Nathan Dawes

Nathan Dawes, PhD, MPH, BOccThy, SFHEA, FHERDSA, is an occupational therapist and Associate Dean of Learning and Teaching at the College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University. Since joining JCU in 2018, Nathan has become a nationally recognised leader in public health education and higher education governance, with expertise in curriculum renewal, academic quality, and workforce development. He teaches undergraduate and postgraduate subjects across public health, health promotion, and health systems, and until recently coordinated the Master of Public Health and Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine programs.

Nathan’s research focuses on Health Policy and Systems Research (HPSR), with particular interest in leadership, workforce development, and health service delivery in aged care, mental health, and post-disaster settings. His work includes nationally funded research projects, international collaborations across the Pacific, and sector-informed scholarship advancing competency-based education frameworks for health professionals.

He is the lead investigator for the Competency Renewal Project led by the Council of Academic Public Health Institutions Australasia (CAPHIA), shaping public health education across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. Nathan also serves as a Board Director of CAPHIA and Deputy Chair of JCU’s Academic Board, where he leads the oversight of the integration of emerging technologies within the organisation. He previously served as a Director on the Council of The Good Shepherd Home, contributing to strategic governance in aged care. His academic leadership is complemented by a robust record of SoTL research, governance reform, and inclusive teaching excellence.