Professor Padam Simkhada is Dean of Global Impact and Research at the University of Chester, a role he took up in early 2026. He provides strategic leadership to advance the University’s global reputation, research excellence, and international engagement, with a particular focus on internationalisation, transnational education, global partnerships, and research impact.

Professor Simkhada is an internationally recognised academic and leader in global and public health, with extensive experience across the UK higher education sector. Prior to joining the University of Chester, he was Associate Dean (International) and Professor of Global Health at the University of Huddersfield. Before this, he held senior academic leadership roles including Associate Dean of Global Engagement and Professor of International Health at Liverpool John Moores University, Senior Lecturer in International Health at the University of Sheffield, and Programme Coordinator and Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen. Earlier in his career, he worked with Save the Children (UK) and the Ministry of Health in Nepal, bringing a strong applied and policy-focused perspective to his academic work.

His expertise lies in internationalisation in higher education, global engagement strategies, and the development of sustainable international partnerships. He has worked collaboratively across academic faculties and professional services to support international student recruitment, develop transnational education portfolios, enhance global rankings performance, and strengthen institutional reputation worldwide. He has extensive experience of working across multiple countries and regions, particularly South Asia and Africa.

Professor Simkhada remains a highly active researcher. He has authored more than 300 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters. His research focuses on health systems research, longitudinal studies of risk factors for non-communicable diseases, and migration and health. He has strong methodological expertise in systematic reviews, evidence synthesis, and mixed-methods research, and has a proven track record of securing and leading impactful research projects.

An experienced educator and supervisor, he has developed and led postgraduate programmes in public health and has supervised more than four dozen doctoral students; he is currently supervising many candidates. His contributions to public health research and education have been recognised internationally, including the award of the Global Health Award in 2013.

Professor Simkhada holds an MSc in Public Health and Health Promotion from Brunel University and a PhD from the University of Southampton. He is a Visiting Professor in Nepal, Bournemouth University, and Liverpool John Moores University, and an Adjunct Faculty member at Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Sciences, Nagpur, India.

In his role at the University of Chester, Professor Simkhada is committed to strengthening global research collaborations, enhancing international impact, and supporting the University’s ambition to be a globally connected, research-active institution delivering meaningful societal benefit.