As announced at the 2023 PNZ Annual General Meeting on 10 November, congratulations to Professor Leigh Hale on receiving PNZ Honorary Fellow Membership, the highest award bestowed by PNZ awarded for advancement of the physiotherapy profession and/or contributions to health and wellbeing nationally or internationally.
A committed leader of the physiotherapy profession, Professor Leigh Hale has made a sustained and outstanding contribution over many years. She is the current Dean of the University of Otago School of Physiotherapy and has been a PNZ member since the year 2000.
Leigh’s contribution to physiotherapy research globally is exceptional, publishing over 170 journal articles and 6 book chapters, and presenting her work at more than 100 conferences, both on national and international platforms.
One of Leigh’s strengths is her ability to work collaboratively with physiotherapy and non-physiotherapy academics and community organisations, to develop and implement change in health interventions and delivery. This is exemplified by her work on the acclaimed Otago Falls Programme and innovative Bridges Self-management Programme.
Leigh’s drive for diversity of the physiotherapy workforce has been instrumental in developing more equitable pathways for students of different backgrounds, and her mentoring of numerous research students, including advocacy for Māori and Pacific students, has led to several receiving Health Research Council awards.
Peer recognition of her leadership has seen Leigh invited to examine eight international PhD theses, 10 New Zealand university theses, and to be a convenor for 21 PhD examinations. In 2021, Leigh was appointed an academic advisor for the Physiotherapy Program of the Faculty of Health Sciences in Malaysia, mentoring the training of physiotherapy graduates and postgraduate research students.
Leigh has provided services to numerous interprofessional organisations, demonstrating the peer-esteem in which she is held by both physiotherapy and non-physiotherapy colleagues.
Among many other positions, Leigh was Editor of the New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy for 8 years and a committee member of the Physiotherapy Neurological Special Interest Group for 13 years. Since 2022, Leigh has been on the leadership team of the Critical Disability Issues University of Otago Network and is the University of Otago Chair for the Disability Equity in Health Professional Workforce Task Group.
Internationally, she was appointed a member of the Scientific Panel for the World Confederation of Physical Therapy Conference and has been a member of the Steering Committee for the WCPT Network on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities since 2018.
Leigh’s contribution to research resulting in advancement of physiotherapy and improvement in the health and wellbeing of not only New Zealanders but other populations is unparalleled. While this is just a brief synopsis of her contribution, it demonstrates Leigh’s passion for and promotion of physiotherapy, and leadership within physiotherapy and inter-professionally.
Congratulations again to Professor Leigh Hale on being recognised with the highest award bestowed by PNZ, an Honorary Fellow of Physiotherapy New Zealand.
Page updated November 2023