The research team behind the Pacific Islands Families Study
The PIF Study is being undertaken by a team of researchers under the leadership of El-Shadan Tautolo.
El-Shadan Tautolo
El-Shadan Tautolo is the Director of the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study. As Lead Research Investigator for the study, he is responsible for providing Pacific academic oversight, strategic thinking, and stakeholder engagement. As a senior Pacific academic in the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, he is involved in collaborative work across the University, in advocating for the health and wellbeing of Pacific families and their communities. Dr Tautolo was born in NZ and is of Samoan and Cook Islands heritage.
El-Shadan Tautolo's academic profile
Tuğçe Bakır-Demir
Tuğçe Bakır-Demir is a Project Manager with the Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study 25th Year Programme. She brings expertise in quantitative methodologies and contributes to the programme by managing a team of seven research assistants, overseeing data collection, conducting in-depth analyses, and preparing manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Bakir-Demir is dedicated to advancing knowledge that informs policy and practice in developmental science.
Dr Tugce Bakir-Demir’s academic profile
Investigators
Pacific and non-Pacific researchers share various responsibilities across the different layers of the study. This structure is optimal as it draws on research expertise and skills across disciplines and brings ethnically and culturally diverse perspectives to the study.
Key AUT staff that assume day-to-day management of various aspects of the study include:
- Sivai Faingataa: Researcher Officer
- Amor Hirao: School Research Coordinator
Research Assistants / Field Interviewers:
- Amelia Tuituu
- Ei Mon Thinn Kyu
- Euana Afoa
- Fuarosa Taue
- Junior Kasiano
- Malia Vaka'uta
Their roles include management of the study and academic participation in measurement issues, data collection, data handling, analysis, write-up, publication and dissemination.
Collaborators
Other personnel are also involved in specialist areas of interest and in a wider consulting and management group.
They include:
- Professor Elaine Rush: nutrition and body composition
- Professor Philip Schluter: Pacific population health, epidemiology and biostatistics
- Professor Suzanne Purdy: hearing
- Professor Richard Siegert: depression
- Associate Professor Catherine Byrnes: respiratory health
- Dr Siale Foliaki: clinical psychology
- Dr Nick Garrett: biostatistics
- Dr Jane Clougherty: environmental studies
Pacific Peoples' Advisory Board
The Pacific Peoples' Advisory Board monitors the general direction of the study. The board is primarily set up to protect and enhance the study in order to maximise benefits to the Pacific communities.