Catherine Bacon

Catherine completed undergraduate degrees in Physical Education and Physiology at the University of Otago. She gained her MSc at the University of British Columbia in exercise physiology within the Allan McGavin Sports Medicine Centre mentored by Professor Don McKenzie, and PhD at the University of Auckland University in clinical endocrinology/nutrition under the supervision of Professor Ian Reid. Catherine has worked in higher education and in public physical activity mentorship roles in New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom, including 6 years lecturing in Sport and Exercise Science in the UK, primarily at Sheffield Hallam University. Since finishing her doctorate, Catherine has worked part-time as a Research Fellow for the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, in the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland; in physical rehabilitation at Unitec Institute of Technology, supervising 25 clinical postgraduate students to thesis completion; and as a research database manager for a private orthopaedic surgeon. As a busy working mum to a young son, Catherine has given up all aspirations of eventual middle distance running stardom, but still manages to trot off regularly for runs and more recently fits in other forms of exercise, and the odd multisport competition, to help stave off premature arthritis and chronic overuse running injuries. Catherine was inaugural treasurer of the University of Auckland Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Postdoctoral Society to contribute to its goals of promoting healthful social and professional interactions amongst early career researchers in New Zealand. She maintains an active interest in developing the evidence basis supporting exercise and sport science practice in New Zealand and has recently joined the board of Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand.
Supervisors: Professors Will Hopkins & Ailsa Goulding (undergraduate dissertation), Professors Don McKenzie and Jerilynn Prior (Masters thesis), and Professor Ian Reid (PhD)