Distinguished Professor Andre Renzaho OAM

Distinguished Professor Andre Renzaho OAM has produced high-quality evidence that has improved the quality of life of migrants in this country.

He has been a distinguished professor at the School of Medicine at Western Sydney University since 2018, where he is also member of the Translational Health Research Institute.  

He was also the inaugural professor of Humanitarian Development Studies, director of academic programs, a senior mentor, and executive committee member for school research and academic committees.  

For his work, Professor Renzaho was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to medical research, particularly refugee and migrant health.  

“When I arrived in Australia, I could hardly speak English. Prior to migrating to Australia, I worked with United Nations agencies such as the UNHCR and UNICEF and international non-government organisations including Care Australia, Concern Worldwide, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and World Vision to improve the health of refugees and internally displaced people across the world,” he says.

“In Australia, I have mainly focused on generating evidence to influence migrant health policies and practice. My work has indeed repositioned and advanced migration and health equity in Australia and globally.”  

Professor Renzaho was also associate professor at Monash University, and director of Migration, Social Disadvantage, and Health Programs in the university’s Department of Epidemiology and Preventative Medicine.  

He has been honorary senior professional fellow at the Centre for International Health at the Burnet Institute, and associate professor and principal research fellow of migration and health at Deakin University’s World Health Organisation Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention.  

Professor Renzaho says he was ecstatic when he heard he was being recognised.  

“I thank the people who took time to nominate me, [and] I thank my family for the wonderful support throughout my professional and academic journey: Echa Mbuto, Maya Renzaho, François Renzaho, Didier Renzaho, Daniel Renzaho and Mireaux Renzaho.”