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Health, Wellbeing, and Future Generations - Talanoa

Tracks
Health, Wellbeing, and Future Generations
Monday, October 13, 2025
4:00 PM - 5:45 PM
Dobson 2 (live streaming)

Speaker

Arindam Basu
University of Canterbury

Climate Change and Pacific Health

4:00 PM - 4:50 PM

Biography

Arindam Basu is an Associate Professor of Health Sciences at the University of Canterbury and is an Epidemiologist Medical Doctor (MBBS from University of Calcutta, Master of Public Health from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, PhD from Saint Louis University School of Public Health). He teaches Environmental Health at the University of Canterbury and was part of a research team that conducted a study on the social protection for Pacific Islander population in New Zealand; the research was funded by the New Zealand Health Research Council.
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Assoc Prof Yvonne Crichton-Hill
Academic
University of Canterbury

Cliimate Change and Pacific Health

4:00 PM - 4:50 PM

Abstract

Biography

Yvonne Crichton-Hill is a registered social worker and Associate Professor serving as the Director of the Social Work programme at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand. Yvonne’s ancestry is Samoan and Palagi. Her research focuses on culturally responsive social work practice, particularly within Pacific communities. She employs qualitative, intersectional indigenous methods to develop and inform Pacific knowledge, research, and practice in the areas of family violence, indigenous social work responses to health, and social work education and practice. Yvonne has a background of social work practice in family violence work (women and children), and in work with Pacific families and communities and she is currently involved in serving a number of non-government Pacific and non-Pacific providers, and government organisations in governance and advisor capacities. Yvonne is passionate about enhancing the potential of Pacific people and working to make government, policy, and health and social sector activities more responsive to Pacific needs.
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Dr Akisi Nailaba Ravono
Associate Professor
University of Fiji

Climate Change and Pacific Health

4:00 PM - 4:50 PM

Biography

Associate Professor at the University of Fiji, a Fiji registered nurse and nurse academic, coordinator nursing education and a member of the University Senate. Holds a PhD-Nursing (Massey University), Master of Arts in Applied Psychology, PG Diploma in Tertiary Teaching, Cert in Counselling and Bachelor of Arts in Management and Public Administration.
Esala Vakamacawai
Pegasus Health PHO

Climate Change and Pacific Health

4:00 PM - 4:50 PM

Biography

Esala Vakamacawai is an iTaukei Fijian with a medical background, especially in General Surgery. He is enrolled as a PhD candidate at the University of Canterbury and works at Pegasus Health Primary Health Organisation as a Pacific Health manager. Esala's work aligns climate change with its health impacts using a case study on Galoa island.
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Dr Annabelle Workman
Senior Research Fellow
University of Melbourne

Climate adaptation in publicly funded health systems

4:00 PM - 4:50 PM

Biography

Belle is a Senior Research Fellow at Melbourne Climate Futures and the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, at the University of Melbourne. Her research seeks to support the development of healthier climate and energy policies
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Ms Vicktoria Blake
Principal Advisor - Climate Risk And Resilience
Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand

Climate adaptation in publicly funded health systems

4:50 PM - 5:45 PM

Abstract

Supporting Material

Biography

Vicktoria Blake is Principal Advisor Climate Risk and Resilience at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. Vicktoria chaired the New Zealand Climate Change Scenarios for the Health Sector Leadership Group and is co-chair of Sustainable Healthcare Aotearoa and an executive board member of OraTaiao Climate and Health Council.
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Dr Andrew Old
Deputy Director-General, Public Health Agency
Ministry of Health

Climate adaptation in publicly funded health systems

4:50 PM - 5:45 PM

Biography

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Carolyn Tateishi
Director, Climate Change and Health Office
Health Canada

Climate adaptation in publicly funded health systems

4:50 PM - 5:45 PM

Biography

Carolyn Tateishi oversees Canada’s federal lead office on climate change and health issues as Director and is a lead for the Health and Wellbeing system of Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy. She works closely many domestic and international partners on efforts to build climate resilient health systems.
Dr Georgia Behrens
Assistant Director
Australian Government

Climate adaptation in publicly funded health systems

4:50 PM - 5:45 PM

Biography

Georgia Behrens is Assistant Director in the National Health, Sustainability and Climate Unit in the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and helped lead development of Australia’s first National Health and Climate Strategy. She leads the unit’s work on climate adaptation and resilience.
Prof Kathryn Bowen
Professor
University of Melbourne

Climate adaptation in publicly funded health systems

4:50 PM - 5:45 PM

Biography

Kathryn Bowen is Professor and Deputy Director of Melbourne Climate Futures and Professor of Climate, Environment and Global Health at the University of Melbourne. Kathryn regularly advises the World Health Organization (WHO) on climate change and health, as well as other national and international organisations.
Dr Peter Schneider
Principal Environmental Health Scientist
Queensland Health

Climate adaptation in publicly funded health systems

4:50 PM - 5:45 PM

Biography

Peter Schneider is Principal Environmental Health Scientist in the Environmental Hazards Unit of Queensland Health. He was a key contributor in the development of the Queensland Health Climate Risk Strategy and Climate Adaptation Guidelines, as well as providing climate risk assessment training and supporting climate risk assessments.
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Dr Annabelle Workman
Senior Research Fellow
University of Melbourne

Facilitator

Biography

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