On the 5th of November 2025, ACHLR member Professor Philip Baker was awarded the prestigious Asia-Pacific Consortium for Public Health (APACPH) Medal of Merit at the 56th meeting of APACPH in Chiang Rai, Thailand. The award, conferred by APACPH, recognises “outstanding services that are consistent with the mission of APACPH” to enhance professional education in public health. Since its inception in 1992, the Medal of Merit has been previously awarded to only 27 distinguished educators from higher educational institutions who have made consistent, significant contributions to public health education.
This accolade is particularly fitting given Prof Baker’s distinguished, sustained leadership and significant contributions to the learning and teaching of public health, and health service delivery that have strengthened professional education across the Asia-Pacific region. Professor Baker has served in key roles within APACPH, as the Australian-Pacific region and executive council member, for the past 11 years.
Through his career, both in government and academia, Professor Baker has advanced pedagogical innovations, international collaboration and capacity building in public health. His work aligns with APACPH’s mission to strengthen capacity “to improve quality of life and address the major public health challenges through the delivery of education, research, and population health services”. Notably, Professor Baker has advanced the quality of the undertaking of Systematic reviews throughout the region through capacity-building training and partnerships.
QUT congratulates Philip for this well-deserved recognition.
