Dr Shannon Rutherford—Endeavour Executive Fellowship
Home institution:
Centre for Environment and Population Health, Griffith University
Destination: Guangdong Provincial Centre for Disease Control, Guangzhou, China
“…working with highly regarded and talented
staff of one of China’s lead provincial CDCs has
broadened and deepened my knowledge and
international health credentials.”
Dr Shannon Rutherford, Senior Lecturer and
Deputy Director - Training and Capacity Building,
Centre for Environment and Population Health,
School of Environment, Griffith University.
Shannon’s interest in the links between the environment and human health led her to an academic
position and a PhD in public health, later working in the Environmental Health Unit for the
Queensland Government.
Shannon says her work at the Environmental Health Unit broadened her environmental health
science and policy skills in the fields of air, soil, water and chemical pollution, Indigenous
environmental health, recycled water, health impact and risk assessment.
She was drawn back to academic life and commenced working at the Centre for Environment and
Population Health within Griffith University’s School of Environment.
“Through my international focus and strengths in training and capacity building, translational
research and advice to government and industry I became involved in public health research and
teaching with many international students from across nine countries,” Shannon said.
To improve her understanding of one of the key partner countries, China, she applied for an
Endeavour Executive Fellowship to work with colleagues in the Guangdong Centre for Disease
Control (CDC) Health Prevention Institute in south China.
During her fellowship Shannon engaged in discussions with staff about their research in the areas of
climate change and air quality and health, and emergency management and avian influenza. She
gave seminars and presentations and visited other parts of the government’s health system (a
Maternal Hospital and the Health Inspectorate) and two universities: Sun Yat Sen Public Health
Department and IUC Zhuhai Environmental Science Faculty in order to learn more about China’s
complex heath system and its university system.
“My Endeavour Executive Fellowship provided a unique opportunity for me to build on existing
partnerships with staff at the host institute and other professionals located in Guangdong and
extend our research collaborations.
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“The time I spent observing, listening and engaging in discussions also deepened my understanding
of China, its health system, its challenges and strengths. Living and working with highly regarded
and talented staff at one of China’s lead provincial CDCs has broadened and deepened my
knowledge and international health credentials,” she said.
Life in a modern, densely populated Chinese city opened her eyes to China as a rapidly developing
country with all its associated pollution and population challenges.
“I loved learning the language, food, traditions, festivals and family life, exploring the old market
streets and the rapidly declining traditional style housing, being overwhelmed by the extent of
shopping markets and visiting the natural sights within and outside of the city.
“My favourite experiences were making new friends and colleagues who warmly opened their
homes and organised their precious weekends to show me the sights, share the diversity of amazing
food, enjoy a special tea and answer my many questions!
“I will treasure the time I had, I made many friends who were remarkably generous with their time. I
will continue to keep in contact with them and hope to return in the next 12 months to continue my
work and see them again.”
Shannon’s professional goals are to continue to work in the field of global health as she believes we
all have an obligation to work together to solve existing problems and develop ways to manage
emerging ones.
“I feel more able to work with partners as I better understand their realities, constraints,
opportunities and strengths and weaknesses. Within my university I believe I will be more confident
to take on more leadership roles in internationalisation and global health.”
As a result of her Endeavour programme Shannon has published several international publications
with colleagues from her host institute including:

Kang, M., He, J., Song, T., Rutherford, S., Wu, J., Lin, J., Huang, G., Tan, S., Zhong, H. (2015),
‘Environmental Sampling for Avian Influenza A (H7N9) in Live-Poultry Markets in Guangdong, China’,
PlosOne v10(5), e0126335

Liu, T., Zhang, Y.H., Xu,Y.J., Lin, H.L., Xu, X.J., Luo,Y, Xiao, J.P., Zeng, W.L., Zhang, W.F., Chu, C, Keogh,
K.Rutherford,S, Qian, Z, Du, Y.D.,Hua, M, Ma, W.J. (2014) The effects of dust haze on mortality are
modified by seasons and individual characteristics in Guangzhou, China, Environmental Pollution 187
(2014) pg 116-123.
Dr Shannon Rutherford is Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director - Training and Capacity Building,
Centre for Environment and Population Health, School of Environment, Griffith University
https://www.griffith.edu.au/environment-planning-architecture/centre-environment-populationhealth
You can view a list of some of Shannon’s publications at https://www.griffith.edu.au/environmentplanning-architecture/griffith-school-environment/staff/dr-shannon-rutherford
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