Public Health and Social Policy|

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata! He tāngata! He tāngata!

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people! It is people! It is people!

UniServices works to build a healthier, safer and more equitable society for all. This is particularly apparent in our public health and social policy work, whether we’re training vaccinators, using technology to empower people to take control of their health, working with governments on policies to discourage smoking or supporting staff who work in child and youth mental health.

We work with the School of Population Health to advance community health research and with groups such as the Centre for Arts and Social Transformation and the Centre for Community Research and Evaluation to advance social development research.

The National Institute for Health Innovation is on the cutting edge of public health. The Immunisation Advisory Centre trains and provides resources to vaccinators. Whāraurau builds the capacity of the child and youth mental health sector. Growing Up in New Zealand produces insights about a large and diverse cohort of children. The New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse provides research and information on family, whānau and sexual violence.

Case Studies

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Services and Projects

UniServices delivers projects, programmes and services that build on University research to create positive and equitable impacts for the community.

Health and Med Tech

From drug discovery to medical devices, preventative medicine to mental health, UniServices works with leading experts to advance health and wellbeing for all.

Auaha Māori | Māori Innovation

UniServices is working to deepen engagement with Māori and better support Māori research, entrepreneurship and communities.

Pacific Innovation

Proudly part of a Pacific nation, UniServices is working to advance and apply research for and by Pacific communities in Aotearoa and the Pacific Islands.

News and Features

Medtech-iQ Aotearoa aims to make New Zealand a medtech hotspot

16 March 2023

The national project aims to make New Zealand a medtech leader by creating an ecosystem linking researchers, healthcare, communities, start-ups and investors.

NetworkZ: Simulation training to improve patient safety

09 March 2023

Simulation training that brings multidisciplinary teams together in real clinical settings can identify problems and break down barriers to save real lives.

Building people- and climate-friendly cities

18 October 2022

New Zealand has one of the highest car ownership rates in the world. Policies made it so and policies can change it, say Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland experts.

New Whāraurau director to oversee expansion of e-learning offering

11 October 2022

Whāraurau has a new director. Abigail Milnes, who became acting director in September 2021, has been confirmed to continue permanently in the role.

Comprehensively assessing mental health needs in Pacific countries

08 September 2022

A new research project by New Zealand and Pacific partners aims to investigate mental health challenges in Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu as these countries navigate Covid-19 and the climate crisis.

Second opinion: Expert assessment of New Zealand’s health reforms

23 August 2022

Two of Aotearoa’s top health systems experts say the government is broadly moving in the right direction with its health reforms – but the devil’s in the details.

Public Health & Social Policy Contacts

Kelvin Keh

Director, Strategic Growth – Health

k.keh@auckland.ac.nz
More about Kelvin

Kelvin has been with UniServices since 2008 and leads the health team initiatives. His background is in biotech. He lived and worked in Asia, North America and Europe before returning to New Zealand. Contact about: Pursuing public and private sector interests in health.

Pedro van der Ent

Business Development Director – Pacific, Creative Arts, Arts, Business, Law, Education

pedro.vanderent@auckland.ac.nz
More about Pedro

Pedro joined UniServices in August 2022. Of Samoan and Dutch descent, he holds an MBA and has 20+ years in business management, sales and client relationships. Contact about: Funding opportunities in creative arts, arts, business, law, education and areas involving Pacific people in Aotearoa New Zealand and the Pacific Region.

Simon Crook

Business Development Manager – Business Innovation, Justice and Social Resilience

simon.crook@auckland.ac.nz
More about Simon

Simon is a UniServices business development manager who is able to assist with a wide array of research-related queries across the Business, Law and Arts faculties. Contact about: Connecting to research related to business innovation, social justice, and crisis and disaster resilience.

Kerryn Kilkenny

Business Development Manager – Future Therapies

kerryn.kilkenny@auckland.ac.nz
More about Kerryn

Kerryn has been a UniServices business development manager since 2018, joining from publisher SpringerNature, where she held commercial and product management roles in New Zealand, England and Australia. With an MSc in Pharmacology and Physiology, she has an interest in drug development. Contact about: Research in infectious diseases and neuroscience.

Lucy McDowell

Business Development Manager – Women’s Health

lucy.mcdowell@auckland.ac.nz
More about Lucy

Lucy is a UniServices business development manager with a focus on women’s health research. She is eager to assist with research development, partnerships and funding opportunities that deliver impact locally and globally. Her previous expertise has been in the surgical product industry. Contact about: Women’s health research.

Natasha Gill

Commercial Development Director – Business Units

natasha.gill@auckland.ac.nz
More about Natasha

Natasha leads commercial development for a portfolio of services and projects that translate cutting-edge knowledge into impact across health, education and public policy. She has supported various organisations through start-up, growth and transformation stages. Her background is in finance and information systems. Contact about: Applying research for social impact.

Anisoara Nicol

Business Development Manager – Healthy Ageing

ani.nicol@auckland.ac.nz
More about Ani

Anisoara is a business development manager focusing on health, particularly healthy ageing. She has a PhD in sleep-wake cycles and circadian rhythms. Contact about: Research and consulting in ageing, including older people’s health, vision, hearing, heart health, neurodegeneration and cancer.

Stacey Strang

Business Development Manager – Mental Health and Behaviour Change

stacey.strang@auckland.ac.nz
More about Stacey

Stacey has been with UniServices since 2020 and is a business development manager with a focus on mental health and behaviour change. She previously worked as a health funder and has a Master of Public Health. Contact about: Research in mental health or behaviour change.