Meika Foster

Dr Meika Foster (Te Ātiawa, Ngāti Mutunga) joined the AuOra team in 2016. She has a background in Science and Law and her distinctive skill set combines expertise in nutrition science and food sustainability, the development of high-value plant-based health solutions, indigenous organisms and biodiscovery research, the protection of Māori cultural and intellectual property, novel food regulations, and needs assessment and strategy implementation. As part of her role, she supports Te Anga Whakamua (The Way Forward), an ambitious Wakatū undertaking to develop a tikanga-led bioactives industry for Aotearoa New Zealand. Meika is the Founding Director of Edible Research Ltd., an independent Board member for Pūhoro Charitable Trust and the New Zealand Food Safety Science and Research Centre, and maintains relationships with a range of research institutes and across government and the food and beverage industry.