Innovation in Diagnostics and Surveillance.He Aronga Hou kei ngā Tātaritanga me te Tūtei.

Mark Jones is a molecular biologist, founder, and Managing Director of Azora Biosciences. He founded Azora in 2020 to challenge the limitations of generic, off-the-shelf laboratory kits and build a more collaborative model for high-throughput genomics laboratories.

Today, Azora supplies leading genomics organisations around the world and has subsidiaries in the US and Australia. Under Mark's leadership, the company develops customized genomics reagents and workflows for plant, animal, livestock, and microbial genomics customers, helping laboratories improve performance, reproducibility, efficiency, and sustainability through fit-for-purpose bioscience solutions.

Nick Hoskins is an experienced viticulture specialist with over four decades of expertise across vineyard systems, plant health, genetics and nursery production in New Zealand's wine industry. His work spans early vineyard establishment, national grapevine improvement initiatives, and leadership of major research programmes focused on virus elimination and vineyard ecosystems.

Nick holds senior advisory roles within the Riversun group and provides strategic input across plant production and biosecurity. He currently serves as Chair of the Viticulture Nursery Association and Board Chair of New Zealand Plant Producers Incorporated.

He also contributes to ag-tech innovation as New Zealand Business Development Manager for BioScout, supporting the application of real-time biological monitoring technologies. Based in Masterton, Nick brings deep practical knowledge and science-led insight to biosecurity, diagnostics, and sustainable plant systems.

Bill is a science & technology broker specializing in forest biosecurity and environmental sciences. Previously a General Manager in Carter Holt Harvey Forests and before that a forest site productivity scientist and science manager, he has worked with industry, government agencies and science organisations for more than 40 years.

Bill is very interested in biosecurity surveillance and diagnostics and believes the future is more advanced technologies at the border and inside the border for early detection of insect pests and pathogens. He is particularly excited about the opportunities to apply eDNA technology for early detection of unwanted organisms.