A core team of researchers with varied disciplinary backgrounds, regional experiences and familiarity with HRH research approaches will steer the development of the volume. The core team is led by Asha George and Uta Lehmann. The idea for a reader emerged from the need for guidance on and examples of excellent HRH research, embracing how health workers are creative and dynamic agents best placed alongside patients, managers and policy-makers to address contemporary health system complexities.