NZ and the PI Chapter: Research collaboration with regional and local government - 27 May 2026

Research is vital to underpin the missions of regional and local government in NZ but the collaborations and connections work very differently from the way they work in central government. This webinar panel discussion will cover what regional and local government is looking for in research, how research managers can support research for research organisations and regional and local government, and how we can help those collaborations be most effective.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2026

Time: 1:00pm - 2:00pm NZST (Check your timezone here)

Format: Online via Zoom

Zoom Access: Details will be provided in your confirmation email

Cost: 

• This event is complimentary for ARMS members. Please log in to your member portal to complete your registration at no cost.
• Non-members - AUD $60 (GST inclusive)

PRESENTER(S)

Professor Deniz Özkundakc - University of Waikato

Professor Deniz Özkundakci is a freshwater ecologist at the University of Waikato and holds the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Chair in Lake and Freshwater Science. His research focuses on understanding and predicting changes in lake ecosystems, with particular emphasis on nutrient dynamics, harmful algal blooms, and the development of modelling tools to support environmental management. He works closely with regional councils, iwi, and other stakeholders to ensure that research is directly relevant to policy and practice in Aotearoa New Zealand. Deniz’s career pathway spans research and applied management. Following a postdoctoral position at the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) in Germany, he spent six years working within regional government in New Zealand, gaining direct experience in freshwater policy, monitoring, and implementation. He subsequently moved into academia, where his work focuses on integrating long-term monitoring, high-frequency data, and modelling approaches to better understand and manage lake ecosystems under changing environmental and societal pressures.

Dr Megan Oliver - Wellington Regional Council

Dr Oliver has a PhD in Marine Biology from the University of Tasmania and was employed for 14 years at the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA), based in Wellington, as a marine ecologist. Her work included a wide range of nearshore and offshore boat-based work, predominantly focussed on ecological assessments and monitoring of rocky reef environments. In 2011, Dr Oliver joined Greater Wellington Regional Council in the role of Senior Environmental Scientist (Coast) overseeing the coastal monitoring programme for the Wellington region. She is now a Principal Advisor with the GWRC.

Host/Facilitator

Ms Kirst McGregor,
Science Team Leader, Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Chapter Committee Member

USING ZOOM

• How to join a Zoom meeting
• Zoom participant controls
• For technical support, please contact your organisation’s IT team. We recommend testing your Zoom access prior to the session.

QUESTIONS

Contact the ARMS Executive Office at:

• ARMSMembership@researchmanagement.org.au
• +61 8 8201 5592

PLEASE NOTE

• Virtual sessions may be recorded and shared with ARMS members.
• For in-person events:
  • Your name may be provided to the chapter convenor(s) or event organiser for attendance tracking and event management purposes.
  • Photographs may be taken during the event and shared on ARMS platforms. If you do not wish to be included in any photographs, please advise the event organiser and photographer on the day.