Barbara McPake is Professor, Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne and Professor at NCAER. Prior to this, she was Director of the Nossal Institute (2014-23) and the Institute for International Health and Development, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh (2005-2014); Programme Director, Health Systems Development Knowledge Programme (2001-6) and Head of Health Policy Unit (2001-4) at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She has extensive international experience in health systems research and policy analysis and advice to UN agencies and low-and-middle income country governments.

Her research focuses on the application of economic theories and methods to the understanding of issues in health system strengthening in low and middle-income countries.

She has a PhD in Health Economics from the University of Wales, College of Medicine.