Keynote: Professor Michael Baker
| Thursday, November 21, 2024 |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM |
| Plenary Room, Rongomātāne |
Overview
The public health perspective – a perfect match with local government
Speaker
Michael Baker
Professor of Public Health
University of Otago
The public health perspective – a perfect match with local government
Abstract
This presentation will discuss the strong synergies between local government and public health, including the importance of good decision-making processes that are inclusive, and consider Treaty responsibilities, equity, and future generations. It will review the importance of delivering policies and services that improve health and wellbeing, through prevention and preparedness, and measuring the things that matter. And it will consider the need to use resources efficiently by searching for co-benefits, and applying the polluter pays principle in a consistent way. It will also draw on major insights from the successful NZ Covid-19 response.
Biography
Professor Michael Baker is a public health physician, epidemiologist, and researcher in the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington.
He leads the Health Protection Aotearoa Research Centre (HPARC) which is focused on infectious diseases and environmental health. The group has active research projects on respiratory infections, rheumatic fever, improving disease surveillance, and drinking water quality.
Michael took a leading role in shaping New Zealand’s Covid-19 pandemic response, particularly the elimination strategy. He was a member of the Government’s Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group throughout the pandemic.
Michael has a strong interest in science communication and evidence translation and is the inaugural director of the Public Health Communications Centre Aotearoa (PHCC), which he established in February 2023.
