Beverly Lawton (Ngati Porou)

Beverly Lawton, CNZM, MBChB, is a professor at Victoria University of Wellington and founder and director of Te Tātai Hauora o Hine, the National Centre for Women’s Health Research Aotearoa. A physician of Ngāti Porou descent, she leads research focused on preventing avoidable harm and death among women, with particular attention to Māori health equity. Her work spans cervical cancer prevention, HPV screening, maternal morbidity, contraception, and access to effective care. She has helped establish national systems for monitoring severe maternal morbidity and advancing community-centered approaches to women’s health.