Maxine A. Whittaker is dean of the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences at James Cook University, Australia. She was previously (2008–2016) the program director of the Australian Initiative on Control and Elimination of Malaria/Pacific Malaria Initiative Support Centre and co-Secretariat of the Asia Pacific Malaria Elimination Network.

Trained as a public health physician and medical anthropologist specializing in global health systems, policies, and programs, Professor Whittaker has worked and lived in several African, Asian, and Pacific countries and her research interests are in fields of operational and health services research and medical anthropology, with a primary focus on infectious diseases including malaria, sexual and reproductive health, health-seeking behavior, and quality of care.