Dr Chris Downs

Dr Downs is Strategic General Manager of the NZ Institute for Crop and Food Research, and has 15 years experience in research in areas including plant physiology, plant gene biotechnology, food nutrition and animal health. He undertook post-graduate studies in Canada 1995/1996 on the interface of science and Christianity. He is a member of St Alban’s Presbyterian Church, Palmerston North.

Prof Grant Gillett

Prof. Grant Gillett is a neurosurgeon at Dunedin hospital, Professor of Biomedical Ethics at the Bioethics Research Centre, University of Otago, Executive member of the Australian Bioethics Association, and on the Ethics Committees of the Royal Australasian College of surgeons and the NZ Medical Association. Prof Gillett has published extensively on ethics and is on the editorial board of a number journals, including the Journal of Clinical and Neuroscience, Medical humanities Review and NZ Bioethics Journal. His church affiliation is Anglican.

Dr Graham O’ Brien

Rev Dr Graham O’Brien has a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Biology majoring in molecular genetics, followed by 2½ years post-doctoral experience in Auckland University. After sensing a call to ministry, Dr O’Brien spent 3½ years as Parish Assistant at All Saints’ Anglican Church in Nelson. Graham has spent 4 years at St John’s Theological College (Auckland) where he completed a B.Th. in 2005, and is currently completing an M.Th. through the Tyndale-Carey Graduate School. Recently Graham was ordained a Deacon in the Anglican Church, and in February 2007 will be ordained as a Priest and take up the position of Vicar of Picton in the Marlborough Sounds.

Dr Briar Peat

Dr Briar Peat is a Senior Lecturer in Medicine and Specialist Physician, Auckland University Clinical School and Middlemore hospital. She is a member of the Auckland University Human subjects Research Ethics Committee, which reviews all research, from Auckland University which involves the use of human subjects. Dr Peat is a member of the congregation, lay preacher and Synod representative of the Whitford Beachlands Mission District Diocese of Auckland.

Dr Barbara Peddie

Dr Barbara Peddie has recently retired from the position of Scientific Officer in the Nephrology Department in Christchurch Hospital. She holds a PhD in microbiology, is Secretary/Treasurer of the Christchurch Medical Research Society, member of the Scientific Committee Christchurch Medical School of Medicine, and an Honorary Lecturer at the Christchurch School of Medicine. Barbara’s church affiliation is Methodist. She is currently studying for a Post-Graduate Diploma in Systematic Theology.

Ms Maree Pene

Ms Maree Pene is a Trustee of Ngati Wairere charitable Trust , Director of Te Kotuku Whenua consultants, Secretary of Hukanui Marae, Member of Kirikioa Council of Social Services, Kaumatua Adviser, Te Runanga O Kirikirioa. She has been actively involved in the legal issues against the use of cloned animals containing human genes in Ruakura. Her church affiliation is Methodist.

Mrs Deborah Stevens

Mrs Deborah Stevens holds the following qualifications; M Bioethics, BSc (psychology) and Dip Teaching. She is currently Head of Dept of Religion and Ethics at the Marsden School in Wellington and is also the licensed Bioethics Adviser to Anglican Bishop Tom Brown. Mrs Stevens is editor of Dialogue, Australia, a religious values magazine distributed in UK, Australia and New Zealand and has presented a papers on Ethics in the School Curriculum in New Zealand and Australian conferences.

Dr Susan Werstein

Dr Susan Werstein holds degrees in psychology and nursing, a Masters in Divinity, a Doctorate in Ministry in Religious Ed. and a PhD in Medical Ethics. She is a minister in the Presbyterian Church, and is currently a lecturer at the School of Ministry in ethics, pastoral care and Christian education, and is Field Education Officer at Knox College Dunedin.

1. To provide opportunities for consultation and dialogue with church members and the community generally on the ethical, theological, spiritual and cultural issues in the use of biotechnology.
2. To take an educational role for the Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian churches on the ethical, theological, spiritual and cultural issues in the use of biotechnology
3. To advise the participating churches on the above issues, and
4. To make submissions and comments to Government, to the New Zealand Bioethics Council and other relevant bodies on the above issues.

The establishment of the Interchurch Bioethics Council has enabled the churches to call on this specialist working group for comment, education and resourcing. The Council arose from the work of the InterChurch Commission on Genetic Engineering which was set up to make submissions to the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification.