Timothy Martin Wilkinson

Timothy Martin Wilkinson
Born	(1968-03-21) 21 March 1968 Aldershot, United Kingdom
Academic background
Alma mater	University of Oxford
Thesis	Liberalism, Socialism, and Occupational Choice (1993)
Academic work
Discipline	Political philosophy and ethics
Institutions	University of Auckland

Timothy Martin Wilkinson (born 21 March 1968) is a New Zealand-British academic known for his contributions to political philosophy and ethics. As of June 2024, he holds the position of Professor in Politics and International Relations at the University of Auckland.

Early life and education

Wilkinson was born in Aldershot, England. He attended Exeter College, Oxford from 1986 to 1989, where he earned a B.A. (Hons) in Philosophy, Politics and Economics with first-class honors. He continued his education at Nuffield College, Oxford, obtaining a D.Phil. in political philosophy in 1993 with a thesis titled "Liberalism, Socialism and Occupational Choice."

Academic career

Wilkinson has had a distinguished academic career spanning several institutions in social science disciplines. Beginning as a lecturer in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Auckland from 1993 to 1998, he progressed to Senior Lecturer in both the School of Population Health and the Department of Philosophy from 2003 to 2007. By 2008, Wilkinson had assumed the role of associate professor in the same departments, contributing significantly to political philosophy and ethics. His academic journey included a pivotal tenure as a Leverhulme Visiting professor at the Centre for Professional and Applied Ethics, Keele University in 2010. From 2009 to 2016, he served as an associate professor in Politics at the University of Auckland, and since 2016, he has held the esteemed position of Professor in Politics and International Relations, continuing to influence the field with his research and teaching.

Professional involvement

Wilkinson has been extensively involved in national and international service, particularly within government and the health sector. His contributions include membership in various advisory and working groups, such as serving as deputy chair and member of the National Ethics Advisory Committee at the Ministry of Health from 2010 to 2016. He chaired significant initiatives like the Advance Care Planning and Biobanking working groups and provided expert advice on complex issues such as Paired Kidney Exchange and high-cost pharmaceutical policies. Wilkinson's leadership extended to international collaborations, including liaising with the UK Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and other bodies on ethical considerations in biotechnology and stem cell research. He chaired pivotal bioethics councils and working groups, addressing topics from nanotechnology to xenotransplantation, and made substantial contributions through public engagement, legislative advice, and policy development across his tenure.

Research and publications

Wilkinson's research focuses on political philosophy and ethics, particularly issues related to biomedical ethics. He authored the following books:

• Wilkinson, T. M. (2011). Ethics and the acquisition of organs. Issues in biomedical ethics. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199607860.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-960786-0.
• Wilkinson, T. M. (2000). Freedom, Efficiency and Equality. London: Palgrave Macmillan UK. doi:10.1057/9780230597938. ISBN 978-1-349-40849-8.