NZBRI Board Members
These are the current directors of New Zealand Brain Research Ltd, who serve voluntarily to provide guidance to the Institute.
Board Members
Andrew Thompson
Independent Chair
GOVERNANCE PROFESSIONAL
Andrew is a Chartered Accountant with extensive senior commercial management experience across a range of industries from exporters, including Sealord and Zespri, through to civil construction with Fulton Hogan.
Andrew previously managed the commercial functions at Forté including patient and funder billing, procurement of medical products and IT and facilities management.
Andrew enjoys the complexities of the healthcare industry and working alongside a large and vibrant team of staff and medical professionals. In his spare time, Andrew is a keen mountain biker, enjoys spending time in the great outdoors, and with his family.
Andrew Thompson | LinkedIn
Simon Carey
Treasurer
DIRECTOR AT QALIBRE LIMITED
A Highlanders supporter at heart, Simon embarked on his CA career in Dunedin before exploring opportunities across the ditch. Ultimately, he found his professional home in Christchurch, where he has spent 20 years building a specialised valuation and corporate finance practice, gaining recognition as a director and partner of an international accounting firm prior to co-founding Qalibre.
Simon seamlessly blends financial acumen with governance insight. With a decade-long tenure as a past director on the board of the External Reporting Board, a crown body responsible for financial reporting and auditing standards in New Zealand, he has honed his governance skills. As a Chartered Member of the Institute of Directors, he regularly contributes as an Advisory Board member for several Qalibre clients and in his current role as Treasurer of the Canterbury Medical Research Foundation board of trustees.
Simon Carey | LinkedIn
Sue Sullivan
CMRF Representative
CEO & BOARD MEMBER
Experienced Chief Executive Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the Tourism, Business Events, Health and Safety. Skilled in Business Planning, Operations Management, Sales, International Business, Channel Management, Running International Sales team and Operational Planning. Strong business development professional graduated from Massey University.
Sue Sullivan | LinkedIn
Lucy Johnston
UC Representative
DEPUTY VICE-CHANCELLOR RESEARCH, UNIVERISTY OF CANTERBURY
Professor Johnston joined Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury as Tumu Tuarua Rangahau | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research in 2025. Lucy is a highly accomplished university educator, researcher and leader having held leadership roles in tertiary education in New Zealand and Australia. She has served on various boards, including the Canberra Innovation Network (CBRIN) and the University of Oxford Alumni Board.
She is known for innovative and enthusiastic commitment to facilitating and empowering the success of others, both students and academics, through creating a supportive environment and culture and providing development tools and opportunities that allow others to flourish. Lucy is strongly committed to the transformative power of education, for individuals and for society, and as a leader in tertiary education has an obligation to nurture and grow the next generation of scholars and leaders in society.
Lucy Johnston | LinkedIn
Amanda Landers
UOC Representative
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT, MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO
Amanda Landers graduated in 2000 with her MBChB from the University of Otago. She specialised in palliative care medicine and has worked in a number of communities across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
Amanda is currently Head of Department, Department of Medicine Christchurch and is the module convenor for Palliative and End of Life Care.
She completed a PhD in 2023 under the supervision of Professor Lutz Beckert, Professor Suzanne Pitama and Professor Suetonia Palmer, looking at a model of end-of-life care for people with COPD. The research has developed three models of care which would help provide high-quality services for people with severe COPD.
She also leads the Aoteaora Australia Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ASPERT) multi-disciplinary research group with over 20 members which is committed to improving the lives of people with pancreatic cancer.
Amanda Landers | LinkedIn