Jacki Walker

Dr Jacki Walker is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences within the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences at The University of Queensland. She joined UQ in November 2015 after completing her PhD in paediatric nutrition at the same institution in March 2013, with research focused on energy balance and body composition in children with cerebral palsy. Prior to her doctoral studies, she earned her undergraduate degree in exercise science and nutrition and dietetics from the University of Sydney and worked as a dietitian in hospital settings, community clinics, and private practice with specialization in paediatric dietetics.

Dr Walker's research spans multiple areas of nutrition and health, with primary focus on childhood obesity prevention and management, nutrition for children with disabilities, public health nutrition, and nutrition for child and adolescent athletes. Her work frequently addresses health disparities, particularly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, Māori, and Pacific Islander populations. She employs diverse methodologies including systematic reviews, longitudinal studies, process evaluations, and co-design approaches to develop culturally appropriate interventions.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on school-based interventions, both for physical activity (particularly HIIT programs) and nutrition education. Her research demonstrates how implementation science frameworks can enhance the sustainability of health promotion programs. She also investigates dietary patterns across diverse populations, from competitive swimmers with cerebral palsy to university students, examining the relationship between nutrition and various health and educational outcomes.

• Nutritional knowledge of the Mediterranean diet is associated with positive attitudes and adherence in a non-Mediterranean multi-ethnic society (2022)
• Healthier Together: Implementation and evaluation of a co-designed, culturally tailored childhood obesity community prevention program for Māori and Pacific Islander children and families (2023)
• Raising the Topic: Clinical Needs Assessment and Co‐Design of Targeted Clinical Resources for Primary Healthcare Practitioners to Prevent and Manage Childhood Obesity (2025)

Dr Walker actively supervises PhD students and has developed collaborative relationships with numerous researchers across disciplines. Her funding history includes projects related to childhood obesity prevention, evaluation of healthier drinks initiatives in healthcare facilities, and expansion of pediatric weight management services. She is available for supervision and recognized as a media expert on childhood obesity, nutrition, and paediatrics.