William Rolleston

William is co-founder of biotech and vaccine manufacturing company South Pacific Sera Limited - a biotech industry pioneer which grew out of a diversification of his family’s farming business on Blue Cliffs Station.

William has advocated for science, industry and agriculture as the founding chair of Aotearoa New Zealand’s biotechnology industry association (now Biotech NZ) and the Life Sciences Network; as president of both New Zealand Federated Farmers and the World Farmers Organisation; and has advised local and central government on science strategy, economic development and biosecurity through the Science and Innovation Boards, Aoraki Development Trust and as external advisor to the Governor of the Reserve Bank.

William chairs Genomics Aotearoa, has a degree in medicine and was awarded the Distinguished Biotechnologist of the Year for services to the biotechnology industry in 2009.  In 2019 he received a Special Commendation Award at the South Canterbury Business Excellence Awards in 2019 for services to local business and was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2017 for services to farming.