James Douglas Watson CNZM (1943 – 13 February 2017) was a New Zealand biotechnologist and entrepreneur.
After growing up in Te Teko in the Bay of Plenty, Watson completed a Master of Science degree[1] and then a PhD[2] at the University of Auckland.
[4] In 1994, Watson established Genesis Research and Development, an NZX-listed, now defunct, biotechnology company based in Auckland.
[6][7] Watson served as president of the Royal Society of New Zealand between 2004 and 2006;[3] he was preceded in that role by Gil Simpson and followed by Neville Jordan.
[8] In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, Watson was appointed a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to scientific and medical research.