It is with great sadness that we share the news of Ian Graves' passing, as the result of an accident while surfing at his beloved Whale Bay, Raglan.
Ian completed all three of his degrees at the University of Waikato; a BSc(Tech) in 1989, a MSc(Tech) (“Optimising soyabean oil hydrogenation conditions to improve flavour for the Japanese market”) in 1993 and a PhD with Alistair Wilkins (“Some chemical aspects of seed oil production”) in 1997.
Ian dedicated 19 years to Hill Labs, making a lasting contribution not only to the field of Air Quality testing, but also to the many people who had the privilege of working alongside him. He was a respected colleague, a memorable character, and a valued friend whose presence left a positive mark on our workplace. After retiring early in January 2024, Ian remained a familiar face at the Hill Labs Hamilton lab, often dropping in to catch up with friends. His visits were always warmly welcomed and reflected the strong connections he built during his time at Hill Labs.
Since Ian's passing, many of those who knew Ian have shared stories, laughter, and fond memories of time spent with him. We hope these memories bring comfort as we reflect on the impact that he had on so many lives. Ian will be deeply missed by the Hill Labs whānau. Our thoughts are with Ian's wife, Andrea, and children, Jack and Anna.
