Debra Anderson: Dean of Health, Faculty of Health

My research focuses on lifestyle change to enhance the quality of life of women and reduce their chronic disease risk.

About my work

Debra Anderson: Dean of Health, Faculty of Health

I lead The Women’s Wellness Program (WWP), comprising 18 funded studies to reduce women’s chronic disease risk in a resource-effective way. This research program has knowledge impact, generating new knowledge about the value of lifestyle intervention in women with or at risk of chronic diseases like diabetes, and reproductive cancers. 

A memorable win

WWP’s impact is global. We have been invited to present on outcomes at the United Nations Office for the Status of Women and the World Health Organisation in Geneva and our research has been adapted and replicated, with a Maori translated version piloted in New Zealand, and two Mandarin language versions currently being piloted in Hong Kong.

Program outcomes have enhanced the wellbeing of women and driven meaningful and economical practices in women’s health service delivery and are currently being delivered and tested in clinical settings – including Wesley Choices, True North Wellness, Gold Coast University Hospital - with negotiations continuing for Cancer Council Queensland and Genesis and implemented as practice in a two-year trial across the Mater hospitals (Qld). 

Through the establishment of the women’s wellness research group, I have continually provided support, supervision and mentoring to higher degree research students. supervising a total of 24 PhDs, 4 Masters students and five postdoctoral fellows to completion, four of whom have achieved post-doctoral fellows and awards.

Debra Anderson joined the University of Technology Sydney as the Associate Dean Research in late 2019, she is currently the Dean of Health. She is Director and Founder of the Women’s Wellness Research Program Collaborative. She has a PhD in Social and Preventive Medicine and over thirty years’ experience in education and research. Professor Anderson has an extensive record of providing leadership in major administrative, research and managerial roles. In all these roles she has been able to engage externally with key stakeholders and form innovative industry, government, and community partnerships. 

Anderson is a globally recognised women’s health researcher who is frequently invited to present the results of her large cohort studies into women’s health at the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Office for the Status of Women. Her research focuses on lifestyle change to enhance the quality of life of women and reduce their chronic disease risk. Anderson has managed multi-site projects in women’s health across countries and within Australia. She has facilitated projects with the worlds most respected research institutions including the WHO, Peking University, and Kings College London.

Websites

Wellness Research: www.wellnessresearch.org.au  
LinkedIn: Women’s Wellness Research Collaborative: Company Page Admin | LinkedIn
DAWN: www.dawncomplete.org.au

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.