your spare time.  What’s that!  Two children and extramural study doesn’t leave a lot.  I occasionally manage some scrapbooking. Quiltmaking has been abandoned since the kids arrived, because it takes too long to get results these days.  Scrapbooking gives a sense of achievement in a shorter time.

Favourite book: That’s too hard to answer!  But I’m currently re-reading the Harry Potter series, interspersed with bursts of Virginia Valian’s “Why So Slow” which summarises research into the pay disparities between men and women (makes for very interesting reading, I’d recommend it!).

Favourite movie: Love those kids movies with hidden adult humour that goes right over the kids’ heads.  “Why are you laughing Mummy?”. Shrek is a good one. (You can tell I don’t get out much!!)