Our People

Brendon Gill

As Principal Research Scientist for Fonterra based at Waitoa, I am the company’s subject matter expert on vitamin and micronutrients analysis. Over many years I have been lead researcher and developer of numerous methods designed to solve current and exigent analytical issues in infant formula analysis as well as undertaking primary research to further our understanding in the field of dairy science.

I have developed and validated over two dozen new analytical methods that used every single day to analyse micronutrients in milk, infant formula and other dairy products to demonstrate product compliance to strict product specifications and international regulations. Additionally, many of these methods have been adopted by other laboratories around the world with four of these collaboratively studied and adopted as international reference methods defined in national regulations and international standards.
I am a technical expert within AOAC International and the International Standards Organisation and regularly participate in the development of international reference methods used globally to measure micronutrients in infant formula. As an active member of within AOAC International, I hold several senior roles in the association, including Past-chair of the Editorial Board of the Journal of AOAC International and Chair of the Official Methods Board.

I have won several national and international awards, most recently the 2023 Easterfield Medal from NZIC. I received a BSc, MSc(hons), and PhD in chemistry from the University of Waikato and is a fellow of AOAC International and of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry. I have authored of over 50 scientific publications related to micronutrients and dairy analysis and regularly presents in international forums on these subjects.