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Zerina Tomkins

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Zerina Tomkins

Assoc Professor

 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0266-9536

Accepting PhD Students

20042026

Research activity per year

Personal profile

Biography

I am an interdisciplinary climate and health researcher, internationally recognised for advancing maternal and child health climate adaptation and resilience. A central feature of my work is its grounding in a socio-ecological approach, examining how environmental, social, and health system factors interact to shape health outcomes for pregnant women and young children, as well as maternal and child health service delivery under climate stress.

My research addresses critical challenges at the intersection of climate change, health systems, and digital transformation, including:

  • strengthening community and system capacity to support maternal and child health in a changing climate;
  • leveraging data and digital tools to anticipate and reduce disruptions to care delivery and access;
  • designing and evaluating preparedness strategies that support families and frontline services responding to climate-related events;
  • embedding equity, gender-responsiveness, and climate resilience within health policy and governance;
  • advancing sustianable and responsible digital health, including work on climate-health computerised clinical terminology and the environmental footrpint of digital health interventions

I founded the Maternal and Child Health Climate Adaptation and Resilience (MCH-CARE) Network, which brings together partners across Australia and the Asia-Pacific, including communities, health services, researchers, and policymakers, with the shared aim of minimising climate-related health risks for pregnant women and young children. Through this network, I lead coordinated, action-oriented research to co-design practical, equitable solutions that strengthen local capacity to respond to climate-related pressures, support continuity of care, and improve access to reliable, trustworthy information.

My work is enriched by strong international partnerships, interdisciplinary collaboration, and a commitment to translating research into practice and policy. I actively engage with universities, governments, NGOs, and industry to advance climate-resilient health systems and sustainable, responsible digital innovation in healthcare. Importantly, I mentor the next generation of climate and health researchers, both nationally and internationally.

Education/Academic qualification

Tissue Engineering, PhD, Angiogenic growth and remodelling in a large non-collapsible in vivo space with tissue engineering applications, University of Melbourne

15 Feb 2002 → 14 Feb 2005

Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours), Identification of endothelial precursor cells in cutaneous wound tissue by immunohistochemistry, RMIT University

Medical Laboratory Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, RMIT University

Higher Education, Graduate Certificate in University Teaching, University of Melbourne

Health Informatics, Digital Health, Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Digital Health, University of Melbourne

Nursing, Master of Nursing Science, University of Melbourne

Research area keywords

  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Pregnancy
  • Health Informatics
  • Planetary Health
  • Climate Change and Health
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Workforce development and training

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  1. SDG 2 - Zero Hunger
    SDG 2 Zero Hunger
  2. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
  3. SDG 4 - Quality Education
    SDG 4 Quality Education
  4. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  5. SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy
    SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
  6. SDG 10 - Reduced Inequalities
    SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
  7. SDG 11 - Sustainable Cities and Communities
    SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
  8. SDG 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production
    SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
  9. SDG 13 - Climate Action
    SDG 13 Climate Action
  10. SDG 15 - Life on Land
    SDG 15 Life on Land

Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years

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View all 113 research outputs
View all 23 prizes
View all 14 activities
View all 10 press/media