20-year research career recognised with leadership award

13 November 2014

20-year research career is recognised with national leadership award

Dr Marilyn McPherson (also known as Dr Marilyn Brewin) has been awarded Injury Prevention Aotearoa’s 2014 Te Manaia Leadership Award. Dr McPherson received her award in Wellington last week, at the national injury prevention conference.

The Te Manaia Leadership Award recognises the outstanding commitment and contribution individuals and organisations make to the national injury prevention sector. The Award is convened by Injury Prevention Aotearoa.

“Marilyn has made an outstanding contribution to the injury prevention community in New Zealand and overseas.” said Injury Prevention Aotearoa General Manager Justine Ropata. “Over a period of 20 years she has produced a number of reports on Māori and indigenous education, research and health. Some of these included the evaluation of the Community Injury Prevention pilot programmes based in Tairawhiti, Waitakere and Waimakariri and also Māori youth suicide pilot programmes across nine sites across New Zealand. She has achieved to the highest levels in her academic career and has presented both nationally and internationally on various injury prevention topics. It is for these reasons that she is a worthy recipient of a Te Manaia Leadership Award.”

Dr McPherson has taken an active role on a number of boards and national and international committees and is currently a Senior Research Fellow at University of Auckland.

In New Zealand unintentional and intentional injury is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 1 to 34 years, and a major cause of hospitalisation. Justine Ropata says “the burden of injury is immense in terms of resulting disabilities, health expenditure, lost productivity, personal suffering and loss of quality of life. Injuries are preventable and it is thanks to people like Marilyn, and many others who work tirelessly behind the scenes who are helping to expose the message, that living an injury-free life is achievable and worthwhile.”

Injury Prevention Aotearoa is a national leader in the injury prevention sector, advocating for the reduction and severity of unintentional and intentional injury in New Zealand. It is funded by Ministry of Health.

ENDS

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