Christchurch campus Professors Suetonia Green and Richard Porter.
Two University of Otago, Christchurch, academics are among six across the university honoured for their significant research impact and contribution to society with Distinguished Chair - Poutoko Taiea appointments.
Introduced in 2019, the awards are designed to highlight the work of the University’s highest-achieving professors and to raise the profile of their work, enhancing the understanding, development and well-being of individuals, society, and the environment.
Christchurch campus Professors Suetonia Green and Richard Porter join Dunedin-based Professors Cliff Abraham, Tony Ballantyne, Peter Dearden and Christina Hulbe in receiving the honour.
Suetonia, from the Department of Medicine as well as being a campus Deputy Dean, says she feels privileged to have been chosen for the award, knowing how much the university values knowledge.
“I know this award will whakamana the work of translating research into improving health outcomes for Aotearoa – through strong relationships and leadership structures with the health system.
“I hope that I can strengthen the impacts of clinical research through my connections with Te Whatu Ora and health consumer organisations to directly improve how we deliver safe and equitable care for kidney conditions in Aotearoa. I will also focus on supporting and training the next generation of health scientists and clinician researchers to create a longer-term impact on health systems through my teaching and research,” Suetonia says.
Richard, Head of the campus’s Department of Psychological Medicine, says he sees this honour not so much as a personal appointment, but an acknowledgment of the amazing research and clinical teams he works alongside, both at Otago university and Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury.
He says he has two main aims during his appointment – the first of which is to raise the awareness of issues associated with severe mental illness.
“This is something which is often stigmatised and not talked about, so I would really like to highlight these issues and to promote their wider discussion.
“Secondly, after 5-6 years, we have observed that awareness of the impacts of the March 15 terror attacks has faded for much of the population. Working with a dedicated team of Muslim researchers who came together soon after the attack, I aim to understand and examine the lasting psychological effects of this incident on the impacted communities, and to continue raising public awareness concerning the challenges facing those affected,” Richard says.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Helen Nicholson is thrilled to make the appointments.
“I have been privileged to follow the careers of these outstanding academics throughout our shared time at Otago and I am so pleased to be able to celebrate them in this way.
“Not only have they achieved great success in their research, but they have inspired the next generation of academics through their teaching and engaged widely with the community, raising not only their profiles, but that of the University.”
The Distinguished Chair - Poutoko Taiea award is bestowed for a fixed period, during which the recipients will be provided with the opportunity to showcase their work and to engage and inspire others.
Suetonia and Richard will take up their appointments in January.