Michelle Shields is the National Manager of Learning and Development at AgResearch, a New Zealand Crown Research Institute. As part of her role, she is responsible for leadership and team development and management of individual training programmes to meet science and technology professional skill requirements.

Michelle has over 20 years experience in human resource development. Prior to joining AgResearch she was a frontline leadership coach and manager of new product training at Telecom New Zealand and a Senior Lecturer in Business Studies with the Christchurch College of Education. Before taking up permanent residency in New Zealand in 2002, Michelle worked with several North American companies including IBM, Nortel Networks and Bell Northern Research.

She holds an MS degree in Organisational Development and Behaviour from Eastern Michigan University and a PhD in Psychology from North Carolina State University. Her research focuses on the use of Systems Thinking tools and methodologies to enhance understanding of organisational performance.