Research active
Academic Staff.

Dr Neda Abdelhamid

Email: nedah@ais.ac.nz

Anna Addison

Email: annaa@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 222

I have had a varied and interesting career working in the tourism industry. My roles include an inbound consultant for the North American department for Newmans Tours Ltd in Auckland and Honolulu, international travel consultant for American Express Travel and several roles in Air New Zealand. Previous to my role at AIS, I was teaching at the New Zealand School of Travel and Tourism. I have travelled extensively throughout New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific Islands, the USA and Europe. I have three children and am passionate about travelling, interior design, and food and wine.

Dr Saghir Ahmad

Phone: 845 5606 ext 237

Kourosh Ahmadi

Email: kourosha@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 237

I hold a BEng (Hon) degree in Control Systems and Computing Systems, a Master of Systems Engineering, Post Graduate Certificate in Education, and Post Graduate Certificate in Marketing from the Universities of Huddersfield and Bradford in the UK.

I have a diverse background and an extensive range of industry and teaching experience, having worked in the UK, the Netherlands, the USA, the Middle East and New Zealand, in various IT positions as a system engineer, IT product trainer and IT lecturer in both private and public sectors.

I started at AIS in 2015, and teach network infrastructure and server administration.

Sawsan Al-Shamaa

Email: sawsana@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 815 1717 ext 813

I started teaching at AIS in 1997 in the International Business programme and ventured out into other programmes teaching Maths, Managerial Economics and Research Methods.

At present, I am a full time staff member in the Business Administration programme teaching Quantitative Methods, Business Research Methods and Marketing Research and Decision Making and also supervising and coordinating research dissertations. 

I have a wealth of teaching experience (since 1980) and that has provided me with many opportunities to assist and interact with students from a lot of different educational and cultural backgrounds, particularly with their challenges in quantitative analysis and statistics.

I have also published a text book, five research papers and also presented papers at conferences.

I have a daughter and a son, and four lovely grandchildren. My interests lie in travelling and spending time with my grandchildren both here and in the UK where my daughter resides with her family. 

Dr Ershad Ali

Email: ershada@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 815 1717 ext 622

I am a senior lecturer in Business Programmes at Auckland Institute of Studies, New Zealand. Prior to this position I was a Research Facilitator of the College of Business at Massey University, New Zealand; Research and Development Director at Energy Information Services, New Zealand; and a Member of the Bangladesh Civil Service. I also worked with international development agencies.

I received a Master of Science degree from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh; Master of Engineering Science from the University of Melbourne, Australia; and PhD in Economics from Massey University, New Zealand.

I have over 100 refereed publications and obtained the AIS best researcher award in 2014. I was also appointed visiting professor of Tianjin Normal University, Jingu College, China in 2014.

My research interests are the internationalisation of education, international trade, development economics, and technology transfer.  

Bob Beaver

Email: bbeaver673@gmail.com

I was a Senior Lecturer in a Teachers College in Zimbabwe, before working as a training Officer and Training Manager for three companies in South Africa. Since coming to New Zealand in 1995, I lectured at Unitec Institute of Technology for 21 years in HRM and business management. I have taught Human Resource Management as a contractor at AIS for 6 years.

I have published articles in HRM and presented papers in Australia, China and South Africa.

I am married with two grown up daughters and a grandson. My interests are playing music in orchestras and small groups, and making plastic models.

Jackie Chambers

Phone: 815 1717 ext 834

Beverly Chen

Email: beverlyc@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 222

I began my hospitality career with a Bachelor degree in International Hospitality Management with AUT. As an international student, it was not easy, and I slowly worked my way up from room attendant to management roles. However, the more time I spent at work, the more I realised the importance of having professional qualifications in today’s hospitality industry. And as a result, I decided to go back and study for the Master's degree. During this time, I also worked for AUT as a research assistant which broadened my knowledge in academic research and studies. I started my Master study and my teaching career in 2012 and by 2015 I graduated with Master degree and graduate diploma in Tertiary Teaching.

Recently, I am preparing my proposal for my PhD study with a strong focus on soft skills requirements for the hospitality industry. However, I do believe that the academic and practical skills come hand in hand. I am highly interested in industry trends and am also actively involving in regional and national culinary competition training and judging.

In terms of teaching, I started my teaching career with one on one tutoring practice for hospitality students during my Master study. And stepped into tertiary teaching in 2012, and have taught both practical and theory based courses ranging from NZQA level 2 to level 7. It is my aim at AIS to provide our students with all the necessary knowledge and skills required to excel as professionals in the global hospitality industry.

Neil Crombie

Email: neilc@ais.ac.nz

Phone: (09) 845 5606 ext.227 

Neil holds a Bachelor of Commerce, Master of Commerce (first-class honours) and Doctor of Philosophy in Accounting from the University of Canterbury. He is also a Chartered Accountant and member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand.  He has taught a range of business courses at both under- and post-graduate levels including financial accounting, management accounting, financial management and corporate governance.  His research interests include accounting education, management accounting and corporate governance (particularly executive remuneration).  Prior to joining AIS, Neil worked as a lecturer in accounting at the University of Canterbury, where he also held leadership roles including Associate Dean of Commerce and Associate Head of Department (Accounting and Information Systems). 

John Cunningham

I am a chemical engineer and have worked in manufacturing and company development, operations management and senior executive roles in listed corporates. I spent 15 years with Fernz Corporation, the last 12 years as the Corporate Development Manager with responsibilities including local and offshore initiatives in start-up, joint venture and acquisition for company growth.

Setting up Caltech Capital Ltd as a venture capital comany we invested over 10 years and exited with overall profit.. I have experience in creating strategic alliances between companies, both in NZ and offshore, particularly in the US. I am currently a Director/Chairman of a number of companies, including Climsystems Ltd, mining and extraction company Resin and Wax HoldingsLtd. and NZIMMR. I am also a fourth term director of Nelson research organisation the Cawthron Institute.

I contract lecture in Waikato University’s MBA program and also at Auckland’s AIS MBA and PG Dip.

I chaired and was a long time member of the MSI TechNZ advisory panel and continue as an expert reviewer with Callaghan Innovation and MBIE. As President of IPENZ in 2001 I steered the Institute through the new CEng Act and from IPENZ received environmental awards for some of my engineering work.

As part of my pro bono contribution I have been a judge for more than 15 years for the Business Excellence Awards in Auckland and have also judged business Innovation and technical awards in NZ and internationally.

I graduated BE (Chem & Mat) Auckland University, Dip BIA Auckland University, ME (Environmental). And am a member of FIChemE, FEngNZ, FIEAust, MRSNZ, MIoD and am a Chartered Engineer and Chartered Scientist.

Some of my leisure interests include flying (CPL), working with guide dogs, running - half marathons, marathons and Masters Games, trekking in Nepal, playing golf and tennis and working with guide dogs. I have two adult children and four grand children.

I can be contacted on +64 9 377 2002, 64 274 814 614 or john@ignitionpartner.com

Prof. Richard Goodall

Email: richardg@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 815 3771

Havea Hikule'o Fonua

Email: haveaf@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 214 

I am a full time staff member, since 2009, teaching database and software development, and information technology system and concept to both international business and information technology students, and also supervising IT students in their final projects.

I have a wealth of industry work experience in IT systems in departments of the Tongan government, as well as in the private sector including Digicel Tonga Ltd (mobile communication system) and the Tonga Development Bank (IT system).

Simon Hoole

Phone: 815 1717 ext 851

David Jordan

Phone: 815 1717 ext 851

Shaun Kelly

Email: shaunk@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 815 1717 ext 850

Rakesh Kumar

Email: rakeshk@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 237

I started teaching at Auckland Institute of Studies in 2008 and have taught Information Technology Project Management, Requirement Modelling courses and also Coordinating Information Technology Projects.

I have a Masters in Computer Applications and over 10 years of teaching experience at post-secondary and degree level. I have taught people from various countries with significantly different age groups and cultural backgrounds. I enjoy interacting with people from different countries, languages and accents. 

Sunil Lakhani

Email: sunill@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 815 1717 ext 870

Sunil Lakhani teaches accounting and finance modules in the MBA programme. He has been involved with business valuations, capital markets and M&A strategic advice. His special skills include financial modelling, business valuations, financial analysis, strategic management analysis and forecasting.

Beena Lal

Email: beenal@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 815 1717 ext 847

I joined AIS in 2012 as a full time business lecturer in the Business Programme, teaching various accounting courses which include auditing, and both financial and managerial accounting up to advanced levels.

Together with a string of accounting qualifications including a Masters in Accounting from AUT, I also have  vast teaching experience at both secondary and tertiary levels in Fiji and New Zealand.  Prior to AIS, I taught at a few tertiary institutions in New Zealand and at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji as an accounting lecturer. While in the secondary system in Fiji, my roles included Head of Department of Commerce and Deputy Principal. I also worked for the Fiji Ministry of Education assisting in developing accounting curriculums. 

According to me, making a difference to the lives of our students is really rewarding, seeing them taking a step forward in their lives to achieve their goals.

Terry Leotta

Email: terryl@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 815 1717 ext 839

Pam Logan

Email: paml@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 815 1717 ext 832

Martin Mahler

Email: martinm@ais.ac.nz

Originally from Switzerland, I came to New Zealand to undertake undergraduate studies in Marketing, on the completion of which (2004-2007), I worked for various companies in New Zealand and abroad in Sales, Business Development and as a Marketing Manager, before returning to university to complete my postgraduate studies culminating with the completion of a Masters of Management in Marketing (2011-2012). 

Upon the completion of my postgraduate studies, I was working as a Sales Manager in Switzerland prior to working for some of the most prestigious business focused universities in China, namely Nanjing University, Southwestern University (Chongqing), Heilongjiang Institute of Technology and the Soutwestern University of Finance and Technology (Chengdu), teaching a raft of business related courses, mostly focusing on the fields of Management, Marketing and Economics.

More recently, I have contributed to the establishment of the Master of Applied Management taught extramurally through SIT, having developed several courses focusing on Marketing as well as a number of Management related disciplines. Currently, I am working for the Business Administration Programmes at Auckland Institute of Studies, concurrently studying towards a PhD in Marketing at Massey University. As part of this role, I have taught courses in Microeconomics, Marketing Management and Service Marketing, while currently focusing more on administrative aspects in my position as Deputy Director of the Business Administration Programmes.

Dr Shuaib Memon

Email: shuaibm@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 214

Shuaib has more than 16 years of teaching (undergraduate and postgraduate level) and industry experience. He has worked as a lecturer/senior lecturer at a number of universities and PTEs including University of Sindh Pakistan, AUT University, Queens Academic Group, Waitakere Learning College, Victoria Institute of New Zealand, International College of Auckland, and Cornell Institute of Business & Technology. He has also been actively involved in the process of teaching, research, training and curriculum development.

Shuaib has a wide area of teaching and research interest, and has taught a number of subjects in the field of computer science, electronic and telecommunication. He has expertise in programming (Android mobile application development, Java, C#, VB, OOP), web development (HTML, CSS, Java Script, ASP.net, Core PHP, Word Press, Laravel) and databases (MS SQL Server, SQLite, MySQL, MS Access). Shuaib has also developed and supervised a number of projects (Android mobile apps, websites and desktop applications). 

Dr Leonie Menzies

Email: leoniem@ais.ac.nz

Phone: +64 9 815 1717 extn 828

Currently senior lecturer at the Auckland Institute of Studies.  I believe that by being part of a Higher Education Institution, I have a crucial role to play in the holistic development and progression of students. Higher education learning, of which I am a facilitator, consists of a multifaceted mixture of knowledge, understanding and skills. It also embodies values, attitudes and behaviour that form part of a student’s academic performance. I am passionate about education as I believe that through education and research we can make a positive contribution to solving some of the ever-increasing global challenges that we face.

Dr Amir Moravejosharieh

Email: amirm@ais.ac.nz

Academic Qualifications

2013 – 2016 PhD in Computer Science and Software Engineering

2009 – 2011 Master’s degree in Computer Science and Information Technology

2002 – 2006 Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering-hardware

Areas of Interest

• Handover and Security in Mobile IPv6 homogeneous network
• Handover and Security in Mobile IPv6 homogeneous network
• Security in Software Defined Networking
• Cyber Security and Virtualisation
• Security and Digital Forensics
• Infrastructure Security
• Trade-off between QoS and Network Security
• Wireless Sensor Network Security
• Security and Dependability Models
• Handover in Heterogeneous networks
• QoS in Heterogeneous wireless networks
• IP Mobility
• CCNA and CCNP courses
• Data Communication and Routing

Achieved Awards

• Winner of the Best Researcher award, Auckland Institute of Studies in 2017-2018
• College of Engineering Scholarship (University of Canterbury): 24,000 NZD
• Conference traveling grant: 5,000 NZD
• Best paper award: 1,200 AUD
• Research grant: 60,000 MYR equivalent to 21,646 NZD
• Honorariums: 4,500 MYR equivalent to 1,623 NZD

Publications

• Moravejosharieh and J. Lloret, Performance Analysis of Quality of Service in Software-Defined Networking, Journal of Network Protocols and Algorithms, ISSN 1943-3581, 2018, Vol.10, No.4, DOI:10.5296/NPA.v10i4.14054.
• Moravejosharieh, Performance Evaluation of IEEE 802.15.4-based Wireless Body Sensor Networks: An Experimental Study, International Journal of Information, Communication Technology and Applications (IJICTA), 3(1), 15-27, 2018.
• Amirhossein Moravejosharieh and Jaime Lloret. Performance evaluation of co-located IEEE 802.15. 4-based wireless body sensor networks. Annals of Telecommunications, pages 116, 2016.
• Amirhossein Moravejosharieh and Andreas Willig. Mutual interference in large populations of co-located ieee 802.15. 4 body sensor networksa sensitivity analysis. Computer Communications, 2016.
• Amir Hossein Moravejosharieh. Frequency-adaptive approach in IEEE 802.15. 4 wireless body sensor networks: Continuous-assessment or periodic-assessment? International Journal of Information, Communication Technology and Applications, 1(1):1934, 2015.
• Amirhossein Moravejosharieh and Jaime Lloret. A survey of IEEE 802.15. 4 effective system parameters for wireless body sensor networks. International Journal of Communication Systems, 2015.
• Amirhossein Moravejosharieh, Ehsan Tabatabaei Yazdi, Krzysztof Pawlikowski, and Harsha Sirisena. Adaptive channel utilisation in IEEE 802.15. 4 wireless body sensor networks: adaptive phase-shifting approach. In Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (ITNAC), 2015 International, pages 9499. IEEE, 2015.
• Amirhossein Moravejosharieh, Ehsan Tabatabaei Yazdi, Andreas Willig, and Krzysztof Pawlikowski. Adaptive channel utilisation in IEEE 802.15. 4 wireless body sensor networks: Continuous hopping approach. In Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (ATNAC), 2014 Australasian, pages 9398. IEEE, 2014.
• Amirhosein Moravejosharieh and Hero Modares. A proxy MIPv6 handover scheme for vehicular ad-hoc networks. Wireless personal communications, 75(1):609626, 2014.
• Ehsan Tabatabaei Yazdi, Amirhossein Moravejosharieh, and Samit K Ray. Study of target tracking and handover in mobile wireless sensor network. In Information Networking (ICOIN), 2014 International Conference on, pages 120125. IEEE, 2014.
• Ehsan Tabatabaei Yazdi, Amirhossein Moravejosharieh, Andreas Willig, and Krzysztof Pawlikowski. Coupling power and frequency adaptation for interference mitigation in IEEE 802.15. 4-based mobile body sensor networks: part ii. In Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference (ATNAC), 2014 Australasian, pages 105110. IEEE, 2014.
• Hero Modares, Amirhossein Moravejosharieh, Rosli Bin Salleh, and Jaime Lloret. Alternative formats. ETRI Journal, 36(1):5161, 2014.
• Hero Modares, Amirhossein Moravejosharieh, Rosli Bin Salleh, and Jaime Lloret. Enhancing security in mobile ipv6. ETRI Journal, 36(1):5161, 2014. 9
• Amirhossein Moravejosharieh, Ehsan Tabatabaei Yazdi, and Andreas Willig. Study of resource utilization in IEEE 802.15. 4 wireless body sensor network, part ii: greedy channel utilization. In Networks (ICON), 2013 19th IEEE International Conference on, pages 16. IEEE, 2013.
• Amir Hossein Moravejosharieh and Ehsan Tabatabaei Yazdi. Study of resource utilization in IEEE 802.15. 4 wireless body sensor network, part i: the need for enhancement. In Computational Science and Engineering (CSE), 2013 IEEE 16th International Conference on, pages 12261231. IEEE, 2013.
• Amirhossein Moravejosharieh, Hero Modares, Rosli Salleh, and Ehsan Mostajeran. Performance analysis of aodv, aomdv, dsr, dsdv routing protocols in vehicular ad hoc network. Research Journal of Recent Sciences, 2(7):6673, 2013.

Albert Ng

Phone: 815 1717 ext 851

Claude Oberto

A senior financial professional with particular expertise within the financial services industry and the funds/wealth management and trustee industry.

Claude has held the position of Managing Director of NF Global Limited since January 2014.

His past roles include Director and shareholder of Amanah Ethical Limited, consultant to the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) and Vice President (Treasury) of Citigroup New Zealand and HSBC New Zealand.

Claude holds an MBA Degree, is the Independent Chairman of New Zealand Financial Advisers Association, Independent Chairman of Bank of Baroda (NZ) Limited and a past Chairman of the Community Organisations Grant Scheme (COGS – a New Zealand government initiative).

He is the author of the book, Foreign Exchange for Managers – a practical approach and a lecturer on the MBA Programme at AIS Business Management School.

Tony Ó Braonáin

Email: tonyo@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 815 1717 ext 820

I was born in Belfast, Ireland. I taught Irish as a second language in the state system there for 17 years before coming to New Zealand, where I have been teaching ESOL in AIS since 1993.

I have taught in China to prepare students to come to New Zealand to finish their degrees with AIS. I wrote the eight-level AIS course book, Master English, as well as our skills books. I have an interest in teaching vocabulary and have compiled a series of vocabulary-based workbooks, some of which are available online. A recent interest is the use of images to teach English, especially the writing skill.

In my private life, I have rediscovered the joys of swimming and reading for pleasure, especially historical fiction and fantasy.

Paul OBrien

Email: paulobrienenzed@gmail.com
Phone: 0275 917061

Paul is a passionate businessman who provides mentoring to Kiwi SME companies who want to export goods mainly in the Pharma, food, healthcare and wellness sector. Currently, Paul is a GM for an NZ skincare company on a 12-month contract to grow their export base.

Academically Paul has an MBA and Diploma in Marketing ( Dip Bus Mktg ) from the University of Auckland plus an NZIM Business Diploma from AUT.

Career highlights include;

• Board roles for Amcal Chemists, Health 2000 and Look Good Feel Better ( a women’s cancer charity, pro bono board role for ten years, mostly as Treasurer)
   
• Two CEO roles for both Good Health Products and Easiyo Yoghurt over seven years 
   
• Multiple GM roles for API Consumer Brands, One Pure Water, GMP Dairy and Douglas Pharma.
   
• AIS lecturing for 15 years in Strategic Marketing plus more recently Product Development and Brand Management.
   
• Export award winner of 3 Westpac business awards as well as Supreme Winner when CEO of Easiyo in 2010.
   
• Judge of Auckland Chamber of Commerce business awards plus past judge of Export NZ Business Awards over the last 6-7 years
   
• Past President of the NZ CTFA ( Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Assn ) Past President of Eden Epsom Tennis and Squash Club 
   
• Life Member of Les Mills Gym and determined to stay fit and healthy.

Paul has a wife Helen and two children at Victoria University in Wellington

Saida Parvin

Email: saidap@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 815 1717 ext 844

I started teaching at AIS in 2007. I have taught various Economics and International Business related courses including Business Economics, Macroeconomics, Managerial Economics International Trade, and Strategic Management.

My qualifications include a Masters in Social Sciences and a Masters in Business Administration (Finance Major) and I am currently pursuing a PhD at Victoria University of Wellington.

In 2014, as a recognition of my research and publications, AIS awarded me Emerging Researcher Award for the year. Apart from my teaching experience, I have also written some book chapters, articles, reports and book reviews. Recent publications include two chapters “A woman can empower another woman” and “My past to present” in New Beginning: New Kiwi Women Write their Stories (Monster Fish Publishing, Auckland, 2013) and A Study on the Mental Health of International Students in New Zealand (a report for the Asian Health Foundation, Auckland, 2015).

Dr Tanya Petrichtcheva

Phone: 815 1717 ext 851

Dr Sid Sirisukha

Jonathon Spring

Email: jonathons@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 215

I was born and raised in Auckland but have lived in several places in Australia, England and New Zealand. I hold a Masters in History and have worked in the tourism and hospitality industry. The topic of my PhD study is on guide-visitor interaction during guided wildlife tours conducted by the Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi in New Zealand and Pacific Whale Foundation in Hawai’i. My research interests are in guide training, informal learning, visitor attractions and ecological restoration. I am a volunteer guide on Tiritiri Matangi. My most recent publications are a chapter on researching guided tours in The Social Side of Tourism (Peter Lang, 2015) and a co-authored chapter on environmental interpretation in Whale-watching: Sustainable tourism and Ecological Management (Cambridge University Press, 2014).

Christine Tan

Email: christinet@ais.ac.nz

Phone: 845 5606 ext 214

John Tan

Email: johnt@ais.ac.nz

John has been practicing and teaching the leadership and strategic management for a large number of years. In addition to teaching in academic institutions, John has also been involved in leadership training on a corporate level.

Apart from his teaching and training pursuits, John goes to Cambodia twice a year and engages in the provision of medical aid to the people in the villages. Additionally John has also been raising money for the installation of hand-pump wells and the development of self-sustaining projects.

John’s publications and presentations include the following:

Clydesdale, G. & Tan, J. P. G. (2009). Preparing students for front-line management. Journal of European Industrial Training. 33(7), 594–613
Tan, J. P.G. & Matheny, J.M. (2005). Developing an Idealized Succession Model. Presented at the 2005 ANZAM Conference in Australia
Tan, J.P.G (2001). The Inspirational Leader. Kuala Lumpur: Professional Skills Trainers

Dr Semisi Taumoepeau

Email: semisit@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 210

I am currently Associate Director of the New Zealand Tourism Research Institute (NZTRI) based at AUT University, which brings together experts from around the world to deliver innovative research solutions for the industry. Recently a member of the NZ Institute of Pacific Research (NZIPR), a NZ government sponsored research body, based at University of Auckland and am currently working under Professor Simon Milne with other colleagues on a project: Private-sector investment in the Pacific (drivers and barriers in developing island economies). Previous positions included Tonga’s Director of Tourism (1979-2003); a founding member (1982; and, in the 1990s, Chairman) of the Tourism Council of the South Pacific (TCSP) / South Pacific Tourism Organisation (SPTO); Chairman of the Association of the South Pacific Airlines (ASPA) (2001-2002); board member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the key tourism authority in the Asia Pacific region (1988-1991); CEO of Royal Tonga, the Tongan national airline (2000-2002); and was board member of the New Zealand Tourism Industry Association Board (2009 - 2011).

I hold a BSc in Chemistry (University of Auckland), an MSc in Tourism Planning and Development with thesis on Tourism development and air transport linkages in the Pacific (University of Surrey), and a PhD (University of the Sunshine Coast) on Economic Sustainability of Airlines of the South Pacific.

Recent publications and consultancy assignments in several South Pacific countries include economic impact studies, South Pacific aviation, and tourism strategic plans and HRD plans for several SPTO member countries, tourism & hospitality training in Tonga and an ongoing tourism accreditation and quality assurance project for the Tongan Tourism Ministry.

Zaina Theresa

Email: zainat@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 240

I started my hospitality career as a Management Trainee in Sales and Marketing in India and came to New Zealand in 2003 as an international student. I completed my Masters in International Hospitality Management as the ‘First Graduand’ from AUT. Further to my hospitality experience in New Zealand, I have been involved with tertiary education from 2008 onwards. 

Outside of work, I am learning taekwondo and enjoy cricket, Bollywood music and movies. 

Dr Nick Towner

Email: nickt@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 240

My doctoral research focused on surf tourism in the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia and sustainable community development. 

I am an enthusiastic surfer, and own and operate a surfing tour company in New Zealand called New Zealand Surfing Adventures. I have travelled extensively throughout the Asian Pacific Islands chasing the endless summer.

Dr Michael Watts

Email: michaelw@ais.ac.nz
Phone: 845 5606 ext 220

I hold a BSc (1st class honours) in Information Science 1996, and a PhD on artificial neural networks, evolutionary algorithms and data mining 2004, both from the University of Otago.

I have worked as a senior teaching fellow in the Department of Information Science, University of Otago (2000 - 2004); a post-doctoral fellow in the National Centre for Advanced Bio-Protection Technologies at Lincoln University, New Zealand (2004 - 2007); a post-doctoral fellow in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Sydney (2007 - 2009); and a research fellow in the Global Ecology Group at the University of Adelaide (2010 - 2012);.

At AIS, I have taught database, business intelligence (including data mining and data warehousing), information security and run workshops on programming in PHP and C++.

I am a senior member of the IEEE Computational Intelligence Society's Social Media Subcommittee, and am on the Standards Committee, CIS University Curricula Subcommittee and the Neural Networks Technical Committee.

I have written or contributed to more than 80 publications in international conferences and journals, in the fields of computational intelligence, bioinformatics, and ecological informatics / ecological modelling. I am on the editorial board of the the IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems and Springer journals Soft Computing and Evolving Systems.

See my blog on computational intelligence, site on evolving connectionist systems, freely available research software, complete CV, and Google Scholar citations profile.

Lynda Williams

Phone: 815 1717 ext 834

Matthew Williams

Phone: 815 1717 ext 834