Colette Cunningham

Ms. Colette Cunningham is a Lecturer in the School of Public Health at University College Cork (UCC). She serves as the Online Education Coordinator for the Department, overseeing the development of the Online Master of Public Health (MPH) program. Her teaching roles include coordinating modules on Global Health and Development, International Perspectives on Global Health, and The BIG Four: HIV, TB, Malaria & Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Colette holds an MPH, MA in E-Learning, MA in Public Policy, and B.A. in EU Development. Her professional background includes over 20 years in global public health, with extensive experience in HIV/AIDS, palliative care (adult and pediatric), and health system strengthening in 14 African countries. She has worked with international NGOs, the UN, and WHO, notably coordinating healthcare efforts post-earthquake in Haiti (2010). Her research focuses on global health equity, maternal/child health, and stigma reduction for people living with HIV (PLHIV).

She is UCC’s representative on the Centre for Global Development’s Executive Committee and a member of the CREATE sub-group. Her research contributions include EU-funded projects on public health capacity building and publications on pediatric palliative care and HIV/AIDS management. Colette is multilingual (French, Spanish, Portuguese) and translates palliative care resources for African contexts. She actively advocates for children’s rights and palliative care access in resource-limited settings through roles with the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) and One South Organisation.

Her work emphasizes global health justice, health equity, and education for women and girls. She has no listed scientific awards but is recognized for her impactful advocacy and policy contributions in global health.