Science Faculty staff named in Queen’s Birthday Honours

A pioneering mathematician and a professor of psychology who has worked for more than 30 years to help improve the youth justice system have been named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Distinguished Professor Marston Conder

A pioneering mathematician and a professor of psychology who has worked for more than 30 years to help improve the youth justice system have been named in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Distinguished Professor Marston Conder is a world-renowned mathematician and a pioneer in the development and application of algebraic, combinatorial and computational techniques to find answers to open questions in a wide range of fields, some dating back six decades. He was awarded the Hector Medal in 2014 and the Jones Medal in 2018 for his research.

He has served the New Zealand research community in numerous ways including as President of the NZ Mathematical Society, as a member of the initial Marsden Fund Council, chair of the committee that developed the PBRF in 2001/02 and President of the Academy of the Royal Society Te Apārangi.

Professor Conder sees one of the great benefits of mathematical study as “developing the ability to think clearly and logically about complex issues, and be adaptable as the nature of these issues shift over time”.

He says he is delighted to have been named Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

“I am extremely honoured and grateful to have my work recognised in this way, particularly as my career has delivered so much personal satisfaction.”

School of Psychology Professor Ian Lambie has spent his career in the area of child and adolescent mental health, childhood trauma and youth justice. A trained clinical psychologist, he holds the position of Chief Science Advisor to the justice sector spanning the Ministry of Justice, Police and Corrections as well as his role at the University.

Professor Lambie worked in acute psychiatric and surgical nursing before gaining his undergraduate degree from Otago University and training as a clinical psychologist at the University of Auckland. He worked with at risk adolescents and children with conduct problems for more than ten years before joining the School of Psychology as a staff member.

With more than 30 years’ experience researching and working with children and adolescents, he says his career has provided a huge amount of satisfaction and he is honoured to be named an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit.

“Youth justice is where I have focused my efforts because it has always seemed to me that that is where I could have the biggest impact on changing young peoples’ lives and giving them the chance of a better future.”

Professor Ian Lambie

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