Michael Baker

Michael Baker, FRSNZ, MNZM, is a Professor of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. He is a public health physician, researcher, and teacher in the Department of Public Health.

During 2026 he has a Fulbright Scholar Award to join the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston.

Michael has a wide range of public health research interests, with a particular focus on infectious diseases, environmental health, housing and health, and public health communication.

He has been an active researcher and commentator on Covid-19 throughout the continuing pandemic. This work included science-based advocacy for the elimination strategy in 2020 and continuing research aimed at supporting a strong public health response to the pandemic. He was a member of the Government's Covid-19 Response Technical Advisory Group (TAG) and is now a member of the Ministry of Health Pandemic Strategy Group.

Michael's other positions include:
- Director, University of Otago Health Protection Aotearoa Research Centre (HPARC)
- Director, Public Health Communication Centre Aotearoa (PHCC)
- Co-Director, University of Otago Public Health Summer School
- Convenor, University of Otago Health Protection paper (PUBH734)
- Member, World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination
- Board member, NZ Drug Foundation