ProfessorMark Lawrence

Professor Lawrence is a Professor of Ecological Nutrition within the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) and the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences. He is also the Director of IPAN’s Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems Unit and leads the 'Sustainable Food Systems' team within Deakin University's Sustainable Health Network.

Professor Lawrence has over 40 years’ experience working as a practitioner and academic in food policy and regulation at local, national and international levels.

In 2024 and 2025 he was ranked #1 nutrition scholar in Australia (#44 globally) by ScholarGPS (Highly Ranked Scholars™ are the most productive (number of publications) authors whose works are of profound impact (citations) and of utmost quality (h-index)). 

Professor Lawrence has substantial national and international experience in food and nutrition policy and regulation in his roles as:
• Expert advisor, the World Health Organization on guideline development for Ultra-processed foods

• Member, Guideline Development Group, the World Health Organization on guideline development for Animal/plant-source dietary patterns.

• Chair, International Union of Nutritional Sciences Task Force on Ultra-processed foods

• Member, International Union of Nutritional Sciences Task Force on Territorial Diets.
• Fellow, Nutrition Society Australia

• Fellow, Public Health Association Australia
• Deputy Convenor, Nutrition Society of Australia's Special Interest Group on Sustainable diets and food systems
• Member, Academic Board, Deakin University.

• Former Board member, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (2017-25).

• Former (Inaugural) Chair, Advisory Board for Cochrane Nutrition (2016-21). 
• Former member, Australian Dietary Guidelines Working Committee (2008-13)