Di McCarthy

McCarthy completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and music, followed by a Master of Science degree at the University of Auckland. She also completed a PhD in experimental psychology at the university in 1979.{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/992778476 |title=Illuminating Our World: 150 Years of the Royal Society Te Apārangi |last=Martin |first=John E. |date=12 December 2023 |publisher=Royal Society Te Apārangi |isbn=9781927249574 |location=Wellington |oclc=992778476}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/science/80713934/marlborough-scientist-dr-dianne-mccarthy-becomes-companion-of-the-new-zealand-order-of-merit |title=Marlborough scientist Dr Dianne McCarthy becomes Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit |work=Stuff |date=5 June 2016 |first=Selina |last=Powell}} The title of her doctoral thesis was A behavioural analysis of signal-detection performance.{{cite thesis |url=http://hdl.handle.net/2292/1437 |title=A behavioural analysis of signal-detection performance |first=Dianne Christine |last=McCarthy |type=PhD |year=1979 |location=University of Auckland |hdl=2292/1437 |access-date=2 March 2022}}

McCarthy held a number of senior management and governance roles in the tertiary education, science and health sectors. She was a professor and pro vice-chancellor of the University of Auckland, and served as the chief executive of the Royal Society of New Zealand from 2007 to 2014, after two terms on the society's council from 2000 to 2007.

McCarthy published scientific literature in the area of behavioural neuroscience{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/16227248 |title=The matching law : a research review |last1=Michael |first1=Davison |last2=McCarthy |first2=Dianne |date=1988 |publisher=L. Erlbaum |isbn=0909599238 |location=Hillsdale, N.J. |oclc=16227248}} and lectured in this area at the University of Auckland from 1981, becoming head of the Department of Psychology in 1991. In 1995, she was promoted to professor and served as associate dean of the university's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

McCarthy sat on a number of company boards, including Powerhouse Ventures Ltd, and the Cawthron Institute, and was a member of the governance boards of the Dodd-Walls Centre for Photonic and Quantum Technologies, and the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge. She was also acting chair of the Ageing Well National Science Challenge. She was a trustee of the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research{{Cite web |url=http://www.malaghan.org.nz/our-history/our-people/dr-dianne-c-mccarthy/ |title=Dr Dianne C McCarthy |website=Malaghan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190124145929/https://www.malaghan.org.nz/our-history/our-people/dr-dianne-c-mccarthy/ |archive-date=24 January 2019}} and the Hearing Research Foundation (NZ), and a member of the Science Advisory Board of the Centre for Brain Research at the University of Auckland. She served on the boards of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research{{Cite web |url=https://healthierlives.co.nz/team/dr-di-mccarthy/ |title=Dr Di McCarthy |website=Healthier Lives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223042139/https://healthierlives.co.nz/team/dr-di-mccarthy/ |archive-date=23 December 2018}} and of the Bragato Research Institute.{{cite web |title=Meet Board Member Dr Dianne McCarthy |url=https://bri.co.nz/2020/08/20/dr-dianne-mccarthy/ |website=Bragato Research Institute |date=20 August 2020}}

Notable doctoral students of McCarthy's include Rita Krishnamurthi.{{Cite thesis |title=Treatment Effects of the N-terminal tripeptide of insulin-like growth factor-1, GPE, in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease |last=Krishnamurthi |first=Rita |date=2006 |degree=PhD |publisher=University of Auckland |url=https://academics.aut.ac.nz/rita.krishnamurthi/publications}}

McCarthy was co-opted into the Royal Society of New Zealand Council to improve the representation of women. According to the official Royal Society of New Zealand history, Illuminating Our World, McCarthy found the Society "rather inward-looking, with little engagement and established in its ways".

While chief executive of the Royal Society, McCarthy helped to establish the New Zealand Women in Leadership programme{{Cite news |url=https://www.parliament.nz/en/visit-and-learn/how-parliament-works/office-of-the-speaker/speeches/new-zealand-women-and-leadership-in-the-tertiary-education-sector/ |title=New Zealand Women and Leadership In the Tertiary Education Sector |date=11 June 2007 |publisher=New Zealand Parliament}} that helped women in tertiary institutions to become leaders. She was interested in equity issues throughout her career, being appointed pro vice-chancellor of equal opportunities at the University of Auckland in 2005. She served as a New Zealand judge for the L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Awards.{{Cite web |url=https://nzscienceteacher.co.nz/index.php/science-education-society/loreal-expands-renowned-science-scholarship/ |title=L'Oréal expands renowned science scholarship |website=New Zealand Science Teacher |date=27 March 2015}}

McCarthy died in Blenheim on 5 April 2025.{{cite news |url=https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/dianne-mccarthy-obituary?id=58088921 |title=Dianne McCarthy obituary |date=9 April 2025 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=9 April 2025}} She had been predeceased by her husband, Frank Metcalfe, in January 2025.{{cite news |url=https://notices.nzherald.co.nz/nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/name/richard-metcalfe-obituary?id=57312724 |title=Richard Metcalfe obituary |date=20 January 2025 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=9 April 2025}}

McCarthy was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to education, in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours,{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2008 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2008 |date=2 June 2008 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=3 March 2022}} and a Companion of the Royal Society of New Zealand for her services to science in 2015. In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to science, business and women.{{Cite web |url=https://www.dpmc.govt.nz/queens-90th-birthday-honours-list-2016-citations-companions-new-zealand-order-merit |title=The Queen's 90th Birthday Honours List 2016 – Citations for Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |date=23 May 2016 |language=en-NZ |access-date=5 August 2017}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2016/06/08/science-recognised-in-queens-birthday-honours/|title=Science recognised in Queen's Birthday Honours|date=8 June 2016|access-date=5 August 2017}} When she was awarded the honour, she said she wanted to let young women know that science is not just for boys.{{Cite news|url=http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/06/honoured-scientist-backs-careers-for-women.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806062002/http://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/06/honoured-scientist-backs-careers-for-women.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 August 2017|title=Honoured scientist backs careers for women|date=6 June 2016|work=Newshub|access-date=5 August 2017}}

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Category:20th-century births

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Category:2025 deaths

Category:New Zealand women scientists

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Category:University of Auckland alumni

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Category:New Zealand women psychologists

Category:Companions of the New Zealand Order of Merit

Category:People associated with the Cawthron Institute

Category:Companions of the Royal Society of New Zealand

Category:20th-century New Zealand psychologists

Category:21st-century New Zealand psychologists