CAPHIA Director and Chair
Professor Rebecca Ivers
Head, School of Population Health
University of New South Wales
CAPHIA is the peak body that represents public health in universities that offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs and research and workforce development in public health throughout Australasia. Our 39 members across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea includes universities and affiliate organisations that closely align with CAPHIA’s vision, mission and objectives.
CAPHIA Governance
CAPHIA is guided by a Constitution to represent the collective views of our members. Development and execution of CAPHIA’s strategy is led by the Board of Directors. Board membership is guided by the Constitution, which emphasises representation and diversity of our Australasian makeup.
The Board of Directors developed the 2025 – 2027 Strategic Plan and have restructured the organisational governance to enact the Strategy.
As of March 2025 the CAPHIA Organisational Structure is as follows:
- CAPHIA Board of Directors
- Audit and Risk Committee
- Advocacy and Engagement Committee
- Competencies Renewal Steering Committee
- Competencies Renewal Stakeholder Group
- Competencies Renewal Advisory Group
- Leaders and Educators in Indigenous Public Health
- Professional Development Committee
- Early Career Academics Committee
- Artificial Intelligence in Public Health Network
- Biostatistical Educational Excellence in Public Health Network
- Climate and Public Health Education Network
- Design Thinking in Public Health Network
- Teaching Epidemiology Joint Network
- Qualitative Methodologies and Methods Network
- Teaching and Learning Local Organising Committee
- Teaching and Learning Forum Scientific Committee
Activities and impact of these groups can be found in the regular member newsletter and via social media.
Board of Directors
In accordance with the CAPHIA Constitution and Rules the CAPHIA Board of Directors was recently refreshed after requesting nominations from Heads of Schools of CAPHIA full member institutions in November, 2024. The CAPHIA Board of Directors is comprised of both elected and appointed Directors to balance member representation with strategic needs of the organisation. Each year elected Director positions are available for nomination by the Head of School. When there are more nominations than there are positions available, the Heads of Schools (or nominated delegate) vote for their preferred representatives.
Deputy Chair
Associate Professor Julie Saunders
Incoming Head of School, School of Population and Global Health
University of Western Australia
Director and Chair, Audit and Risk Committee
Professor Nancy Baxter
Interim Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Faculty of Medicine and Health
University of Sydney
Director and Aboriginal Health Director
Associate Professor Courtney Ryder
Discipline Lead for Injury Studies in the College of Medicine and Public Health
Flinders University
Board Member
Associate Professor Kath Francis
Dean of Programs (Human Performance) UniSA Allied Health & Human Performance
University of South Australia
Board Member
Dr Nathan Dawes
Associate Dean, Learning and Teaching, College of Medicine and Dentistry
James Cook University, Australia
Board Member
Professor Lisa Hall
Professor in Epidemiology, School of Public Health
University of Queensland
Public Officer
Professor Brenton Prosser
Professor of Public Policy and Leadership & Directors of UNSW Public Partnerships Impact Hub
University of New South Wales
Director – Corporate Governance
Adamm Ferrier
Deputy Course Coordinator of the Masters of Health Administration and the Advanced Practice Specialisation Stream Coordinator
LaTrobe University
Director – Aotearoa
Associate Professor Christina Severinsen
Co-Programme Leader for PGDip/Master in Public Health and Co-Major leader for Mental Health and Addictions
Massey University
Meetings
The Board of Directors meets approximately once every six weeks.
Staff
Executive Director
Holly Donaldson
Office Manager
Vacant
Competencies Renewal Project Manager
Dr Jack Seaton
Competencies Renewal Research Assistant
Chris Haydock
Communication Coordinator
Vacant
Strategic Plan
The Board of Directors developed the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan to advance public health education, research and workforce development. Read more about it here.
View a PDF of the 2025-2027 Strategic Plan
CAPHIA is also pleased to provide significant benefits for our members as illustrated by our Year in Review documents, released each year after the Annual General Meeting.
Our Annual Reports details progress against our 2021-2024 Strategic Plan and other relevant information for CAPHIA members.
CAPHIA works with a number of organisations to promote members views to advance public health education, research and workforce development
- Global Network for Academic Public Health – Members
- Alianza Latinoamericana de Salud Global (ALASAG)
- Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health (APACPH)
- Association of Schools of Public Health in Africa (ASPHA)
- The Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER)
- Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH)
- South East Asia Public Health Education Institutions Network (SEAPHEIN)
- World Federation for Public Health Associations – Regional Members
- World Health Summit M8 Alliance – Members via GNAPH
- World Health Organization
- The Australian Health Promotion Association
- Public Health Association of Australia
- Public Health Association of New Zealand
- Australia and New Zealand Association Health Education