Rate My Professor Donna Hendry

Dr Donna Hendry is the Manager of the Research Integrity Office (Te Tari Rangahau Matatika) within the Research Division at the University of Otago. In this capacity, she plays a pivotal role in fostering research excellence across the institution by providing comprehensive support throughout the research lifecycle. Her responsibilities encompass research ethics support and compliance, facilitated through the management of the Human Ethics Committees and the Animal Ethics Committee. Additionally, she oversees the collection, verification, and maintenance of publication and research output data in the Research Outputs Database (ROD). Dr Hendry manages external research assessment processes, including the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF), and coordinates publication and output information reporting for departmental reviews, strategic assessments, promotions, and academic staff webpages. She also contributes to policy development related to research integrity and procedures for managing animal ethics non-compliance events.

Donna Hendry earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Religion/Religious Studies from the University of Otago, with her doctoral dissertation exploring religion, ethnicity, and identity in Burma (Myanmar), emphasizing political Buddhism and ethnic relations under the State Peace and Development Council. This builds on her Master of Arts degree, completed in 2002 at the same university, investigating 'Buddhist influences in Burmese political history' under the supervision of Malcolm McLean in the Religion programme. Her scholarly contributions include presentations at international conferences, such as the 2008 International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies with the paper 'Building a Bridge: Literal and Metaphorical Building of National Unity in Burma.' She received a grant from the Young Leaders Network to attend the 8th International Burma Studies Conference. Dr Hendry serves on the national PBRF Sector Reference Group for the 2026 Quality Evaluation, contributing to research assessment standards in New Zealand's tertiary sector.