Professor Brett Cowan (Chair)

Professor Brett Cowan is currently Pro Vice-Chancellor of Health and Dean of the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences at the Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and was previously Chief Scientist at Environmental Science and Research (ESR) where he had a leadership role in the national scientific response to COVID-19.

With expertise spanning engineering, medicine, health and business, Brett has driven major international research and commercialization initiatives. His leadership experience includes the University and Crown Research Institute sectors (now PRO’s) including international clinical trials with a focus on intellectual property, MedTech, large-scale infrastructure and translational research.

Brett chairs the Mātai Medical Research Institute Board of Trustees and is Board Chair of the New Zealand Synchrotron Group overseeing significant health and research infrastructure. He is a board member of Research Fund New Zealand and currently chairs the Health and Society Pillar Advisory Group and sits on the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Brett has worked closely with government and industry on science strategy, pandemic management, and regional health innovation. Brett brings deep scientific expertise, commercial insight and strategic governance - anchored in a commitment to innovation and real-world impact.