Mark O'Brien

Mark O'Brien is an Associate Fellow at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. He serves as Programme Director for the Oxford Healthcare Leadership Programme and the Dubai Health-University of Oxford Leadership Academy. His professional background spans over three decades in healthcare leadership, medical education, and risk management. He previously held roles such as Medical Director at the Cognitive Institute and International Programme Director of Medical Education. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland’s Faculty of Business, Economics and Law.

• Affiliations: Saïd Business School, University of Oxford; St John of God Healthcare (Non-Executive Director); Italo-Australian Welfare Association (Chair of Quality Board).
• Certifications: Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Certified Healthcare Manager (Australasian College of Health Service Management).

His research and professional focus centers on leadership development, psychological safety in healthcare, and risk prevention. He has contributed to initiatives that improve patient safety and physician professionalism through structured communication programs. His work bridges clinical practice, organizational leadership, and educational strategies to enhance healthcare systems.

Mark’s advisory roles and program leadership emphasize practical applications of academic insights into real-world healthcare challenges. His career reflects a commitment to fostering high-performance cultures and evidence-based leadership across global healthcare institutions.