Philippa Howden-Chapman, sesquicentennial distinguished professor of public health at the University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand, is co-director of He Kāinga Oranga/ Housing and Health Research Programme and director of the New Zealand Centre for Sustainable Cities. She has conducted a number of randomised community housing trials in partnership with local communities, which have had a major influence on housing, health and energy policy. She was chair of the WHO Housing and Health Guideline Development Group and is currently chair of the International Science Council Scientific Committee for Health & Wellbeing in the Changing Urban Environment: a systems approach.