John is Dean of the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland, with oversight of a complex faculty of 6 schools with 1000 staff and 4500 students with diverse teaching and research activities in medicine, biomedical science, health science, pharmacy, nursing and optometry.

He encourages for stronger inter-professional relations between the traditional disciplines of medical, biomedical and health sciences and across faculties.  John is a biomedical scientist by training specialising in immunology and infectious disease.  He is a advocate for equity and inclusion and the role of science in society and the importance of research led teaching in medical education.