KBC appoints tech czar

Hellens is a scientist with over 30 years' experience leading and conducting industry-oriented transdisciplinary research. Before moving to New Zealand, he worked at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, UK, where he developed the first genetic map of peas, showing the relative location of genes and other important biological features within the chromosome. This fed into his PhD determining the molecular basis of Mendel's white flower phenotype (observable physical properties of an organism).

Hellens also developed the pGreen plant transformation vector and studied gene silencing in petunias. From 2000 to 2014, he worked for the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research (formerly HortResearch). His research interests at Plant & Food Research included developing red-fleshed apple and kiwifruit varieties and exploiting next-generation sequencing techniques to help accelerate the development of new cultivars.

From 2014 until 2020, Hellens was a Professor of Agricultural Biotechnology at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He worked in the Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities, holding several leadership positions.

In 2020, Hellens joined Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited) as general manager - forests to timber products, overseeing research from tree breeding forest establishment, forest protection, and wood processing to timber construction.

"The appointment of Dr Hellens followed an extensive recruitment search, and we are delighted to have been able to attract such a high quality and experienced candidate," says KBC chief executive Matt Glen. "The CTO role will be an integral part of the senior leadership team focusing on external relationships with universities, research centres and industry, both domestically and internationally, and will lead the strategic direction of the science at KBC."

Hellens took up his new role at the end of February.

What Is KBC?

The Kiwifruit Breeding Centre (KBC) was established last year and aims to take kiwifruit breeding to the next level.

With about 45 staff, KBC is based in Te Puke, and operates out of Kerikeri, Motueke and Mt Albert. It will also have a presence offshore in selected kiwifruit regions.

KBC is a 50/50 joint venture between Plant & Food Research and Zespri. It has been established with the goal to drive greater innovation within kiwifruit breeding and to create healthier, better tasting and more sustainability-focused varieties. It will be jointly funded by Zespri and Plant & Food Research, a New Zealand Government-owned Crown Research Institute. These organisations will share royalties from any future commercialised new varieties.