Food, Water and Biodiversity Nexus - Masterclass Animal Health MPI
Tracks
Food, Water and Biodiversity Nexus
| Wednesday, October 15, 2025 |
| 1:45 PM - 3:15 PM |
| Conway 2 (live streaming) |
Speaker
MPI New Zealand
Ministry of Primary Industries Animal Health: Mitigation Outcomes from Adaptation Needs
1:45 PM - 3:15 PMShort Description
The Animal Health masterclass will be opened by Dr Mary van Andel, Chief Veterinary Officer for the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.
Dr van Andel will provide an introduction on the global trends for animal health and the impact of climate change. The need to adapt is undisputed but there are opportunities to respond with low-emissions options.
Sam Harbug and Matt Newman from AbacusBio will present preliminary findings from the New Zealand case study as part of a global project in partnership with the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Global Methane Hub.
Dr Suzi Keeling will share the sector’s perspective on addressing climate change impacts on animal health, explore the opportunities for farmers through co-benefits, and underscore the importance of an integrated approach to climate resilience—where animal health is a core component of farm systems and productivity
Dr van Andel will provide an introduction on the global trends for animal health and the impact of climate change. The need to adapt is undisputed but there are opportunities to respond with low-emissions options.
Sam Harbug and Matt Newman from AbacusBio will present preliminary findings from the New Zealand case study as part of a global project in partnership with the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, the Environmental Defense Fund and the Global Methane Hub.
Dr Suzi Keeling will share the sector’s perspective on addressing climate change impacts on animal health, explore the opportunities for farmers through co-benefits, and underscore the importance of an integrated approach to climate resilience—where animal health is a core component of farm systems and productivity
Biography
Sam Harbug
Consultant
Abacus Bio
Ministry of Primary Industries Animal Health: Mitigation Outcomes from Adaptation Needs
1:35 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Sam Harburg is a partner at AbacusBio, a leading international agricultural science and technology consulting firm originally founded in Dunedin, New Zealand. Sam is an experienced agribusiness consultant, with strong expertise in economic modelling and investment analysis, strategic planning, and genetic improvement. Sam supports a network of commercial, Government and industry-good clients across New Zealand and Australia, with a particular focus on the beef industry.
Caroline Amyes
Regional Manager Canterbury
MPI
Ministry of Primary Industries Animal Health: Mitigation Outcomes from Adaptation Needs
1:45 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Suzanne Keeling
Head of Science and Research
Beef + Lamb New Zealand
Ministry of Primary Industries Animal Health: Mitigation Outcomes from Adaptation Needs
1:45 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Dr Suzi Keeling has over 20 years’ experience working across animal health, environmental safety, and food integrity. Her PhD focused on using wastewater safely for dairy pasture irrigation in Victoria, Australia, working closely with farmers. Since then, she’s led work in animal health, biosecurity, market access, and food authenticity, often in sensitive or confidential areas. Suzi builds strong partnerships across industry, government, and research, both in New Zealand and internationally. In her current role
Matt Newman
Consultant
Abacus Bio
Ministry of Primary Industries Animal Health: Mitigation Outcomes from Adaptation Needs
1:45 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Matt Newman is an experienced agricultural economist with expertise in farm systems analysis and a strong network across both New Zealand and international agricultural sectors. He has led the development of benchmarking and farm forecasting tools, and contributed to a wide range of economic, environmental, and policy analyses—particularly within the dairy industry. Over the past two years, Matt has been consulting with AbacusBio, where his work has focused on environmental and financial insights to support sustainable and resilient farming systems.
Mary van Andel
Chief Veterinary Officer
MPI
Ministry of Primary Industries Animal Health: Mitigation Outcomes from Adaptation Needs
1:45 PM - 3:15 PMBiography
Mary is the Chief Veterinary Officer of New Zealand. Her background is in disease control epidemiology. She is a registered veterinarian and also has a PhD in Epidemiology, a MVS Conservation Medicine, a MVS Epidemiology and is a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists epidemiology chapter. She has published in a number of respected journals.
She has worked in clinical veterinary practice in South Africa and South East Asia. She has been in New Zealand since 2009 where her experience encompasses emergency management and outbreak investigation as well as modelling, analysis, and outbreak simulation exercises. She has reliable people and quantitative skills with field experience, international epidemiology experience and experience in the public service in New Zealand.
She is passionate about learning more about the perspectives of role holders in the animal health system and science communication.
She has worked in clinical veterinary practice in South Africa and South East Asia. She has been in New Zealand since 2009 where her experience encompasses emergency management and outbreak investigation as well as modelling, analysis, and outbreak simulation exercises. She has reliable people and quantitative skills with field experience, international epidemiology experience and experience in the public service in New Zealand.
She is passionate about learning more about the perspectives of role holders in the animal health system and science communication.
Dr Carlos Ruiz Garvia
Team Lead
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change / UNFCCC
Facilitator
Biography
