Academic and Professional Background

• Background:

  BSc

  PhD

• Personal Resume: Dr Robert Hill is a senior scientist whose current research focus is crop bioprotection systems, including those for use by the forestry industry in New Zealand and Malaysia.
  
  He joined the Bio-Protection Research Centre in January 2008, following five years at BioDiscovery NZ Ltd. Robert is particularly skilled at isolating and identifying fungi from various substrates, and subsequently developing novel, biocontrol alternatives to pesticides.
  
  Prior to BioDiscovery, Robert worked for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Technology Division, which evolved into the Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand. From 1992 to 1999 he was science manager for the Natural Products and Natural Systems groups, as well as portfolio manager for forestry. His focus was the biological control of plant diseases with microbial biological control agents and natural products. Robert played a key role in the successful commercialisation of several biological control agents.
  
  Originally from England, Robert's work included placements in the UK, Brazil and US before he moved to New Zealand.