Rate My Professor Megan Gibbons

Associate Professor Megan Gibbons (Ngāpuhi) is the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences at the University of Otago, appointed to this leadership role on April 29, 2024. She oversees the university's largest academic division, which includes the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Health Professional Programmes (encompassing the School of Pharmacy and School of Physiotherapy), and the Faculty of Medicine with campuses in Dunedin, Christchurch, and Wellington. Gibbons commenced her tertiary education at Otago, where she obtained her first and second degrees. She later earned a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Auckland in 2013, with her thesis examining the nutritional risk factors for contracting pneumonia in Auckland preschool children. In 2016, she was awarded the Ako Aotearoa Tertiary Teaching Award for sustained excellence in teaching. Her expertise spans health professional education, interprofessional learning, research coordination, and strategic leadership in the tertiary and health sectors.

Prior to joining Otago, Gibbons served as Deputy Chief Executive: Academic at Te Pūkenga | New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, where she managed the research structure and strategy, including developing connections between rangahau Māori and research initiatives. She previously held the position of Chief Executive of Otago Polytechnic and occupied senior leadership roles at the University of Auckland. As a member of the Interprofessional Learning Centre working group, she collaborated closely with staff from the University of Otago and the former Southern District Health Board. Gibbons is strongly committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and has established extensive networks with iwi, local and central government, businesses, and community groups. In her current role, she focuses on fostering a future-oriented, Te Tiriti-led division, promoting consistency and collaboration across campuses, enhancing engagement with mana whenua and communities, and ensuring research informs national and international policy and practice. She advocates for kaimahi and tauira, supporting their success while advancing the division's reputation in health sciences education and research. In 2025, she was appointed to the Governance Board of Athletics New Zealand.