Carnaby completed a
PhD at the Department of Textile Industries at
University of Leeds in 1976. The title of his doctoral thesis was
The structure and mechanical properties of wool carpet yarns. He then returned to New Zealand, where he rose to become managing director of the
Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand. In 1989 Carnaby received a
DSc by thesis (
Publications and papers on wool and the wool industry) from the
University of New South Wales, followed by an honorary
DSc from
Lincoln University in 2010. Carnaby served as president of the
Royal Society of New Zealand from 2009 to 2012, preceded by
Neville Jordan and followed by
David Skegg. Carnaby has also served as chair of the board of the
Canterbury Development Corporation and chair for
Marsden Fund Council (2005–2009). He has served as 'Entrepreneur in Residence' and chair of the Research and Commercialisation Committee at
Lincoln University. ==Honours==