Michele Rumsey

Professor Michele Rumsey, Director of the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Development, has over 40 years of expertise in international health policy, systems strengthening, and capacity development across the Western Pacific, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Her work focuses on leadership development, health workforce governance, and stakeholder engagement, with a $28M+ project portfolio spanning 25 countries.

• Affiliation: University of Technology Sydney, Faculty of Health
• Key Research Areas: Nursing Leadership, Health Policy, Pacific Island Health Systems

As a pioneer of the first WHO Collaborating Centre in Nursing and Midwifery in the South Pacific, Rumsey has led 60+ projects addressing universal health coverage, pandemic preparedness, and health professional regulation. Her recent work emphasizes participatory action research (PARcific approach) and psychosocial training for frontline workers in under-resourced contexts.

Her research publications span 2011–2025, with recent articles analyzing leadership barriers in Pacific collectivist cultures, SARS-CoV-2 impacts on healthcare workers, and WHO regulatory frameworks. Over 25% of her recent works focus on climate change adaptation and disaster response systems in the Pacific.

• Awards:
  • Member (AM) of the Order of Australia (2022), for services to nursing policy
• Leadership Roles:
  • Director, WHO Collaborating Centre (2019–present)
  • Secretariat, South Pacific Chief Nursing Officers Alliance (2006–2019)
  • WHO Technical Expert Groups (2014–2021)