Dr George Laking University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand
Since 2007 George has worked as a Medical Oncologist at Te Pūriri o Te Ora the Northern Region Cancer and Blood Service, where he is the Māori Health Lead. In 2022 he was appointed as Manutaki Haumanu Māori Clinical Director at Te Aka Mātauranga Matepukupuku. After some years witnessing the effects of delayed cancer diagnosis, George shifted his research focus to health systems reform. He is working on a project to adopt a new community-based model of care in cancer. George is a Medical Director of the Cancer Society of New Zealand, and a board member of Hei Āhuru Mōwai Maori Cancer Leadership Aotearoa, and OraTaiao the New Zealand Climate and Health Council. He is a past President, Aotearoa and New Zealand, of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, where for several years he also chaired the Māori Health Committee. He is a past Chair of Te Ohu Rata o Aotearoa the Māori Medical Practitioners’ Association. He is a former member of PHARMAC’s Pharmacology and Therapeutics Advisory Committee (PTAC).