This election reflected Dr McMahon’s major contributions to health research and helping disadvantaged people throughout the world, society organisers said.
Dr McMahon has a University of Otago PhD in human nutrition and chairs the governance board of the "healthier lives" national science challenge, whose director is Prof Jim Mann, of Otago University.
After spending her childhood in Malaysia, Singapore, England and New Zealand, she gained nursing qualifications, society organisers said.
Her nursing experience in outback Australia, Cambodia and war-torn Angola led to her appointment as regional nutritionist for Africa for the Red Cross, with responsibility for African conflict areas.
She received an Outstanding Service Award from the NZ Red Cross in 1989; the Florence Nightingale Medal from the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1991; and was awarded an MBE in 1993.
