Michael is passionate about opportunities to organise society in ways that promote health, equity and sustainability. His work during 2020-21 has been dominated by assisting with the Covid-19 pandemic response. He is a member of the Ministry of Health’s Covid-19 Technical Advisory Group and has been a leading architect and advocate for the Covid-19 elimination strategy. He established a programme of research on the epidemiology, prevention and control of Covid-19 (Co-Search), which has generated a large amount of published research and commentary aimed at improving the pandemic response. 

Michael has a wide range of public health research interests, with a focus on infectious diseases, environmental health, and improving housing conditions. He is leading a 5-year programme investigating the relationship between infectious diseases, long-term conditions, and social determinants (SYMBOTIC) and research to identify improved ways to prevent rheumatic fever.

Michael has a strong interest in science communication and is a member of the Advisory Board of the NZ Science Media Centre.  He has worked internationally with the World Health Organisation (WHO) on a range of global health projects including helping to establish the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and disease elimination and eradication efforts. 

Michael’s work on public health, and the Covid-19 response in particular, was recognised by a number of recent awards including: the Critic and Conscience of Society Award (from Universities , the Public Health Champion award (from the Public Health Association of NZ), being made a Member of the NZ Order of Merit (MNZM), his selection as the 2020 Wellingtonian of the Year, and the Prime Minister’s Science Communication Prize in 2021.