Public Health & Social Policy
News and Features
Pedro van der Ent
Director, Business Development - Pacific
pedro.vanderent@auckland.ac.nzMore about Pedro
Pedro van der Ent leads Pacific strategic engagement and partnership development for UniServices. He works at the interface of academia, government, and development finance, connecting the University鈥檚 research capability with the priorities of Pacific governments, regional organisations, and international funders to design and mobilise impactful programmes across the region.
His work focuses on building trusted partnerships and developing collaborative initiatives with Pacific Island governments, CROP agencies, and major development partners, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World Bank, New Zealand鈥檚 Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), Australia鈥檚 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Pacific Community (SPC), and the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP). Through these relationships he helps shape research and technical programmes addressing key regional priorities such as climate resilience, sustainable infrastructure, ocean and environmental governance, health systems, education, and economic development.
Pedro brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience across the public, private, and research sectors, with a strong track record in strategic partnership development, programme mobilisation, and complex stakeholder engagement across the Pacific and wider Asia-Pacific region.
Of Pacific heritage, he is deeply committed to advancing locally grounded, Pacific-led development solutions, helping translate world-class research into practical outcomes that strengthen capability, resilience, and long-term prosperity for Pacific communities.
Simon Crook
Partnerships & Innovation Manager - Business Innovation
simon.crook@auckland.ac.nzSimon is a UniServices business development manager who is able to assist with a wide array of research-related queries across the Business, Law and Arts faculties. Contact about: Connecting to research related to business innovation, social justice, and crisis and disaster resilience.
Kerryn Kilkenny
Director, Partnerships & Innovation - Strategic Growth
kerryn.kilkenny@auckland.ac.nzMore about Kerryn
Kerryn has been with UniServices since 2018, joining from publisher SpringerNature, where she held commercial and product management roles in New Zealand, England and Australia. With an MSc in Pharmacology and Physiology, she has an interest in drug development. Contact her about opportunities for research in infectious diseases.
Stacey Strang
Partnership and Innovation Manager 鈥� Population Health & Mental Health
stacey.strang@auckland.ac.nzStacey has been with UniServices since 2020. Her focus on population health and mental health solutions. She previously worked as a health funder and has a Master of Public Health.