Dr Sharon Bell

Dr Sharon Bell is an international development specialist with over 30 years of experience across practitioner, academic, and governance roles, with extensive Myanmar expertise. She manages development programmes at the Plant & Food Research Group in the Bioeconomy Science Institute, including work in Myanmar on resilient horticulture.

Sharon's PhD from Massey University examined health justice and health system development for communities in conflict-affected Shan State, Myanmar. She provides strategic advisory services to organisations working in Myanmar and maintains professional connections to the country's development sector.

Her career includes roles at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Massey University's Institute of Development Studies, and The Workshop research organisation. She serves on the board of Tearfund New Zealand, which operates programmes in Myanmar.

Sharon's expertise covers Myanmar's political context, development in complex and conflict-affected contexts, health system development, climate change and development, and global development policy and practice.