I lead the invertebrate biocontrol research at The New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research. My research interests and experience revolve around the development and implementation of classical and augmentative biological control, and integrated management of economically important insect pests in agriculture and forestry. The location, risk assessment, release and evaluation of natural enemies for the control of insect pests feature strongly in my research. I have broad experience in different aspects of biological control of insect pests including risk assessment of biological control agents (BCA), host-parasitoid interactions, insect behaviour, and the release and monitoring establishment of BCAs. I led the world-first pre-emptive biocontrol research against the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), which contributed greatly to the recently approved, with controls, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) application for release of Trissolcus japonicus in the event of a BMSB incursion in New Zealand. I am currently leading key national and international biocontrol projects (e.g. international BMSB pre-emptive biocontrol projects), which include additional pre-emptive biocontrol research for BMSB. I also have expertise in bioclimatic modelling, using CLIMEX, to predict potential distribution of invasive pests and other species (e.g. biocontrol agents).