ProfessorKathryn Backholer

Kathryn Backholer is Professor of Public Health Policy and Co-Director of the Institute for Health Transformation (IHT) at Deakin University. Within IHT, she previously co-led the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE), which includes a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Obesity Prevention. She holds a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship and serves as Vice President (Policy) of the Public Health Association of Australia.

Kathryn leads a multidisciplinary program of research focused on strengthening policy and practice to improve health and wellbeing through prevention. Her work examines how economic, regulatory and digital environments shape exposure to risk factors for non-communicable diseases, with a strong focus on equity. She led the development of an AI-enabled monitoring system that captures real-world exposure to digital marketing for alcohol, gambling, vaping products and unhealthy foods, generating independent evidence to inform effective regulatory responses.

Kathryn regularly advises United Nations agencies, including WHO and UNICEF, and collaborates with governments across the East Asia and Pacific and South Asia regions. She maintains ongoing partnerships with UNICEF regional offices to support evidence-informed action to improve the nutritional health of children and adolescents.