Sarah Burkhart

Dr. Sarah Burkhart is an Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), Queensland, Australia, and Deputy Director (Research and Policy) for the Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research (ACPIR). Her research focuses on school food environments, nutrition-sensitive agriculture, and sustainable food systems in the Pacific Islands. She leads projects addressing food security, dietary assessment, and integration of local foods into school programs. Current initiatives include developing context-specific dietary guidelines for the Marshall Islands and a NOVA-based ultra-processed food screener across seven Pacific countries.

Education: MSc (Massey University), BSc (Massey University), PhD (University of the Sunshine Coast).

Research Interests: School food systems, climate resilience, nutrition education, and Pacific Island food security. She advocates for food literacy and sustainable practices, co-founding the Pacific School Food Network (PSFN) to enhance regional food security. Her work bridges academic research with policy, emphasizing community engagement and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

Awards: Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2022), LearnX Platinum Award (2019), and teaching excellence awards (2016). She chairs SNEB divisions and serves on international nutrition advisory boards.

Teaching and Supervision: Coordinates courses in the Bachelor of Nutrition, emphasizing sustainability and student global engagement. Supervises PhD students researching aquatic foods, climate-friendly school meals, and homestead gardens in Tonga. She advocates for experiential learning, mentoring students in fieldwork across Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.

Grants: Lead investigator on World Bank (2025), FAO (2022-2024), and ACIAR-funded projects totaling over $1.4M, addressing food security, school nutrition programs, and postharvest practices. Recent work includes mapping dietary intakes in the Marshall Islands and analyzing Pacific food systems' climate resilience.

Labs/Teams: Active in ACPIR, PSFN, and the Federation of Oceanic Nutrition Societies (FONS). Collaborates with international organizations like the UN FAO and the Pacific Community (SPC) on regional food policy initiatives.