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Chief Science Advisor
Professor Ian Town
Ian Town has worked across both the health and education sectors during his 30-year career. A physician by training, he has published extensively in respiratory medicine. Much of this research has been implemented through evidence-based guidelines for the management of common conditions such as asthma, COPD and pneumonia.
Following an 8-year period at the University of Canterbury as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, he had a wide range of roles including Chair of the PBRF Sector Reference Group and Chair of the TEC PBRF Governance Group overseeing the 2018 Quality Evaluation. He has recently completed a 5-year term as the Chair of the Health Precinct Advisory Council, leading one of the key Christchurch recovery projects.
In his role as Chief Science Advisor, he is leading the Ministry’s work to implement the New Zealand Health Research Strategy 2017–2027 in partnership with MBIE and the HRC.
Chief Economist
Bronwyn Croxson
Bronwyn has a background in research and teaching public and institutional economics. She has been a public servant since moving back to New Zealand 20 years ago. Since then, she has held positions in The Treasury, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Health. She maintains academic connections, to support her knowledge of developments in evidence and methods, and to support evidence-based decisions.
Bronwyn leads a small team in the Ministry focused on building economics capability, and using economic insights and evidence to support colleagues’ work programmes doing analysis using health and cross-agency data.
Bronwyn has a Masters in Commerce from the University of Auckland, and a Masters of Philosophy and PhD in Economics from the University of Cambridge.
