Distinguished Professor Nigel French, of Palmerston North, CNZM for services to epidemiology
Professor Nigel French was Professor of Food Safety and Veterinary Public Health at Massey University. He pioneered the use of genomic sequencing to trace the source of outbreaks of food and water-borne bacteria, and community infections, and the control of Mycoplasma bovis in livestock. His research pinpointed sources of food-borne Campylobacter infections, helping halve infection rates. He helped contain the 2016 waterborne disease outbreak in Havelock North and has worked to ensure food and water quality in Uawa/Tolaga Bay. He founded the Molecular Epidemiology and Public Health laboratory and Infectious Disease Research Centre at Massey. He founded the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre, the New Zealand-China Food Protection Network and One Health Aotearoa. Professor French provided advice towards New Zealand’s COVID-19 response and has been involved with international research initiatives.