It is a pleasure to announce the appointment of Professor Rebecca (Bec) Golley to the role of Director of Flinders Caring Futures Institute and Dean of Research for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

As Deputy Director of the Caring Futures Institute since its inception in 2019, and interim Director and Dean Research for the past 12 months, Professor Golley brings an international reputation in knowledge translation and systems thinking that is well positioned to lead the Institute to deliver the vision of the Caring Futures Institute.

Professor Golley is an internationally recognised research leader in public health nutrition and health services research. Professor Golley’s research program develops, tests and implements public health initiatives to improve children’s diet quality, prevent obesity and support growth, learning and development. Her research program spans the range of settings where children and families live, eat, work, learn and play across health, education and social care systems.

Professor Golley has published over 160 peer-reviewed publications, with over 3,800 citations. Having secured over $13 Million in external research funding, Professor Golley’s body of research has helped transform approaches to the prevention and management of childhood obesity and improved our ability to routinely monitor and measure obesity-related behaviours.

“With Bec taking over as Director, I know the Caring Futures Institute will grow from strength to strength. Bec is a methodical, strategic leader. I know under her leadership, we will charge forward with our purpose to create significant impacts in health and care” said Professor Raymond Chan, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Research, Flinders University and immediate prior Director of the Caring Futures Institute.

Professor Golley says she is looking forward to leading the Institute’s high performing research teams.

“I believe we are now well positioned to see the Institute co-ordinate and invest in the capabilities, partnerships, research platforms and initiatives to deliver research that drives better systems, better care, and better communities for better lives.”

“The Caring Futures Institute has provided a unifying focus for research within the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and across the university. The impact of this has been the formation of research teams and programs to tackle complex problems through a transdisciplinary lens. Research income has quadrupled over the past four years, illustrating growth into a research-intensive college in the university research ecosystem. This research activity, together with our research capability building efforts has seen the establishment of a positive research culture of high performance, that is making a difference.”

“We believe that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts which is why partnerships and relationships are at the heart of all we do.”

The Caring Futures Institute leadership team, led by Professor Golley, delivered a new strategic plan for the Caring Futures Institute for 2024 – 2028 which you can view here.