Guna Magesan
Ensis (M.Sc., Ph.D., MRSNZ)

I was born in a remote village in Nilgiri (Blue Mountains) district in Tamil Nadu, India. I came to New Zealand in July 1988 for my Ph.D. degree in soil science at Massey University, Palmerston North.

After completing the Ph.D. degree, I joined HortResearch, as a postdoctoral fellow in 1992. After a year, I joined Landcare Research in Hamilton as an environmental scientist. I worked there for 7 years on different projects: land-based wastewater application, preferential flow and aquifer protection, and pesticide movement through soils. In July 2001, I joined Forest Research (now known as Scion), as a senior environmental scientist, and lead a group of scientists working in 'land treatment' research.

In 2001, I was awarded a Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Invitational Fellowship. In 2002, I was elected the Secretary of Soil Physics Commission, International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS), during the World Congress of Soil Science in Bangkok, Thailand. I was the only New Zealander to be in the list of IUSS officers. Since 2002, I have been an executive member of New Zealand Society of Soil Science. I was invited to be on the editorial advisory board of 3 international science journals, and act as a referee for 14 international journals.

I have published a significant number of papers in international journals. I have been invited to a number of international conferences to present papers (including keynote address), to write book chapters, and review papers, and to co-edit a book on 'Urban waste management in Australasia-Pacific region'. My contribution to scientific literature is more than 180 journal publications and conference presentations.

Community and social work:
I am actively involved in social and community projects such as youth development, tree planting, and organizing Indian youth festivals to build links between the Indian community and other New Zealanders.

As the national coordinator of the Hindu Council of New Zealand, I organised many programmes for Hamilton and Rotorua community, and started an annual tree planting programme for the Indian community. I was awarded a 'recognition medal' from the Mayor of Hamilton City for my contribution. I was also invited to be a member of the Board of Trustee of Multicultural Services Trust and the Indigo Festival Trust: both Trusts are formed by Hamilton city council. I published booklets on Indian culture on both occasions, and also helped to release a book on “Indo-Maori cultures”. My work for the Hindu community in New Zealand was recognised by the World Hindu Council, a worldwide Hindu organisation dedicated to humanitarian work, who invited me to become a member of Board of Trustees (2003-2006).

I believe in the Vedic principle of Vasudaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one large family).