Rebekah Crosswell (Te Whakatōhea, Scotland) is a Research Officer at the University of Waikato’s Te Wānanga o Waiora, Division of Health, where her work sits at the intersection of health, human behavior (psychology), and social work. Raised within a large whānau, Rebekah’s commitment to health equity and community-engaged research is fueled by firsthand experience of the systemic barriers facing Aotearoa.

She has recently concluded the HRC-funded "Te Pou Whirinaki o te Mate Huka" project as Principal Investigator. This project successfully launched the digital platform www.matehuka.info and developed the Mate Huka Momo Rua (Type 2 Diabetes) book—a culturally grounded resource weaving together community quotes, whakataukī, tongikura, and karakia to support whānau-led diabetes management.

Rebekah is currently undertaking a Heart Foundation PhD Scholarship, where her research, "Perception is Prevention," investigates the psychological and environmental impacts of advertising on tamariki. This work explores how early exposure to marketing shapes health behaviors and long-term wellbeing. Her broader portfolio includes evaluating health technologies, kaiāwhina-based support, and marae-based clinics, alongside a dedicated commitment to mentoring emerging researchers.

Holding a Master of Science (First Class Honours) in Biological and Psychological Sciences, Rebekah is an active member of many societies and special interest groups across Australasia, including the New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD), the Māori Diabetes Clinical Network, Science Communicators of NZ, Australasian Association of Primary Care, and Health Coalition Aotearoa. Whether through her PhD or her ongoing collaborative work, Rebekah remains steadfast in her goal of improving healthcare access and quality of life for all whānau.