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National Convenor

Name: Emma Timewell

Your role in AWIS: National Convenor, Auckland Convenor

Academic background: BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of East Anglia UK

Studying for PG Diploma Bioscience Enterprise, University of Auckland

Current job title: Senior Communications Advisor

Organisation: Plant & Food Research

Area of science: Science communication

How you got here: After completing my degree, I realised that, even though I loved science, I wasn't a bench scientist. After a short term contract with Unilever's Toxicology Department, I went to work at a healthcare communications agency in London, in a team that specialised in corporate and financial communications for biotechnology companies. For five years, I worked with mostly drug discovery and medtech companies, increasing profile with their key audiences (investors, potential partners etc). In 2005, I decided that I'd had enough of commuting and moved to New Zealand to check it out! I spent a year as the Communications and Production Manager of a small start up biotech company, then three years as Communications Adviser for Science and Medicine at The University of Auckland. In early 2009, I moved to Plant & Food Research, primarily to raise the profile of the company's science activities.

Extra-curricular activities: I'm a keen reader, particularly "trashy" fiction. I'm a qualified Brownie Leader, but currently support my district rather than run a unit due to lack of time. I am studying my (hopefully) last paper for a PGDip in Bioscience Enterprise (business skills for biologists). I've also, rather scarily, recently found myself going to the gym 5 or 6 times a week.

Favourite book: The Godfather, Mario Puzo

Favourite movie: There's lots - Slipper and the Rose, Ever After, Transformers rank highest (it's an eclectic mix).