About & CV

is a writer, podcaster, researcher, and consultant. Ruth is also an Honorary Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences- Te Ara Hauora A Pūtaiao at Auckland University of Technology.

For the last three years, Ruth has been a Vice Chancellor’s Research Fellow at RMIT University based in the School of Art. She has undertaken many research and translation projects, such as animations that guide Emergency department staff in working with people who present in a mental health crisis and cartoons representing the experiences of social isolation and using technology for culturally diverse older people. She has also brought her nursing expertise and networks in conversation with art students and staff through “The Nurses and Midwives Art Exchange” which saw nurses and midwives work with art students on a collaborative exhibition. The project received an RMIT award for exemplary Teaching and Learning in 2023. One of Ruth’s professional joys is working in interdisciplinary ways and as an exceptional networker with extensive networks across the sector. Ruth’s time as a VC Fellow has also resulted in a unique capacity to translate and link themes and issues across both arts and creative industries.

Prior to her Fellowship at RMIT, Ruth was the academic co-convenor of The Data, Systems, and Society Research Network (DSSRN), a collaborative research network across the University of Melbourne (2018-2019). There, she organised two symposia, one on Equity and big data and a second on making unstructured data structured. Before this, Ruth was the Stream Leader of Research, Policy and Evaluation at the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH) at North Richmond Community Health (2015-2018). 

Ruth has extensive experience as a researcher and academic in New Zealand and Australia. Ruth moved to Australia with her partner to take up a Senior Lecturer in Nursing role at Monash University, Berwick (2013-2016), where she was the course co-ordinator and campus lead. She taught the Mental health clinical practice unit and the Contexts of health care unit in Year 2 and the Education unit in third year. She also developed a new unit on Diversity in healthcare. Ruth was the Chief Examiner and co-ordinator of Contemporary nursing in context in the Master of Nursing Practice.

While working at AUT University, Auckland (2005-2012), Ruth coordinated the Centre for Asian and Migrant Health Research for six years, and was the Programme leader for the Bachelor of Health Science (Health Promotion). She taught and led two first-year papers: Health Assessment in Nursing and Primary Health Care. She also developed a new stream within the Master of Health Science: Advanced Nursing Practice, Mental Health. At Unitec (1998-2004) Ruth developed and taught the National Certificate in Mental Health Support Work and taught research and communication papers in the Bachelor of Nursing. She also taught Supervision in the Master of Health Science and in the Graduate Diploma of Higher Education in the School of Education. Prior to working in education, she was a clinician in mental health and perinatal mental health.

Ruth’s clinical and educational experience in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia in nursing and health education have equipped her with skills for facilitating institutional change and the translation of aspirational values to the complexities of health service delivery. She has extensive skills and experience in relation to clinical governance, risk and quality. In 2008, she was appointed by the New Zealand Ministry of Health as a Board member of Counties Manukau District Health Board, which funds health and disability services to over half a million people in Auckland’s southern and eastern suburbs, with an annual budget of almost 2 billion dollars. She was also appointed to the Community and Public Health Advisory Committee, the Hospital Advisory Committee, the Maori Advisory Committee, and the Pacific Health Advisory Committee, and Counties Manukau DHB Mental Health and Addiction Network Committee. Ruth was the Deputy Chair of the West Auckland Living Skills Homes Trust Inc (WALSH Trust), a charitable trust which provides community based mental health support, and residential services, supporting people’s recovery, supported living, training, and employment services. Ruth was also an Inaugural Board member Auckland Regional Migrant Services Trust (ARMS), now known as Belong Aotearoa. This entity was founded in 2003 to support migrants and refugees who have settled in Auckland. In those roles she contributed to quality audits, service reviews and strategic planning, participating in detailed and challenging conversations with the executive team about financial priorities and operational requirements, risk management and compliance.

Ruth’s other appointments have focused on government relations – as a board member of Asia New Zealand Foundation, a registered charitable entity and New Zealand’s leading authority on Asia, providing experiences and resources to help New Zealanders build their knowledge, skills and confidence to thrive in Asia. The board of trustees are drawn from business, community, academic and leadership backgrounds with an annual budget of $5 million. Ruth was an Inaugural member of the of the Lottery Community Sector Research Committee (2008-June 2011).


  • Current: Consultant. Lecturer School of Art, RMIT University (Making on unceded land).
    2020 Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow, School of Art and Design and Creative Practice Enabling Capability Platform. RMIT University.
  • 2018 Academic Convenor of The Data, Systems and Society Research Network (DSSRN), University of Melbourne.
  • 2018 Honorary Senior Research Fellow. The Health and Biomedical Informatics Centre (HaBIC), University of Melbourne. (Now The Centre for Digital Transformation of Health).
  • 2015 Operational Lead, Berwick Campus, School of Nursing and Midwifery.
  • 2015 Stream Leader, Research, Policy and Evaluation, Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health.
  • 2013 -2015 Director of Community Engagement, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University.
  • 2013 (June-December). Acting Head of School, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University (Berwick).
  • 2013 -present Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University (Berwick).
  • 2011-2012 Senior Lecturer, Division of Health Care Practice, AUT University (0.5 FTE). Roles include:  Co-ordinator of first year Primary Health Care Nursing paper: Co-ordinator of Masters of Health Science (Mental Health Pathway) in Auckland and Wellington; Clinical educator in Health Assessment in Nursing. PhD supervisor with Professor Marilyn Waring; Moderator for Concepts of Recovery in Mental Health-Bachelor of Health Science (Occupational Therapy).
  • 2005 – June 2011 Senior Research Fellow/Centre Co-ordinator, Centre for Asian and Migrant Health Research, National Institute for Public Health and Mental Health Research, Auckland University of Technology (0.5 FTE) and Programme Leader, Bachelor of Health Science in Health Promotion (0.5FTE).
  • 2008 Senior Research Fellow/Centre Co-ordinator, Centre for Asian and Migrant Health Research, National Institute for Public Health and Mental Health Research, Auckland University of Technology (0.5 FTE) and Coordinator Grad Cert/Dip Addictions, Community Health Development (0.5FTE).
  • 2005-2008 Senior Research Fellow/Centre Co-ordinator, Centre for Asian and Migrant Health Research, National Institute for Public Health and Mental Health Research, Auckland University of Technology.
  • 2004  Lecturer, Graduate Diploma of Higher Education,  School of Education, Unitec (0.5FTE)..
  • 1998 – 2004    Programme Co-ordinator/Programme Leader, School of Health and Community Studies, Unitec.
  • 1995 – 1998    Nurse Specialist  Maternal Mental Health, Auckland Healthcare, Greenlane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1995 – 1995    Community Mental Health Nurse, St Lukes Community Mental Health Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1994 – 1995    Staff Nurse, National Women’s Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1993 – 1994     Community Mental Health Nurse, St Lukes Community Mental Health Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1992 – 1992    Staff Nurse, Taharoto / North Shore Mental Health Unit, Auckland
  • 1991 – 1992    Staff Nurse, Maidstone Hospital Psychiatric Wing, Kent England
  • 1989 – 1990    Overseas travel and bureau work, Switzerland, England, Israel
  • 1988 – 1989    Staff Nurse, Carrington Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1988 – 1988    Staff Nurse, Auckland Drug Dependency Clinic, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 2011- PhD (Nursing), supervisors Professor David Allen (University of Washington, Seattle) and Dr Deborah Payne (AUT University, Auckland)
  • 2009- Te Kākano One – Introduction to Te Reo Māori, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 2002- Master of Arts (Nursing), Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1996- Graduate Diploma in Advanced Nursing Practice (Counselling) Auckland Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 1987- Diploma of Nursing, Auckland Technical Institute, Auckland, New Zealand
  • 2023 Learning and teaching award for Socially engaged curriculum, (RMIT University)
  • 2022 School of Art Staff peer awards. Collegiality and Teamwork (RMIT University)
  • 2018 Awarded Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). Fellowship is a prestigious member status awarded to nurses in recognition of significant professional achievement. The fellowship recognises the experience and contribution of nurse leaders to ACN and the profession.
  • 2013 Exceptional contribution to the enhancement of the School of Nursing and Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery staff awards (Monash University).
  • 2010 Bhatiya Samaj award for contribution to the Indian community (Nominated by the Goan community, New Zealand).
  • 2009 Vice Chancellor’s staff PhD completion award.
  • 2007 Acknowledgment from Race Relations Commissioner for outstanding contributions to race relations in New Zealand.
  • 2005, 2006 Acknowledgment from Race Relations Commissioner for positive contributions to race relations in New Zealand.
  • 2005 Like Minds Project Respect Award.
  • 1985 Rotary Youth Leadership Award.
  • Australasian Institute of Digital Health
  • Australian College of Nursing
  • Affiliate member of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Nurses and Midwives (CATSINAM)
  • Board member of  Asia New Zealand Foundation (2007-2013).
  • Board member of Counties Manukau District Health Board (2008-2010).
  • Founding member of the Lottery Community Sector Research Committee (2008-2012).
  • Member and Deputy Chair of the West Auckland Living Skills Homes Trust Inc (WALSH Trust) 2005-2008
  • Board member Asian Social Services New Zealand, 2002 -2004
  • Inaugural Board member Auckland Regional Migrant Services Trust (ARMS), 2002-2006.

  • Mentor for inaugural Women in Digital Health Leadership program by Australasian Institute of Digital Health (2022)
    Project Reference Group. Fair Play Access and Inclusion Project for the Creative Industries in Victoria, Diversity Arts Australia (DARTS). (2019-2020).
  • Advisory Committee. The QTIPoC (Queer and Trans Indigenous and/or People of Colour) project, Switchboard Victoria (2018-2019). 
  • Member of the sub-working group on refugee women’s health within The Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health Initiative (a joint project by The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and Migration Council Australia) (2017-2019)
  • Victorian Transcultural Mental Health Reference group (2016-2019)
  • NZ Mental Health Literacy Programme Reference Group (2009-2010)
  • Guidelines Technical Advisory Group (GTAG) for the development of evidence based guidelines for the management and treatment of overweight and obesity for children/youth and adults in New Zealand (2008-2009).
  • National service specifications for specialist mental health and addictions- Asian and Refugee services (2009)
  • Waitemata DHB District Mental Health & Addictions Plan – Asian Chapter Development (2008-2010)
  • Counties Manukau DHB Mental Health and Addiction Network Committee (2008-2010)
  • Member of the ARMS Trustee Appointment Committee (appointee of the Auckland City Council)
  • Waitemata DHB mental health strategic workforce development plan steering committee (2007)
  • Mayoral Task Force on Family Violence (Waitakere City Council 2007).
  • Te Pou Asian, refugee and migrant research agendas (2007).
  • Community Development Review: Auckland City Council (2007).
  • Public Health Reference Group for Improving Nutrition, Health Sponsorship Council (2006-2007).
  • Creative New Zealand Advisory panel for project Arts attendance and participation within Asian communities (2006-2007)
  • Chair, research sub-committee Auckland Regional Migrant Services Trust (ARMS), 2002-2006
  • Member Indian Health and Social Services Group (Founding member)
  • Member Sky City Asian Problem Gambling reference group
  • Steering committee member of The Centre for Global Migrations Research Theme at Otago University, Dunedin, New Zealand.
  • Associate of the Centre for Applied Cross-cultural Research Te Pae Rangahau Tauhōkai Ahurea, Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand.
  • Scientific Committee of the 1st World Congress on Migration, Ethnicity, Race and Health – Diversity and Health, 17-19 May 2018 – Edinburgh, Scotland.