Gregor Coster

Emeritus Professor Gregor Coster New Zealand Order of Merit, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, Honours degree (Hons), Doctor of Philosophy, FRNZCGP, CFInstD, (born 5 March 1947) is a leading New Zealand academic and Public Sector Board Director. Originally trained as a general practitioner, he became Professor of General Practice and Head of Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care at the University of Auckland in 1995, and subsequently Dean of Graduate Studies in 2005.University of Auckland. School of Population Health: Our history. 2020; Available from: https://www.fmhs.auckland.ac.nz/en/soph/about/our-departments/general-practice-and-primary-health-care/our-history.html. He was the founding Dean of the Faculty of Health, Te Herenga Waka, Victoria University of Wellington 2017-20. Throughout his governance career he has chaired a number of significant Crown entity Agencies including the Counties Manukau District Health Board and WorkSafe New Zealand. He has been an International Bevan Commission Member for Wales since 2012.Bevan Commission. Professor Gregor Coster International Bevan Commissioner. 2020; Available from: https://www.bevancommission.org/People/Gregor-Coster
== Academic Career ==
Born in Island Bay, Coster attended Wellington College, Wellington and Christchurch Boys’ School before studying for a Masters degree at Victoria University of Wellington, gaining Honours degree (Hons) studying physical chemistry and thermodynamics in 1970. He graduated Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Otago in 1975 and worked at both Waikato Hospital and Christchurch Hospital until 1980, when he entered full-time general practice in Auckland for the next 15 years. He was Chairman of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners between 1995-97, at the same time being appointed Professor of General Practice at the University of Auckland and Head of the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care for the next ten years. He completed a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy in 2004. He served as Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Auckland from 2005-11 and was awarded Emeritus Professorship that year.University of Auckland. Professores Emeriti. 2020; Available from: https://www.calendar.auckland.ac.nz/en/university-personnel/professores-emeriti.html
In 2015 Coster returned to Victoria University of Wellington, Victoria University of Wellington following his first stint at the University in 1970 when he joined staff as a Junior Lecturer. By the time that he returned to the University 45 years later, he was one of New Zealand’s most experienced health sector leaders, having gained extensive experience in academic leadership, health practice and governance. 
Initially Coster came back to the University to chair the Improving the Health and Wellbeing of our Communities Distinctiveness Theme for nearly 18 months.Wellington.Scoop. Professor Coster leading VUW initiatives to improve health and wellbeing. 2015; http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=80585#more-80585. That initiative led to the establishment, in January 2017, of Victoria University of Wellington newest faculty, the Wellington Faculty of Health, which brought together researchers from across the University to focus on subjects such as health promotion, health psychology, health policy and health service delivery, health leadership and management, workplace health and safety, health informatics, women’s health research, and health services research alongside postgraduate programmes for nurses and midwives.Victoria University of Wellington. New faculty hits the ground running. 2018; https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/news/victorious/2018/spring-2018/new-faculty-hits-the-ground-running.Stuff. Victoria University establishes health faculty to launch in 2028. 2020; https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/90474372/victoria-university-establishes-health-faculty-to-launch-in-2018.Wellington Medical Research Foundation. Victoria University officially launches Faculty of Health. 2018; https://researchforlife.org.nz/victoria%20university%20officially%20launches%20faculty%20of%20health. 
 
Coster was appointed the inaugural Dean of the Faculty, which has enjoyed spectacular growth over the last four years, exceeding 420 EFTS in 2020, with over 800 students, 80 dedicated staff, 40 doctoral students, with a number of potentially significant growth opportunities in the pipeline. The Faculty now has experts in a wide range of health areas, from Māori and Pasifika health, to youth health and aged care. 
 
In the period Coster led the Faculty, it has contributed over $30 million in research funding, investigating areas as diverse as models for delivering primary healthcare services, understanding how disease spreads using data science, and empowering rural communities to screen for HPV. 
 
Among the Faculty’s most recent initiatives are the launch of the Bachelor of Midwifery in 2020, and two new programmes that began in 2021—the Master of Nursing Practice and the Master of Health Psychology. One of his key initiatives has been supporting the establishment of the Centre for Women’s Health Research within the University, aiming at better informing the development of women’s health policy, in particular policies to address health disparities in the health system faced by Māori women. He led the establishment of the new School of Health. 
Internationally recognized as a leader in the healthcare sector, Coster has dedicated his career to improving the health and wellbeing of all people and communities in Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond.
== Contributions to governance and public health ==
Coster has had extensive experience in organisational leadership in the health sector. He was appointed an International Bevan Commission Member in 2012, hosted and supported by Swansea University in Wales. He was a member of the Growing our Own Governance Board advising the National University of Samoa on growing and upskilling academic staff at the University since 2018.Radio New Zealand. Post graduate nursing course launched in Samoa. 2018; https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/programmes/datelinepacific/audio/2018648271/post-graduate-nursing-course-launched-in-samoa. He was a UNICEF New Zealand Board Member 2011-13. He has been involved in the governance of Crown entity since 2000 when he was first appointed to the Board of the Health Funding Authority. This was followed by Deputy Chair Pharmaceutical Management Agency (Pharmac) 2000-09; West Coast District Health Board Chair 2003-07; District Health Boards (New Zealand) Deputy Chair 2008, Chair 2010-11; Counties Manukau District Health Board Chair 2007-13 Wikipedia. List of chairpersons of district health boards. 2020; List of chairpersons of district health boards|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_chairpersons_of_district_health_boards; Health Workforce New Zealand Deputy Chair 2010-13; and Accident Compensation Corporation Board Member 2013-17.
=== WorkSafe New Zealand ===
In 2010, 29 men tragically lost their lives in the Pike River Mine disaster on the West Coast, New Zealand. WorkSafe New Zealand is the Crown agency and regulator established following the report of the Pike River Royal Commission of Inquiry and the Report of the Independent Taskforce on Health and Safety formed to lift standards of workplace health and safety. Professor Coster was appointed by the Government to Chair the Establishment Board in 2013 and went on to Chair the new agency, serving in this role from 2013-2018.Human Resources Director. WorkSafe Board appointed. 2013; https://www.hcamag.com/nz/news/general/worksafe-board-appointed/139529.
=== Other ===
In addition, Coster has conducted reviews or provided advisory services for Government including the Independent Review Team on the Far North Health Services 2000; Health Information Management and Technology Plan Advisory Group 2000-01; Ministry of Health Advisory Group on Referred Services Under Needs Based Funding for Primary Health Care 2001-02; Ministry of Health Prioritisation Project Expert Advisory Group 2003; and Independent Assurance Review for the National Bowel Screening Programme Chair 2018.Analysis & Policy Observatory. Independent Assurance Review for the National Bowel Screening Programme: final report. 2018; https://apo.org.au/node/185996. Science Media Centre. Bowel cancer screening programme independent review - In The News. 2018; https://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2018/08/08/bowel-cancer-screening-programme-independent-review-in-the-news/. He is Chair of Precision Driven Health Independent Advisory Group 2016-23, a partnership between Orion Health, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Innovation, and Employment and industry partners for the advancement of optimization of the health of each individual and their whānau by combining and learning from all available data using machine learning.Precision Driven Health. Independent Advisory Group. 2020; https://precisiondrivenhealth.com/about/independent-advisory-group/. In 2020 he was a member of Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission Leadership in Governance Award Judging Panel.Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission. Leadership in Governance Award Judging Panel. 2020; https://www.publicservice.govt.nz/our-work/awards-and-recognition/spirit-of-service-awards/spirit-of-service-awards-2020/judges-2020/.
== Honours and awards ==
Coster was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners in 1997 for services as Chairman of the College 1995-97. He was made a Distinguished Fellow of the College in 2005 in recognition of his wider contribution to general practice. He became a Life Member in 2016.
In 2014 Coster was made a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Directors in New Zealand. In the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours, Coster was appointed a New Zealand Order of Merit for services to public health.Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2007. 2007; https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2007.
In 2017 Coster was a Gold medalist at the World Masters Olympic Distance Triathlon Championship held in Auckland, New Zealand.World Triathlon. World Triathlon Series. 2020; https://wts.triathlon.org/athletes/profile/66014/gregor_coster.
 
Category:1947 births
Category:New Zealand academics