A live panel discussion on the hidden impact of COVID-19 in the Pacific
While border closures have effectively protected some Pacific States’ health systems from a surge in COVID-19 cases, they have also had unintended consequences, including breaking essential supply chains, disrupting healthcare delivery, and destabilising essential health programs.
Join our live panel of experts as they explore both the impacts COVID-19 has had on Pacific health systems and ways the Australian and global community can support recovery that leaves countries and communities more resilient and able than they were before the crisis.
SPEAKERS:
Lyn Morgain
Chief Executive, Oxfam Australia
Dr Nima Asgari
Director, Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
Dr Stephanie Williams
Australia’s Ambassador for Regional Health Security
Sunia Soakai
Deputy Director of the Public Health Division, Pacific Community (SPC)
This event is co-hosted by UNSW School of Population Health and Oxfam Australia, and is part of the School’s In Perspective, a conversation series with leading experts to tackle the tough health issues from around the globe.
Please note this event will be recorded.
Lyn Morgain is the Chief Executive of Oxfam Australia. As leader of Oxfam Australia, Lyn oversees the delivery of a broad range of long-term development programs, advocacy campaigns and humanitarian responses. Lyn has spent her career advocating for the rights of structurally disadvantaged people and communities. Within the global Oxfam community, Lyn holds the role of executive champion for the collective work on race, representation and equity. Lyn is a member of the Australian Council for International Development Board and a member of the Trust Board for Oxfam in the Pacific. Prior to her role at Oxfam Australia, Lyn was the Chief Executive of cohealth, a leading Australian community health organisation.
Dr Nima Asgari has worked as a public health physician in low-, middle- and high-income countries since 2000. He became director of the Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies in 2016. Dr Asgari works with the APO Board and its consortia to develop APO’s research agenda while ensuring capacity building remains part of APO’s collaborative work. Prior to joining APO, he coordinated WHO activities in Thailand, focusing on non-communicable diseases, health and trade, human resources for health and cross programmatic coordination. In Cambodia and China, Dr Asgari focused on strengthening critical gaps of the health system to be able to respond to emerging diseases and comply with International Health Regulations.
Dr Stephanie Williams was appointed as Australia’s Ambassador for Regional Health Security in March 2020. As Ambassador, Dr Williams supports the advancement of Australia’s interests in the Indo-Pacific by fostering linkages between Australia’s world-class public health and medical research experts and partners in the region. In addition, she guides the implementation of the $300 million Health Security Initiative and the $523 million regional Vaccine Access Initiative – two major health initiatives for the Indo-Pacific region. Dr Williams is a Public Health Physician and Epidemiologist, who has been the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Principal Health Specialist since 2017.
Sunia Soakai is the Deputy Director of the Public Health Division, Pacific Community (SPC). He was the Senior Adviser, Policy, Planning and Performance within the same Division before his current appointment. Sunia holds undergraduate qualifications in health service management from the Elton Mayo School of Management, University of South Australia and an MBA from the Centre for Health Planning and Management, Keele University, United Kingdom. Sunia commenced his employment with the Ministry of Health, Tonga in 1985 and was head of the Health Planning and Information Division prior to his departure in 2004. Sunia has spent the last 35 years working in the Pacific and internationally. Throughout his career Sunia has been involved in health policy and planning, health systems reforms, donor coordination, project management and hospital infrastructure development.
