Gillian Shirley Wratt (born 1954) is a New Zealand botanist and science administrator. She was the first woman director of the New Zealand Antarctic Programme (1992–1996) and made a Member of the

New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant (document), royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Monarchy of New Zealand, Queen of New Zealand, "for th ...

for services to

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean (also known as the Antarctic Ocean), it contains the geographic South Pole. ...

Early life and education

Wratt was born in

Motueka Motueka is a town in the South Island of New Zealand, close to the mouth of the Motueka River on the western shore of Tasman Bay. It is the second largest in the Tasman Region, with a population of as of The surrounding district has a numb ...

and attended Motueka High School. She gained a B.Sc. degree with honours in Botany (1972–1975) from the

University of Canterbury The University of Canterbury (UC; ; postnominal abbreviation ''Cantuar.'' or ''Cant.'' for ''Cantuariensis'', the Latin name for Canterbury) is a public research university based in Christchurch, New Zealand. It was founded in 1873 as Canterbur ...

Christchurch Christchurch (; ) is the largest city in the South Island and the List of cities in New Zealand, second-largest city by urban area population in New Zealand. Christchurch has an urban population of , and a metropolitan population of over hal ...

, New Zealand. She joined the Plant Physiology Division of the

Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, abbreviated DSIR was the name of several British Empire organisations founded after the 1923 Imperial Conference to foster intra-Empire trade and development. * Department of Scientific and Industria ...

(DSIR) in

Palmerston North Palmerston North (; , colloquially known as Palmerston or Palmy) is a city in the North Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Located in the eastern Manawatū Plains, the city is near the north bank of the Manaw ...

in 1977 and in 1979 was transferred to

Wellington Wellington is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the third-largest city in New Zealand (second largest in the North Island ...

, where she worked for the Natural Research Advisory Council as the secretary to the Primary Production Committee which was concerned with research programmes and their funding. A DSIR study award enabled her to gain a master's degree in Business Administration from the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD) is a public university, public research university in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in both Australia and Oceania. One of Australia's six sandstone universities, it was one of the ...

(1990).

Career and impact

Wratt was Director of the New Zealand Antarctic Programme from 1992 to 1996 (being its first woman director) and then chief executive of the newly formed New Zealand Antarctic Institute (Antarctica New Zealand) from 1996 to 2002. She has also held a number of advisory positions relating to Antarctic science and operations including Chair of the

Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs (COMNAP) is an international association that develops and promotes best practice in managing the support of scientific research in Antarctica. Members are composed of national research programs ...

(COMNAP), 1998–2002, Vice Chair of Antarctic Treaty Committee on Environmental Protection, 1998–2001; Chair of the Cape Roberts Project Operations Management Group, 1993–2001. Wratt authored a history of COMNAP, “A Story of Antarctic Co-operation: 25 Years of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs”, published in 2013. She has worked in a range of scientific and environmental management roles in addition to her Antarctic roles, including environment negotiator for New Zealand free trade agreements, and establishment unit convenor for the Crop and Food Research Institute. Notably, Wratt was chief executive of the not-for-profit

Cawthron Institute The Cawthron Institute is New Zealand's largest independent science organisation, specialising in science that supports the environment and development within primary industries. Cawthron has its main facilities in Nelson, New Zealand, Nelson. I ...

during 2006–2012. She is currently a board member of the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority. In 2018 she became the chair of the New Zealand Antarctic Science Platform Steering Group, a seven-year initiative to boost New Zealand science in and around Antarctica. She is also a Freshwater Commissioner in the

Office of the Chief Freshwater Commissioner The Office of the Chief Freshwater Commissioner is a New Zealand government commission established by the Resource Management Act 1991, Resource Management Amendment Act 2020, as part of a new Freshwater Planning Process (FPP). The Resource Mana ...

Awards and honours

She was awarded the

New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal The New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 was established by Royal Warrant on 1 July 1993. It was created to commemorate Women's suffrage in New Zealand and to recognize those New Zealand and Commonwealth citizens who had made a significant ...

in 1993, and was appointed a

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have ...

, for services to the New Zealand Antarctic programme, in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours.

References

External links

Images of Gillian Wratt
at the Antarctica NZ Digital Asset Manager {{DEFAULTSORT:Wratt, Gillian New Zealand women scientists 1954 births Living people New Zealand Antarctic scientists Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit People from Motueka University of Canterbury alumni University of Sydney alumni People associated with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (New Zealand) People associated with the Cawthron Institute Recipients of the New Zealand Suffrage Centennial Medal 1993 Women Antarctic scientists 20th-century New Zealand scientists 21st-century New Zealand botanists People educated at Motueka High School 21st-century New Zealand women scientists