Sandy MacQuarrie

Dr Alexander (Sandy) MacQuarrie’s contribution to the fields of paramedicine, human performance and wellbeing over the past three decades is immense.

Sandy is a distinguished paramedic, educator and researcher. Excelling in numerous key leadership roles in emergency management in his native Canada, he served as Chief Flight Paramedic at Canadian Helicopters and Director of Educational Services at Medavie while completing his Charles Sturt MBA online.

Sandy relocated to Australia in 2013 as a lecturer and PhD researcher in Charles Sturt’s paramedicine program, and later spent five years as a senior lecturer and researcher at Griffith University. His outstanding innovations in program development and delivery, high-fidelity simulation and interprofessional learning have raised the bar in paramedic education and research internationally. He has shaped generations of paramedics and enriched health, wellbeing and performance across the profession.

Paramedics are our lifeline in critical moments. Equipping and supporting them to be their best is Sandy's life’s work.

“From my early career days, I have tried to foster a connection between paramedic care, education and health,” Sandy explains.

“The most fulfilling aspect of my work is knowing that the course of healthcare, education, research and practice may be slightly better because I was in it.”

He was also a driving force behind Charles Sturt’s Dare to Know paramedic student scholarship and research conference.

“Charles Sturt is a common thread throughout many aspects of my career. It didn’t just give me an education or a job, it allowed me to dare: to think, reflect and deeply understand, to go after that next challenge.”

In December 2023, Sandy founded The Edge Human Performance Group, specialising in educational design and research support across high-value projects internationally. He is currently designing the ambulance curriculum for Papua New Guinea.