Professor El-Shadan Tautolo’s career has been dedicated to advancing the health and wellbeing of Pacific families in Aotearoa New Zealand. He has led the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study at Auckland University of Technology since 2015. Under his leadership, this landmark birth cohort has produced internationally significant research evidence that has informed policy in education, social services and health.

In 2019, he received the Pacific Public Health Champion Award from the New Zealand Public Health Association, in recognition of his work. Of Samoan and Cook Islands heritage, he is committed to Pacific-led research, and to building the skills and supporting the next generation of Pacific researchers.