Dr Emily Bowden

Research Fellow; Lecturer

Qualifications:

PhD, Charles Darwin University, 2025; Master of Public Health, Charles Darwin University, 2016; Graduate Diploma Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, 2008; Bachelor of Nursing, University of Western Sydney, 1996;

Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:

Principal supervisor for Honours or Masters students Secondary supervisor for PhD students

Location:

Dili, Timor-Leste

Emily Bowden is a Research Fellow in the Child and Maternal Health Division at Menzies School of Health Research, and a lecturer teaching postgraduate public health students in Australia. She has more than 30 years’ experience in clinical practice, health service management, and maternal health research across Australia, Cambodia and Timor-Leste. She has worked in both metropolitan and remote Australian settings and previously managed maternity services in Nhulunbuy (Northern Territory). Her international work has included supporting health system strengthening in Cambodia and, more recently, leading maternal health initiatives in Timor-Leste.

Emily is a mixed-methods researcher whose PhD produced the first evidence that respectful maternity care improves outcomes for infants, including better health and development at 12 months. Her qualitative work with First Nations women in Australia highlighted the importance of relational continuity, culturally relevant information, family inclusion and trust in shaping care experiences and outcomes. These findings, alongside her systematic review and meta-analysis of continuity models and targeted support strategies, continue to inform her research and implementation work in underserved settings such as Timor-Leste.

Emily’s current work in Timor-Leste focuses on maternal health system strengthening, leading studies on maternal nutrition, AI-enabled antenatal ultrasound and antimicrobial resistance, while mentoring emerging Timorese researchers and supporting Ministry of Health implementation priorities.