Dr Maureen Makama

Maureen is a global maternal health researcher with expertise in evidence synthesis, mixed-methods research and stakeholder engagement. Her research is dedicated to improving maternal health outcomes through both primary research and evidence syntheses that inform clinical guidelines and policy internationally. 

Her PhD research focused on developing evidence-based strategies to enhance the health and wellbeing of postpartum women. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Nutrition and Health specialising in Epidemiology and Public Health and a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree. 

Maureen has led evidence syntheses for WHO guidelines, directly influencing maternal health practices internationally. She also leads a multi-site, mixed-methods study on maternal going-to-sleep position across 4 facilities in India. 

Prior to her current role, she was a Research Coordinator at the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, managing data and outputs for a large multi‐site trial. She also previously worked on a USAID‐funded initiative promoting reproductive health in under-served regions. 

Maureen is passionate about advancing equitable, evidence-informed solutions in maternal health and fostering international collaborations to drive innovation and impact. 

• 2023: PhD Public Health, Monash University, Australia
• 2015: MSc Nutrition and Health (specialization: Epidemiology and Public Health), Wageningen University, The Netherlands
• 2006: BPharm, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria

• 2021–ongoing: Deputy Chair, Consumer group for Cardiometabolic Health Implementation Research in Postpartum individuals (CHIRP)

• 2024: Dora Lush Travel Academic Excellence Fellowship
• 2022: The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre seeding grant programs (Capacity building, $3000)
• 2021: Bursary award, World Congress of Epidemiology
• 2020: Best PhD student presentation award, Health in Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum Early and Mid-Career Researcher Collective (HiPPP EMR-C) conference
• 2020: Best rapid-fire presentation award, Health in Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum Early and Mid-Career Researcher Collective (HiPPP EMR-C) conference
• 2019: Monash Graduate Scholarship
• 2019: Monash International Tuition Scholarship
• 2014: Anne van den Ban Fund, Wageningen University

• 2025–ongoing: Senior Research Officer; Team Leader, Evidence Synthesis and Guideline Development, Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health Group, Burnet Institute
• 2022–25: Research Officer, Global Women’s and Newborn’s Health Group, Burnet Institute
• 2021–2022: Research Coordinator, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
• 2021–2022: Teaching Associate Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University
• 2015: Research intern, The Netherlands Cancer Institute
• 2009–2011: Medical Detailer, Society for Family Health, Maiduguri, Nigeria