Jacqueline Rowarth


Jacqueline Sara Rowarth has a recognised history in academia, is a science advocate and communicator, and is known for her work as an agri-environmental analyst and commentator.

Background

Rowarth has an Agricultural Science degree with first class honours in Environmental Agriculture, and obtained a PhD in Soil science from Massey University. Following this she spent six years working in plant improvement with AgResearch, and then taught Plant Science at Lincoln University for six years. From 2000 to 2004, Rowarth was Dean of the Postgraduate Division and Director of Research at Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, becoming Vice‐President, Research and Development, at the beginning of 2005. From 2005 to early 2007 she was Director, Office for Environmental Programs, at The University of Melbourne. In 2007 she returned to New Zealand to Massey University, where she held the Foundation Chair of Pastoral Agriculture and was Director of Massey Agriculture. In 2012 Rowarth was appointed as the inaugural Professor of Agribusiness at the University of Waikato, a position she held until the end of October 2016, when she resigned to start her new position as the first Chief Scientist of the Environmental Protection Authority. Rowarth left this position in early 2018, and has continued in her educational role, speaking and writing as a science advocate and agri-environmental analyst.

Controversy

Rowarth resigned from her role at the Environmental Protection Authority. It was later revealed that the EPA was warned her behaviour was damaging trust in the organisation. The behaviour referred to was largely deduced from what Rowarth was reported to have said by media. According to Rowarth she was often misquoted.

Recognition