About A Better Start
Healthy and successful lives for tamarikiScience Advisory Panel
A Better Start has appointed an international Science Advisory Panel, to provide critical appraisal, guidance and global benchmarking for our research.
Professor Ken Ong
Chair | Professor of Paediatric Endocrinology
Professor Martin Wabitsch
Andrew Sporle
Dr Robert Savage
Professor James Chapman
Professor of Education Psychology
Professor Maree Teesson
Professor John Lynch
Professor Lynch is an epidemiologist and Professor of Public Health in the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide.
Dr Ridvan (Riz) Firestone
Dr Riz Firestone’s research involves investigations on health inequalities and inequities, specifically non-communicable diseases among Pacific people in New Zealand.
Māori and Pacific
Our kāhui of Māori researchers and clinicians offers strategic advice into the Challenge’s research and alignment with Vision Mātauranga.
Garrick Cooper
Senior lecturer
School of Māori and Indigenous Studies, University of Canterbury
Dr Rawiri (David) Jansen
Clinical Director
National Hauora Coalition.
Ngati Raukawa descent.
Dr Rees Tapsell
Senior lecturer
Forensic psychiatrist and the Director of Clinical Services for the Mental Health and Addictions Services of the Waikato District Health Board.
Cath Rau
Specialises in indigenous language and culture regeneration and chairs the Kia Ata Mai Educational Trust
The group of Pasifika researchers advises the Challenge on its research, engagement with Pasifika communities and alignment with Pasifika health research guidelines
Dr Gerhard Sundborn
Senior Research Fellow
Epidemiology and biostatistics, Faculty of Medical and Health Science, University of Auckland.ry
Hilda Fa'asalele
Chief Advisor
Pacific Health, Ministry of Health
Dr Mele Taumoepeau
Chairperson Health Research Council Pacific Committee
Lecturer, University of Otago
Mark Tulia
Pasifika Regional Co-ordinator
(South Island) MOE Canterbury
Acknowledgement
We would like to acknowledge the contributions of those who helped in our set-up phase:
Distinguished Professor Dame Jane Harding of the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland, Distinguished Professor Niki Davis of the University of Canterbury, Distinguished Professor Richard Faull of the University of Auckland, the late Emeritus Professor David Fergusson of the University of Otago and Cathy Wiley of the New Zealand Institute of Educational Research.