Our Story
At CertusBio, we are on a mission to harness the power of smart science to help our customers optimise their production potential while safeguarding their impact on the environment.
Our industry-first technology was developed by an international research consortium including Lincoln Agritech, Leibniz Institute for Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research, University of Auckland, Cawthron Institute, Lund University, University of Vienna and Ara Institute of Canterbury.
After robust trials with two of New Zealand’s leading dairy processors, our innovative monitoring system consistently demonstrates its ability to detect product losses during processing. We are now proudly rolling out with dairy producers across the globe, helping them operate with more certainty.
Current loss monitoring solutions have plant operators in the dark waiting on lab test results and troubleshooting weeks after a loss event. Our industry-first bio-sensor technology empowers dairy processors with real-time data so they can make proactive decisions on the go.
The CertusBio continuous monitoring system provides easy access to real-time data so that processing teams can now mitigate losses and quality issues at the source.
“An average dairy food processing plant will lose up to 5% of products during processing; that’s literally millions of dollars down the drain per year. ”
Guided by Values
Driving Change
At CertusBio, we are on a mission to leverage the power of smart science to drive positive change for the global food processing industry.
Sustainable Impact
We are helping industrial food processors transition to a more sustainable model of production. It is our goal that implementing our technology means a good news story for our customers’ sustainability initiatives.
Simplicity
We have dug deep into the science, so our customers don’t have to. Simplicity and ease have been our guiding principles in creating technology that is easy to integrate and operate.
Trusted Partner
We partner with our clients, standing alongside them with a clear view of the challenges they face. Our consulting team is passionate about providing the tools and insights to help our customers reach their full production potential.
Our Team
Our team combines a mix of dairy industry experience and business nous which enables us to build partnerships with our clients, standing alongside them with a clear view of the challenges they face. We are passionate about providing the tools and insights to help our customers reach their full production potential.
Matthew Jones
CEO & Founder
Matthew is the CEO of CertusBio, and as Founder, he has been involved in developing the technology from prototype to an industrially reliable process monitoring system.
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With a background in medicinal chemistry and immunology, coupled with significant experience in early-stage commercialisation of academic research, Matthew is responsible for setting the vision and strategy of the company.
Passionate about developing a pathway for the commercialisation of the great science undertaken in New Zealand’s universities, he hopes CertusBio will become a trusted partner for the process industries across the globe. “CertusBio’s technology is based on the latest scientific developments that have been made simple to use and reliable, meaning that customers will adopt our solutions to solve their processing problems.”
In his down-time, Matt loves golf, spending time with his family, and travelling to get new experiences.
Eustina Fraser
Chief Scientist
Eustina came on-board with CertusBio in January 2022 as Chief Scientist, bringing with her a wealth of industry knowledge.
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As an experienced researcher, she has held numerous commercial and academic positions in the food industry, most recently Senior Research Scientist at Synlait Milk.
Holding a PhD in Food Science, Eustina is passionate about science-based solutions and “translating industry needs into science questions that we can work on.” As Chief Scientist, Eustina is responsible for finding new applications for CertusBio’s technology while supporting the current products.
Through trusted relationships with key customers, Eustina believes CertusBio will become a brand that has taken biosensors outside of the research lab and into the food and bioprocessing environment. With her experience in process and product development, she finds “delivering solutions for customers with proven effectiveness” the most satisfying in her work.
When she’s not at work, she’s hanging out with her family; hiking, camping, travelling, cooking, baking, dining out, playing music, or just doing nothing together.
Sam Eathorne
Business Development Manager
Sam joined the CertusBio team early 2022, coming on board as Business Development Manager.
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Sam moved from Synlait Milk where she was in the Continuous Improvement space, focused on liquid and powder processing. Prior to this, she spent two years in Synlait’s graduate programme, rotating around the company and gaining business-wide experience.
With an Honours degree in Food Process Engineering and post-graduate study in Environmental Management, Sam is passionate about sustainable growth. “The dairy industry is such a critical player in our economy, however, is equally prominent in contributing to the degradation of the environment. This undoubtedly presents a huge challenge, but I also believe it serves as a huge opportunity.”
This attitude led Sam to CertusBio, where she aims to bridge the gap between technical innovation and the production floor, advising existing customers and finding new commercial opportunities.
Outside of work, Sam spends her time on the latest renovation project with her partner and puppy, enjoying cooking, travelling and the sun in between.
Tinu Thomas
Electronics Engineer
Tinu joined CertusBio in November 2021 as our Electronics Engineer, contributing to product development, electronics design and data management.
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Having studied in both New Zealand and India, Tinu is an experienced Electronics and Computer Engineer, specialising in sensor design, real-time monitoring systems and object-oriented programming.
Passionate about technology and with an eagerness to learn new things, Tinu enjoys the friendly working environment, freedom to think, and flexibility at CertusBio. Tinu is driven to ensure “CertusBio systems will be a requisite for processing plants across a range of industries.”
Outside of work, Tinu loves to spend time with her family, sing and listen to music, as well as cooking and gardening.
Our Board
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Kieran Jina
Director
Kieran is an experienced life sciences professional and investor with two exits generating significant returns; Engender Technologies Limited and Aroa Biosurgery Limited (ASX:ARX). He is a partner in the Pacific Channel Fund II, a $55m fund focused on early stage deep technology ventures. This is the largest fund of its type and sector in NZ.
Kieran is CEO at Upstream Medical Technologies, which is developing novel biomarkers for ambulatory use. Its current focus is Marker C, a putative marker for cardiac ischemia to be applied to chest pain patients presenting to the ER. Cardiac ischemia is a significant risk factor for a future heart attack, however there is no biomarker strategy for its diagnosis.
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Barry Richardson
Director
Barry Richardson began his career as a scientist at the NZ Dairy Research Institute before joining the NZ Dairy Board in 1985 as a Business Development Manager, undertaking roles in several biotechnology and nutritional Dairy Board joint venture companies.
Barry joined Tatua Co-Op Dairy Company in 1991 as General Manager, Tatua Biologics and was later appointed General Manager, International and Strategic Development commercialising value added dairy ingredients. He was appointed CEO of Westland Milk Products when the Company elected to be an independent exporter of dairy products in late 2001. From 2006-2016 Barry was CEO of Blis Technologies Limited, through the period when the Company transitioned from a research company into a commercial entity.
Barry has a M.Sc. (Hons) in Biochemistry and a Ph.D. from Massey University. He is a past Fellow of the NZ Institute of Management and a Fellow of the NZ Institute of Food Science and Technology. He was awarded the JC Andrews award for distinction in Food Science and Technology in 2003. Barry was appointed a director of Blis Technologies Ltd in 2018.
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Edward Parker
Director
Ed is the Regional Manager (Taranaki) for NZ Trade & Enterprise, working with a selection of high growth potential specialised manufacturing and renewable energy businesses to grow their international revenue. Ed is also a trustee (and Deputy Chairperson) of WISE Charitable Trust. He was the GM of the trust from its inception in 2002 through to 2005. Ed holds an MBA, Dip Dy Science & Technology, and a Bachelor of Science (Chemistry).
Past experience includes general management and project roles in the dairy industry and in the oil industry. He has worked in commercial and finance roles on Pohokura, Kupe and Mangahawe gas field development projects from 2005 - 2014. He managed Kiwi Dairies agribusiness from 1994 – 1999. His direct experience in a dairy technology start-up and in introducing new technologies into industrial processes, including dairy, makes Ed an invaluable director for CertusBio.
Director Emeritus
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Colin Harvey
Director Emeritus (deceased)
In memory of Colin Harvey
Colin Harvey is recognised for making a major contribution to the New Zealand agricultural industry. In recent years he has chaired the growth of several significant new companies. This has included Hobbiton Scenic attraction, and biotech start-ups Mastaplex, Certusbio, and Orbis. Previously he built animal health company Ancare.
From a family of dairy farmers in Taranaki Colin graduated with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from Massey University and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland. Prior to setting up Ancare he worked in a range of roles including marketing and general management with Coopers Wellcome in New Zealand and Australia.
Colin has contributed significantly to industry affairs and in 2008 was made an Officer of NZ Order of Merit and in 2009 a member North Shore Enterprise Hall of Fame.
In 2000 Colin was elected as Chairman of NZ Agritech and retired from this position in 2006. He farmed Lake McKay Station in Wanaka (9000 su) and was also an active investor in a number of technology investments. Colin was a Council Member of Massey University. Sadly, Colin passed away unexpectedly in 2022.