Health Sciences Pro-Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Division Administration, Division of Health Sciences

Pro-Vice-Chancellor

Associate Professor Megan Gibbons

Megan Gibbons smiling in front of greenery. Associate Professor Megan Gibbons (Ngāpuhi) was appointed to the position of Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences on April 29, 2024.

As the head of the largest academic division of Aotearoa New Zealand’s oldest university, Megan says she has a passion for both education and health, appreciating that this role allows her to bring both of those together.

The Division of Health Sciences incorporates the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Professional Programmes (including the School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology and the School of Physiotherapy), Faculty of Medicine (including the Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington regions), and the divisional office.

Megan works to ensure all these areas are future-focussed, Te Tiriti-led, and doing their part to improve the processes, reputation and ranking of the University.

As a member of the Interprofessional Learning Centre working group, she has spent many years working closely with kaimahi, even prior to joining the University.

She is strongly committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and has established networks with iwi, local and central government, businesses and many community groups.

Prior to this role, she was the Deputy Chief Executive at Te Pūkenga, responsible for research structure and strategy including developing the connection between rangahau Māori and research. She has also been the Chief Executive of Otago Polytechnic.

Associate Professor Gibbons obtained a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Auckland in 2013 and was awarded an Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching award for sustained excellence in teaching in 2016.

Contact

Associate Professor Megan Gibbons
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Health Sciences
Tel +64 479 7413
Email pvc.healthsciences@otago.ac.nz

Executive Assistant to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor

Diana Duan (Acting)

The EA provides executive assistance and advice to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor including: handling correspondence and meeting arrangements; undertaking research and analysis as required; ensuring activities comply with University and Divisional policies; and providing general administrative support.

Contact

Diana Duan
Executive Assistant to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Tel +64 3 479 7413
Email pvc.healthsciences@otago.ac.nz

Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor Māori, Health Sciences

Associate Professor Justine Camp

Justine Camp image As the inaugural Associate Pro-Vice-Chancellor Māori for the Division of Health Sciences, Associate Professor Justine Camp's (Kai Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, Waitaha) goal is to honour and grow the legacy of her forefathers.

Justine has a deep sense of service towards Otago kaimahi and tauira which goes all the way back to her ancestors who signed the Treaty of Waitangi on 13 June 1840 at Otago Heads in Otago Harbour.

She says her tīpuna's strong connection to this land, its people and politics, has moved through the generations, exists in her and the work she is doing now.

The University has undergone a leadership and tactical refresh to become more Te Tiriti led which is outlined in its new strategic plan, Pae Tata, and Justine's work will contribute towards this.

Justine says that Māori tauira need to be celebrated and equipped so that their mana and wairua flourishes.

Her history at the University began when she was 12-years-old, with her first ever job of folding pamphlets in the Māori Liaison Office.

Justine practically grew up on the campus and would go on to be periodically involved with the institution for about 40 years.

Her mother, Emeritus Professor Khyla Russell, was the University’s first Māori liaison officer and also contributed to establishing the Māori Centre.

Before taking on this role, Justine was the Associate Dean (Māori) of the Faculty of Medicine (then, Otago Medical School) and was part of the team in the Edgar Diabetes and Obesity Research Centre, which her aunty also helped to establish.