Christopher G. Maher

Professor Chris Maher AM is Director of the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and a Professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Sydney. He is a Level 3 NHMRC Investigator Fellow. Chris was born in Sydney. After completing his undergraduate degree at Cumberland College of Health Sciences he worked clinically as a physiotherapist in a range of settings in Australia and overseas. Chris joined the University of Sydney in 1990 and has taught in the University’s physiotherapy, exercise and sports science, medical, nursing, pharmacy and public health programs. He served as an Associate Dean for research students at the University from 2002-2005. Chris was the founding Director of the Musculoskeletal Division at the George Institute for Global Health from 2008-1017. In 2017 he became the founding Director of the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health. Chris has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford, a Visiting Fellow at Vrije University, Honorary Professor at Macquarie University and Visiting Lecturer at University of Otago. Chris has been an NHMRC Research Fellow since 2006. In 2013 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Australian College of Physiotherapists. He was awarded a Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences in 2016; and in 2018 he received a higher doctorate (DMedSc) from the University of Sydney. In 2024 he was named a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales. In 2024 Chris was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for services to physiotherapy as a researcher, clinician and mentor, particularly in the field of pain management.