Poster 49th Nutrition Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2025

Developing, inspiring and connecting emerging leaders in nutrition: 2025 Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Platform (ONLP) course summary (130043)

Thomas P Wycherley 1 , Jessica Danaher 2 , Donnell Alexander 3 , Elisiva Na'ati 4 , Marie Fialkowski 5 , Asaeli Naika 6 , Welma Stonehouse 7 , Frank R Dunshea 8 , Barbara J Meyer 9 , Alison M Hill 10 , Kara Vogt 11 , Sheila A Skeaff 12 , On behalf of the ONLP Network 13
  1. UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. School of Science, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  3. New Zealand Food and Grocery Council, Wellington, New Zealand
  4. Pacific Community, Suva, Fiji
  5. University of Hawaii Cancer Centre, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
  6. Applied Sciences, , Fiji National University, Suva, Fiji
  7. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
  8. School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
  9. School of Medical, Indigenous and Health Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
  10. UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  11. Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, Australian Government, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  12. Department of Human Nutrition, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
  13. Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Platform, Oceania

Capacity development and strong collaborative networks are key features of a successful nutrition workforce (Davari et al. 2015). The Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Platform (ONLP) course is a biennial six-day course for early- and mid-career individuals working in nutrition related fields, which has been running since 2016. The aim of the ONLP is to develop leadership capability and foster connectivity in the field of nutrition across the Oceania region. ONLP uses a training model that is based on Nutrition Leadership Platform courses across the world (Europe, Africa, South-East Asia, Middle-East, Latin-America).

Participants of the ONLP 2025 course submitted their own applications, which were assessed by an independent selection committee for acceptance into the course. The ONLP 2025 course was held in Maui Bay, Fiji, during June 2025. Course content focused on leadership, communication, policy, social responsibility, food systems, traditional food cultures and a collaborative project. A post-course evaluation assessed participant satisfaction, using a 0 (dissatisfied) to 100 (completely satisfied) scale, for overall course quality, overall course experience and course content, facilitator and venue specific items.

Twenty-one participants from six countries (Fiji, Guam, Hawaii, New Zealand, Singapore and Australia) completed the ONLP 2025 course. Participants represented academia/research (71%), industry (10%), government (14%) and hospital/health service (5%) sectors. Participants, on average, rated their overall course experience as 81 (range 30-100) and the overall course quality as 81 (range 22-100). The ONLP 2025 course was predominately considered a success by participants, with 86% indicating they would recommend the course to others. Key highlights identified by the participants were the leadership training, rich interactivity and cultural integration, and meaningful collaborative opportunities.

Importantly, the ONLP 2025 course cohort has joined an ONLP Alumni Network of more than 80 individuals, strengthening its capacity to positively influence food systems, nutrition related health outcomes and food security in Oceania.

  1. Davari, A., Rashidi, A., & Baartmans, J. A. (2015). Nutrition Leadership Development: Capacity-Building Initiatives in Iran and the Middle-East Region Since 2009. Frontiers in public health, 3, 184.