Alison Stewart

Professor Alison Stewart, of Lincoln, received the Insignia of a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to biology, in particular plant pathology.  She has developed microbial technologies that reduce plant disease and stimulate plant growth and discovered new genetic pathways in Trichoderma biocontrol agents.   She was the first woman appointed a professor at Lincoln University in 1998 and became director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre in 2003.  Professor Stewart was the Vice President of the New Zealand Plant Protection Society, the Australasian Plant Pathology Society and was an Australasian councillor of the International Society of Plant Pathologists.