Maria Berryman

Biography

Maria is a commercial barrister specialising in employment law including human rights and discrimination. Maria is a frequent presenter at national employment law and human resources conferences. She also undertakes frequent independent investigations in her capacity as a barrister sole. Some of Maria’s clients include the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society. Maria has a son with a rare genetic syndrome, Apert syndrome, which causes the skull to fuse prematurely and the mid-face to grow at a third of the rate of the rest of the face.  Maria has spent many years communicating and negotiating with health care and education providers. Maria’s focus is to increase opportunities for and acceptance of difference, both physical and cognitive within educational and professional environments.

Research Interest

Rare diseases treatment, orphan drugs, rare diseases