Neil Bretana

Senior Lecturer (Teaching Specialist (Acad))

College of Nursing and Health Sciences

place Sturt South

Dr. Neil Bretana is a Senior Lecturer at Flinders University whose work bridges digital health, data science, and health sciences education. His research focuses on the ethical, social, and strategic implications of emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence in healthcare and education.

With a background in interdisciplinary research and policy engagement, Dr. Neil has led projects exploring ethical AI implementation, augmented technologies, and future-oriented public health strategies. He is a frequent contributor to academic and innovation forums, including publications, international conferences, and cross-sector initiatives linking academia, government, and industry.

Beyond academia, Dr. Neil has a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship co-founding 2 start-ups and serving as an entrepreneurship-in-residence at a global venture capital firm. He has also contributed as an advisor to the board of various health-focused non-for-profit organisations. 

Qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy, UNSW Sydney

Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics, Yuan Ze University

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, De La Salle University

Postgraduate certificate in Biomedical Design and Innovation, Copenhagen University

Honours, awards and grants

Centenary Institute Medical Innovation Award – People’s Choice 2018

Centenary Institute Medical Innovation Award – People’s Choice 2017

Westmead Millenium Institute for Medical Research Young Achiever Award 2013

Interests
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Biodesign
  • Digital Health
  • Innovation