Joe Thomas

Global Public Health Chair

Dr Joe Thomas is the Head, School of Global Health, Melbourne, Australia. He is an accomplished institution builder, academic, diplomat and a global leader in public health, rights and social development. Dr Thomas is active in global health and social development for more than 25 years. He has excellent leadership qualities and a deeper understanding of the global dimension of social development. He has extensive and exhaustive technical expertise in reproductive health and health rights, emergencies, data analysis and reports. He has proven excellent experience in the administration and management of complex multi-stakeholder projects of high-level strategic engagements; and proven expertise in a cross-cutting, multi-cultural work environment in Africa and Asia regions. Dr Thomas is an expert in developing high-value strategic partnerships with governments, UN agencies and non-state actors, drafting complex MoUs, and strategic bilateral agreements and establishing multi-stakeholder alliances. He is a member of the board of directors of several NGOs.

Global Public Health Chair

Dr Joe Thomas is the Global Public Health Chair at the Sustainable Policy Solutions Foundation. He will work on critical issues related to the health and well-being of the people, nationally and globally. The Global Public Health Chair will lead research and educational initiatives relating to global public health.

Dr Thomas will:

• Lead research in global health issues such as non-communicable diseases, health systems, and health policies.
• Develop programmes that address health disparities and improve health outcomes worldwide.
• Educate and mentor students and researchers in global health topics.
• Develop courses, training programmes, policy dialogue, and thematic networks.
• Collaborate with international health organisations, governments, and other stakeholders to inform and influence public health policy and practice.
• Lead advocacy and outreach to raise awareness and set an agenda on global public health challenges and solutions.

The programme involves staff and student researchers across civil society, development practitioners, schools of public health, public health agencies, and public health programmes. This role is pivotal in shaping the future of global public health and require expertise in public health, global health, public policy, and international relations.

This also involves engaging with complex issues such as health equity, the intersectionality of gender equity, health and human rights, global health governance, health diplomacy, and social-structural, commercial, and environmental determinants of health.