Alisa obtained a PhD in Chemistry from the University of Canterbury in 1996. Her early post-doctoral research at Utah State and Otago Universities investigated biological electrochemical reactions, protein surface adsorption and the origin of medical device biocompatibility.

Alisa then joined the Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand and Canesis Network Ltd, and went on to lead the Bio-based Materials group at AgResearch. Her roles in these companies included new materials development, upscaling to production, efficacy substantiation, and commercialisation of science outcomes, particularly in the personal care industry.

More recently, she held an industry role as Chief Scientific Officer at Keraplast Manufacturing.

Alisa joins the New Materials team to pursue her passion for generating sustainable efficacious materials that add value to existing products and unutilised “waste” streams.