Michelle Rogan-Finnemore

Michelle Rogan-Finnemore is a New Zealand-American science administrator, and currently the Executive Secretary of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP) which is the international association which brings together the National Antarctic Programs that make up its members. She is also the namesake of Finnemore Peak. The title of her Masters thesis was "The legal implications of bioprospecting in the Antarctic region."

Career and impact Rogan-Finnemore was the Manager of Gateway Antarctica, the center for Antarctic Studies and Research, (University of Canterbury) before taking on role of Executive Secretary of COMNAP on July 1, 2009 at which point the COMNAP Secretariat moved to Gateway Antarctica at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Rogan-Finnemore has twice wintered in Antarctica with the U.S.A. Antarctic Program, firstly at the Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in 1990 as the team leader for geodesy and seismology observations for the U.S. Geological Survey and secondly at McMurdo Station in 1992. During the second season, Rogan-Finnemore conducted ionospheric studies and satellite observations for the University of Texas. She has also worked in Antarctica over many summer seasons.

She has been a delegate or head of delegation to eleven Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings.

Awards and honors In recognition of her Antarctic service, Rogan-Finnmore was awarded the US Antarctic Service Medal twice in both 1990 and 1992.

In 2014, Rogan-Finnemore received the Christchurch City Council Civic Award for her contributions to Antarctic Science. This award was presented by Mayor Lianne Dalziel saying that each recipient of the award represents the highest ideal of citizenship – dedication and outstanding service to others. Mayor Dalziel expressed her gratitude and appreciation to the awardees.