Alistair is an epidemiologist and public health doctor. He was Head of the School of Population Health at Auckland from 2004-2012 and previously led the departments of public health at the University of Otago Wellington, and the University of Adelaide. His research and teaching is concerned primarily with environmental matters and the social determinants of health. He has worked for the World Health Organization throughout the Pacific and has been closely involved with the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for 20 years. He is currently a lead author for the Australia and New Zealand chapter in AR6. His recent research has focussed on environmental health issues in China; climate change impacts in the Pacific; the effects of street changes on health and safety; pathways to sustainable, healthy and fair transport systems; and the future of the bicycle.