Prof Nelson Martins

Senior Technical Advisor

Qualifications:

Postdoctoral Fellowship-Training, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, 2007 Postdoctoral Fellowship-Training Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, 2007 PhD, Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, 2007 Master in Health Management, University of Newcastle, 2002 Graduate Certificate Population Health University of Newcastle, Australia, 2002 Medical Doctor (Dokter Umum), University of Padjadjaran, Indonesia, 1998 Bachelor of Medicine, University of Padjadjaran, 1995

Approved level of HDR supervision at Charles Darwin University:

Principal and Associate Supervisor for PhD and Master by Research

Location:

Timor-Leste

Professor Nelson Martins is a public health physician and health policy leader from Timor-Leste, currently serving as Senior Technical Advisor at the Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University. He previously served as Minister of Health (2007–2012), where he led major health system reforms in a post-conflict context and championed equitable access to care. He is the founder of SISCa (Integrated Community Health Services), a community-based model that continues to expand primary healthcare nationwide. He played a pivotal role in establishing Timor-Leste’s health research systems and co-architected the 20-Year National Health Sector Strategic Plan (2011–2030). 

He was the first Timorese medical doctor to earn a PhD from an Australian university and the first to be appointed as a tenured Professor (PAT) at the Menzies School of Health Research. His research focuses on health systems, tuberculosis, and implementation science, with more than 125 publications, leadership of over 20 projects, and supervision of 16 Master’s and 3 PhD students. With 22 years of teaching experience at UNPAZ in Timor-Leste, he has also guided postgraduate students from Timor-Leste, Australia, and Timorese students studying in Indonesia, Thailand, Portugal, and other countries, many of whom conducted field studies in Timor-Leste.

To date, he has authored 131 manuscripts, including 41 peer-reviewed journal and online articles, 5 books, 44 conference abstracts and papers, 10 health policy documents, and 27 research reports. He has been invited to participate and speak — including as a plenary speaker — at 94 high-level conferences, seminars, and global events across 30 countries, spanning the USA, Brazil, Cuba, Germany, Portugal, France, Switzerland, the UK, Finland, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, Singapore, Nepal, the Philippines, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya, DR Congo, Togo, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Australia, and Timor-Leste.

His contributions to national development, university teaching, and research have been recognized with the Ordem de Timor-Leste Medal, while his role in the country’s liberation earned him official War Veteran status from the Clandestine Front. He currently leads CAMO-NET Timor-Leste, advancing antimicrobial stewardship across 11 countries, and remains deeply committed to strengthening health systems through research, leadership, and community-focused solutions.