Red X iconGreen tick iconYellow tick icon
Skip to main content Skip to side navigation

Leadership Group

Our leadership group consists of senior researchers across the University of Otago's Divisions of Commerce, Health Sciences, Humanities, and Sciences.

Professor Philip Hill, Co-Director

McAuley Professor of International Health,Philip Hill tn Department of Preventive and Social Medicine

Professor Hill's fields of expertise include infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries.

Professor Patrick Vakaoti, Co-Director

Te Tumu School of Māori, Pacific and Indigenous StudiesPatrick V TN

Professor Vakaoti is interested in issues experienced by Pacific children and young people. He offers advice on Pacific engagement and relationships.

Dr Htin Lin Aung

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Dr Htin Lin Aung

Dr Htin Lin Aung is a Royal Society of New Zealand Rutherford Discovery Fellow. The overarching theme of Dr Aung’s research is antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and health inequities. Using tuberculosis (TB) as an exemplar, Dr Aung’s research combines genomics, molecular biology, clinical microbiology, molecular epidemiology, health economics and social science.

Professor Phil Bremer

Department of Food SciencePhil Bremer new TN

Phil is a Professor in the Department of Food Science at the University of Otago. He applies a multi-disciplinary approach involving microbiology, product development, flavour and sensory science and, increasingly, social science to determine how the way a food is produced and promoted impacts on its suitability, acceptability and value in the market place.

Professor John CrumpJohn_Crump_tn

Centre for International Health

Professor Crump's expertise is in infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries, and ethics in global health.

Associate Professor Christina Ergler

School of GeographyChristina E TN

Associate Professor Christina Ergler is a geographer driven by a passion for creating just, sustainable and inclusive environments that enhance the quality of life of humans and non-humans.

Dr Elizabeth Fenton

Bioethics Centre Elizabeth Fenton image

Elizabeth is a lecturer in the Bioethics Centre with a background in philosophy and public health. Her research focuses on ethical issues in public health, global health, and health policy.

Dr Jeff Foote

Department of Management Jeff Foote image

Dr Jeff Foote is a senior lecturer in the Department of Management. He is an applied researcher with expertise in using systems thinking to address ‘wicked problems’. Jeff is skilled in designing and facilitating multi-stakeholder fora where stakeholders create shared understanding and commitment to action. He has a proven track record in undertaking impactful research and evaluation projects for central and local government, non-government organisations, business and hāpu. Jeff is an active member of the University of Otago’s Te Maea: Māori and Indigenous Economy and Enterprise Network.

Professor Stephen Knowles

Department of EconomicsKnowlesTN

Stephen's research interests include the economics of altruism, with a specific focus on what motivates people to donate to international development charities.

Professor Katrina Sharples

Department of Mathematics and Statisticskatrina_sharples new TN

Katrina is a biostatistician with broad interests in statistical methods for clinical and epidemiological research, and particular expertise in clinical trials. She is the lead statistician for Cancer Trials New Zealand, the Centre for International Health and the Pharmacoepidemiology Research Network, and is also a member of the Centre for Translational Research in Cancer.

Dr Lena Tan

Politics Programme

Dr Tan is senior lecturer in International Relations and her research interests include identity, IR theory, constructivism, postcolonialism, the construction and constitution of the Global South in IR/ir, twentieth century decolonization, and Indonesian security and foreign policy.

Professor Tony Walls

Department of Paediatrics, University of Otago, ChristchurchTony Walls TN

Professor Walls trained in Paediatrics at both Christchurch and Dunedin Hospitals and has an ongoing clinical interest in the management of infection in immunocompromised children. He has also worked as a Consultant at Sydney Children's Hospital, and was lead clinician for the Paediatric HIV Service.

Advisory Group

Our Advisory Group includes people from institutions, agencies, and business, who have international standing and expertise in their field.

Professor Richard Adegbola

Richard AdegbolaRAMBICON

Professor Richard Adegbola is an independent consultant in Immunisation & Global Health at RAMBICON, Lagos, Nigeria. He obtained a PhD in Medical Microbiology (Univ. of Dundee, UK), did postdoctoral work at Biomedicum (Uppsala, Sweden), and became a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists (London UK). He was awarded honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians, London in 2008, elected a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science in 2016. He serves on several international scientific advisory boards.

Professor J A (Tony) Binns

Tony Binns thumbnailEmeritus Professor, School of Geography

Professor Tony Binns held the Ron Lister Chair of Geography in the University of Otago from 2004 to 2021 and was one of the founding members of OGHI's Leadership Group.  He has worked in the field of Geography and Development Studies for over 50 years, and has a longstanding interest in post-conflict reconstruction, food production systems, food security and community-based development. Much of his field-based research has been undertaken in sub-Saharan Africa, but he has also worked in China, Fiji, Samoa, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Tony is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and was President of the Geographical Association (UK) in 1995, President of the New Zealand Geographical Society (2010–2011) and President of the Commonwealth Geographical Bureau (2008–2016). He is an Honorary Life Member of Volunteer Service Abroad ( VSA , NZ ). In 2014, he was made a chief in Sandor Chiefdom in north-eastern Sierra Leone, West Africa – his title is Chief Manjawah of Sandor.

Professor Jim Mann

University of Otago

Professor Mann has been Professor in Human Nutrition and Medicine at the University of Otago and Consultant Physician (Endocrinology) in Dunedin Hospital for 25 years. He is Director of the Healthier Lives National Science Challenge, the Director of Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research (EDOR), the WHO Collaborating Centre for Human Nutrition, and Principal Investigator for the Riddet Institute, a National Centre of Research Excellence at Massey University, Palmerston North.

Professor Helen Nicholson

University of OtagoHelen Nicholson TN

Professor Nicholson's external appointments include membership of the Executive of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists and the Council of the National University of Samoa, she is also a member of the Governance groups for the Ageing Well and Healthier Lives National Science Challenges.

Faumuina Professor Fa'afetai Sopoaga

Tai Sapoaga Director Va'a o Tautai

Faumuina Professor Fa'afetai (Tai) Sopoaga leads Va'a o Tautai in the Division of Health Sciences. Her interests include Pacific health, Pacific workforce development, Pacific students, and Pacific communities. Faumuina is the high chief title from Fagaloa, Samoa. She trained as a medical doctor with expertise in public health and general practice. She is leading development in the Pacific Health curriculum in Health Sciences.

Professor Jo Sharp

Professor of Geography University of St Andrews, UK

Professor Sharp is a feminist political geographer with varied research interests including postcolonialism, health, and critical geopolitics.  Professor Sharp's early work sought to extend what is considered to be the geopolitical beyond the formal spheres of statecraft to include popular culture and the everyday. Professor Sharp has worked on environment, gender and health projects in Africa.

University of Otago Members

In addition to our leadership and advisory teams the Otago Global Health Institute has a large number of network members. These researchers have a diversity of technical expertise which enables our institute to draw upon a large pool of research fields.

Surnames A–C

Surnames D–G

Surnames H–L

Surnames M–O

Surnames P–S

Surnames T-Y

External members

Back to top