As a global health systems and workforce academic, my career has been defined by a commitment to equity, innovation, and sustainable system transformation. With over 15 years of international experience, I have led research programs, shaped health workforce policy, and built collaborations across Asia-Pacific, MENA, and Europe. My interdisciplinary expertise spans health systems, aged care, public health, and data science—each guided by a deep engagement with underserved populations and future-oriented care models. Securing three nationally competitive fellowships including the NHMRC Sidney Sax Fellowship, I’ve stewarded more than $2 million in research as Chief Investigator. As a trusted voice in health policy, I contribute to WHO, AHPRA and DFAT projects, hold editorial roles with Q1 journals, supervise HDR students and regularly mentor early-career researchers in low- and middle-income countries. As the Business Research Lead, I oversee research strategy and implementation across the Business discipline at Flinders University. Whether leading a research team, advising on practitioner regulation, or designing postgraduate curricula, I strive to make meaningful, measurable contributions to health systems that are inclusive, resilient, and globally informed.

Researcher highlights:
> 3 national fellowships (NHMRC, Endeavour, DFAT)
> Completed PhD by Publication with 9 peer reviewed publications
> First migrant health professional to win NHMRC Sidney Sax Fellowship
> 70+ publications (59 peer reviewed journal articles; 3 government reports; 1 book; 3 book chapters)
> citations 2558 (google scholar)
> h index 21 & i 10 index 36 (since 2020)
> 60% of publications as first or senior author
> 31.8% of publications with international collaboration
> 8 publications in top 25% most cited documents worldwide
> Field Weighted Citation Impact 1.33
> Over $2 million in competitive funding
> Completed projects for WHO, DFAT, AIHW, AHPRA, NSW Health and SA Health
> Australia Lead for the WHO’s First Global Guidance for Health Practitioner Regulation Research Study
> Leads transdisciplinary agenda on health and aged care management at Flinders

Professional/Community Service highlights: 
> Elevated to Fellow status - Australasian College of Health Service Management (ACHSM) - peak body for health service executives in Australia and New Zealand. 
> Editorial board member - BMC Health Services Research & Heliyon (Q1 Scimago; Health Policy & Multidisciplinary)
> Panel member for NHMRC Ideas and Investigator grants 
> Past President of Network for Practice Based Research
> Served as Branch Councillor for ACHSM SA Branch
> Guest lectures across Asia Pacific ; n=6 in 2024
> Mentors ECRs from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Philippines and Kenya
> Justice of peace for Government of South Australia

Teaching highlights: 
> Experience teaching in 5 Australian (Universities of Sydney, Adelaide, Griffith, New England and Flinders) and 2 overseas institutions (Kings College London and Apollo Hospitals)
> Deputy Director of Health and Aged Care Management Programs at Flinders | Adelaide, Singapore & China footprint
> Leads transnational teaching and curriculum development agenda for Health Care Management for South Asian countries, mainly India. 
> Redesigned courses at Flinders HCM, leading to improved student experience and increase in enrolments.
> Topic coordinator for international health systems, health ethics, health policy and health research project. 

Health Workforce Policy and Planning: Expertise in workforce modelling, scope of practice, regulatory reform, and workforce distribution. I lead projects examining sustainable workforce models, particularly in aged care and oral health, using both qualitative and quantitative methods.
Health Systems Strengthening and Governance: Focused on health system design, performance, and integration, including intergovernmental reform, commissioning frameworks, and governance innovation. I have contributed to system-wide reviews and led health policy education and reform projects nationally and internationally.
Digital Health and Virtual Care: Research on the implementation and adoption of digital health technologies in aged care and health management, including virtual care models, telehealth, and digital literacy. This includes leadership of curriculum reform and micro-credentialing in digital health management.
Transdisciplinary and International Collaboration: I have built collaborative research networks across Australia, India, and the Asia-Pacific through projects on integrated care, leadership innovation, and aged care transformation. I lead the development of the Transdisciplinary Health and Aged Care Management Collaborative (THAMC), with partners from multiple universities, research centres, and government agencies.
Health Equity and Social Determinants: My work examines structural and systemic barriers to care for migrants, older people, and underserved communities. I integrate health services research with social policy, drawing on public health, management, and systems theory.

My research interests span three interconnected domains, each reflecting a commitment to improving health systems, advancing institutional capacity, and strengthening academic and policy impact through collaborative and applied inquiry.

1. Transdisciplinary Research, Leadership, and the Future of Universities
I am deeply invested in exploring the role of transdisciplinary education, research, and leadership in responding to complex societal challenges. This includes developing and evaluating models that integrate management, health, social science, and policy to enable transformative impact. My work critically engages with the evolving role of universities—including questions of world rankings, performance measurement, research cultures, and global engagement—to better position higher education institutions as drivers of innovation, equity, and sustainability. I lead initiatives that bridge traditional academic silos and foster strategic collaboration between researchers, government, and industry.

2. Health Systems, Workforce, and Policy Research
At the core of my research is a long-standing commitment to health systems strengthening, particularly in areas related to health workforce policy, governance, and service delivery. I examine the dynamics of health workforce planning, scope of practice, workforce regulation, and equity in access—especially for underserved and rural populations. My research adopts systems-level thinking, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches to inform national and international policy debates, including projects on commissioning, care integration, and digital health transformation.

3. Oral Health Services and Population Health
My foundational research expertise is in oral health and dental public health, where I have contributed extensively to workforce development, access to care, and health service research. This stream of work continues to inform broader conversations on the integration of oral health into health systems, the role of allied health professionals, and policy interventions that improve outcomes for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and aging populations. I remain engaged in global burden of disease research, oral epidemiology, and the design of community-level oral health programs.

I bring a structured and process-driven approach to postgraduate supervision, guiding HDR students through clearly defined stages of research development, design, and dissemination. My supervision model is grounded in rigorous methodology, ensuring that students are proficient in conducting systematic reviews, applying advanced qualitative and quantitative methods, designing mixed-methods research, and collaborating effectively with industry and government partners. I mentor students to produce academically sound and policy-relevant outputs that contribute to system-level impact.

University of Sydney / University of Adelaide / King's College London (2014 to 2023):
•    Dr Kanchan Marcus, University of Sydney – completed - PhD Publication approach - (Co-supervisor)
•    Dr Arash Ghanbarzadegan, University of Adelaide – completed - PhD Publication approach -  (mentor)
•    Ms Marcella Coiera, University of Sydney – ongoing (Co-supervisor; Year 1 and 2)
•    Dr Dandara G Haag, University of Adelaide – completed (mentor)
•    Dr Suruchi Ganbavale, Kings College London – Masters Dissertation (mentor)
•    Dr Lakshmi Balraj, Maastricht University – ongoing (Co-supervisor)

Flinders University (2022 onwards; continuing students)

•    Ms Hongmei Xie – Virtual care for CALD older adults [Principal supervisor]
•    Mr Prashant Sumeet – Scope of practice regulation for health practitioners in aged care facilities [Principal supervisor]
•    Ms Samah Sallam – Clinical Decision Support Systems integration in Electronic Health Records [Principal supervisor]
•    Mr Salim Ansheri – Health workforce models for Older Adults in Saudi Arabia [Principal supervisor]
•    Ms Ming Chen – Health workforce models for children with tuberculosis [Associate supervisor]

1.    Dr Marcus – systematic review on CALD and oral health was in the Top 3 cited article in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology for 2023
2.    Dr Balraj – won the Women Research Leaders award from the International Association for Dental Research 
3.    Dr Ghanbarzadegan – published an innovative theory of dental equity triad with my guidance, which received recognition from academic community due to its novelty 
4.    Dr Haag won the Deans commendation for doctoral thesis excellence, plus leads one of the most cited article in quality of life and oral health