UCL’s ground-breaking Global Business School for Health (GBSH) has bolstered its leadership team by appointing former Australian health minister, Greg Hunt, as an honorary professor.
Hunt was health minister between 2017-2022, meaning he presided over Australia’s response to Covid-19 as well as ringfencing telehealth as a staple of Medicare. He also developed long-term plans for mental health, primary care, aged care, and research during his time at Australia's Department of Health.
Before this, Professor Hunt served as environment minister between 2013-2016, at the end of which he was named best minister in the world at the World Government Summit.
The following year saw him sit as minister for industry, innovation, and science.
At his new role at the GBSH, Prof Hunt will look at policy and practice to support:
- Innovation
- Global health systems
- Strategic planning
- Leadership development
The news of Prof Hunt’s appointment comes at the same time as the school strengthens its senior positions with Shing-Wai Wong as executive education director and Professor Shehla Zaidi as global health management programme lead.
Wong was previously the associate director of executive education at Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, where she was responsible for business development, international collaborations, and driving reputation through global rankings.
Meanwhile, Prof Zaidi has 25 years of experience from the Aga Khan University and has worked on assignments with the World Health Organisation and World Bank.
The UCL GBSH was the world’s first business school dedicated to health when it launched in 2021. An undergraduate degree in business and health – one of the first of its kind – was launched by the school last week.
On the three appointments, director at the school, Professor Nora Colton, said: “Their contributions will be game-changing for UCL GBSH as we look to grow the school’s international presence even further in 2024, as well as our students who’ll be learning from some of the brightest minds in the industry.”
She continued: “From Greg’s wealth of political experience to Shing business expansion credentials and Shehla’s academic prowess, I’m so glad to have each of them on board – representing another step forward for our students and the GBSH as a whole.”
Image credit: iStock
