Stacey joined DairyNZ in 2023 as a scientist. Her background covers research relating to animal science, particularly in the areas of dairy cattle health, behaviour, and welfare.

Her role at DairyNZ is focused on ensuring dairy animals have a good life. “At the centre of my work is the farmer and the animal, and I care deeply about both,” says Stacey. “We have a duty of care to cows as sentient beings and need to ensure they have a good life. Also, having healthy, productive animals is important to farmers. I care about the welfare of farmers, and solving on-farm problems is important to their livelihoods, wellbeing and families, and the wider community; it has a big flow on effect.”

Wearables are becoming an essential tool in behavioural research and Stacey enjoys analysing the large data sets they produce. She also has input into other projects that closely match her expertise such as heat stress research.

Stacey’s nomadic childhood, as the daughter of sharemilking parents who relished challenging the status quo, sowed the seed for her interest in science and its applications in the dairy sector. She has a Bachelor of Science, and Master and PhD qualifications in Animal Science, all from Massey University. Her PhD investigated the use of wearable technology to signal the behavioural changes that could indicate the presence of disease in dairy cows.