A graduate of Lincoln College in the late 1950's, he joined the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research where he investigated aspects of tree growth, flowering, fruiting, and storage of apples, pears, peaches, apricots and nectarines. Between 1961 and 1964 he studied for a PhD at the Waite Institute in Adelaide. In 1968 he returned to Lincoln where he extended his research to include grape production and physiology. He is co-author of The Production of Grapes and Wine in Cool Climate Viticulture, Pruning and Training, and Edible Tree Nuts in New Zealand. Now retired, Graham Thiele was Associate Professor in the Department of Horticulture at Lincoln University. He is a graduate of Massey and Lincoln Universities, and has a wide practical knowledge of fruit production. He joined the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in 1952 as a cadet and later was an adviser in Motueka and Christchurch. He joined Lincoln University in 1962 and in 1967 was given the responsibility for developing new courses in horticulture economics and management. He has lectured and consulted internationally where his expertise in the systems approach to education, extention, and research has created considerable interest. was Head of the Pomology and Viticulture Section at Summerland for more than 15 years. His service to national and international horticultural science includes being Chair of the Fruit Section of the International Society for Horticultural Science (1994-2000), President of the Canadian Society for Horticultural Science (1997-99; CSHS Life Membership awarded in 2002), President of the 24th International Horticultural Congress (2002), and President of the International Society for Horticultural Science (2002-2010; awarded Fellow of ISHS in 2006). Dr. Looney is also a Fellow of the American Society for Horticultural Science (1985). He owns and operates a peach orchard overlooking Okanagan Lake in interior British Columbia. graduated in horticulture from Wye College, University of London. Between 1971 and 1978 he lectured in crop and horticultural sciences at the University of Swaziland and completed an MSc in Applied Plant Sciences with London University. His experience in southern Africa broadened his range beyond temperate fruit production. He emigrated to New Zealand and joined the staff of Lincoln University in 1978. He currently lectures in horticulture and viticulture and supervises postgraduate students. In his research he has worked with subtropical and temperate fruits including kiwifruit, pepino, persimmon, feijoa, raspberry, strawberry, apples and pears. He has worked on sabbatical leave in Australia and the USA. Recently he visited and lectured in universities in China.
