Richard Madden

Richard Madden is a Professor of Health Statistics at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health. He holds concurrent roles as Head of Classifications at the WHO Collaborating Centre for Strengthening Rehabilitation Capacity in Health Systems and Honorary Professor at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa. His career includes leadership positions such as Director of the National Centre for Classification in Health (2006–2019), Director of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (1996–2006), and Deputy Australian Statistician (1992–1995).

Education: BSc and PhD qualifications, with an Honorary Doctor of Science from the University of Sydney (2005). Research focuses on health classifications (e.g., ICD-10-AM, ICHI), Indigenous health statistics, disability policy, and health system evaluation. He has led global initiatives like the International Classification of Health Interventions and chairs/co-chairs WHO committees.

His work emphasizes improving data quality for marginalized populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Key contributions include enhancing disability visibility in healthcare systems and advancing international health classification standards. Awards include the WHO Lifetime Achievement Award (2019) and Order of Australia (AM, 2018).

Advisory roles span non-profits like Aruma Services and government bodies. Grants include work on disability care and support systems. His research teams include the WHO Collaborating Centre and the Centre for Disability Research and Policy. Current projects focus on NDIS policy submissions and refining health data frameworks.