Brian Head

Professor Brian Head is a distinguished academic at the University of Queensland, serving as Professor in the School of Political Science and International Studies and Director of Work Integrated Learning. He joined UQ in mid-2007 after holding senior roles across government, universities, and the non-government sector, bringing extensive practical experience to his academic work.

His educational background includes a PhD in Politics from the University of London and a Master of Arts in Politics from Monash University. As a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and two professional associations, his scholarly contributions have been widely recognized.

Professor Head's research spans several critical areas of public policy, with particular focus on evidence-based policy, complex 'wicked' problems, program evaluation, early intervention and prevention strategies, social inclusion, leadership approaches, collaborative governance, public sector integrity, and service delivery systems. His work consistently bridges theoretical frameworks with practical policy applications.

His extensive publication record—over 127 journal articles, 38 book chapters, and several influential books including Wicked Problems in Public Policy (2022), Reconsidering Policy (2020), and Learning Policy, Doing Policy (2021)—demonstrates his evolving focus from traditional policy analysis to addressing increasingly complex governance challenges in turbulent times. Recent work increasingly examines policy advisory systems, knowledge brokering, and the implementation challenges of evidence-based approaches.

• Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia
• Fellow of two professional associations
• Author of multiple influential books on policy and governance
• Extensive publication record across leading journals

Professor Head has provided submissions to numerous governmental policy reviews on topics ranging from integrity and accountability to innovation and research impacts. He has been invited to present keynote addresses to international conferences, including symposia organized by the OECD, demonstrating the global recognition of his expertise. His consultancies have focused on program evaluation, policy review, organizational performance, and good governance processes.