The Principal oversees the Centre and nominates a Core Working Group to manage its operations. The Core Working Group serves as the central decision-making and operational body of the Centre for Public Health. The Core Working Group is responsible for setting the strategic direction, overseeing research and academic programs, and ensuring the effective functioning of the Centre. The Core Working Group nominates the Head of the Centre from within its members, who serves a four-year term and leads the Centre’s activities.

The Core Working Group consists of intramural faculty members from diverse disciplines, ensuring broad expertise in public health research, education, and implementation. Members serve a minimum term of three years, with renewal based on commitment and institutional priorities. To maintain continuity, at least 50% of the members continue during each renewal cycle. Ex-officio members include the Additional Vice Principal (Research) and Heads of Department of Biostatistics and Department of Community Health.

The Core Working Group identifies key public health workstreams, issues calls for proposals, and fosters interdisciplinary collaboration within and outside CMC. It establishes selection criteria for adjunct faculty, reviews applications, and provides support for research funding, training, and networking opportunities. The Core Working Group reviews funding proposals, allocates internal seed grants, and facilitates external funding partnerships. It collaborates with the Secretariat to oversee MSc, PhD, and certificate programs, ensuring high-quality training and capacity building. The Core Working Group conducts regular monitoring and evaluation of workstream progress. It commissions evaluation reports at the end of one and three years and collaborates with the Strategic Advisory Group to assess impact and refine strategies.