
Overview
Background
Olivia is a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics and Director of Teaching and Learning at the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland.
Her work sits at the intersection of nutrition science, the microbiome, and interprofessional practice, with a focus on nutritional resilience and personalised nutrition. She leads a program of research that explores how dietary patterns shape microbiome resilience and health outcomes, and how this knowledge can be translated into clinical practice, education, and policy.
Olivia’s research draws together diverse strands - including culinary nutrition, chronic disease prevention, Indigenous food systems, and AI-enabled analysis - into a cohesive program aimed at improving the lived experience of patients and communities. She has published widely in nutrition science and dietetics, and is actively pursuing national and international collaborations to advance understanding of the microbiome and its role in health resilience.
As a recognised leader in teaching and learning innovation, Olivia plays a central role in shaping the next generation of dietitians. She integrates AI, cultural safety, and inclusive design into her teaching to strengthen student confidence, belonging, and leadership. Her approach bridges education, research, and community engagement, ensuring that evidence does not just build knowledge but drives real-world impact across health systems and society.
Availability
- Dr Olivia Wright is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor, Queensland University of Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
- Member, Dietitians Association of Australia, Dietitians Association of Australia
Research interests
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Diet–microbiome resilience and personalised nutrition
I study how dietary patterns shape microbiome resilience and individual variability in metabolic and inflammatory outcomes.
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Culinary nutrition: translating evidence into practice
I design and evaluate culinary strategies that turn guidelines into practical, tasty meals for diverse populations and clinical needs. Projects span high-protein enrichment, Mediterranean-style patterns, and cost-conscious meal planning, across the life course.
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Culturally safe, sustainable food systems
I co-design nutrition solutions that respect First Nations knowledge and promote equitable access to uniquely Australian foods. Research links cultural safety, environmental sustainability, and food sovereignty to everyday eating.
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AI-enabled learning and assessment in dietetics education
I develop and study secure, culturally safe AI tools for feedback, simulation, and assessment design in health programs. Research targets belonging, capability building, and reliable evaluation of clinical and counselling skills.
Works
Search Professor Olivia Wright’s works on UQ eSpace
2022
Journal Article
Screening, diagnosis and management of sarcopenia and frailty in hospitalized older adults: recommendations from the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) expert working group
Daly, Robin M., Iuliano, S., Fyfe, J. J., Scott, D., Kirk, B., Thompson, M. Q., Dent, E., Fetterplace, K., Wright, O. R. L., Lynch, G. S., Zanker, J., Yu, S., Kurrle, S., Visvanathan, R. and Maier, A. B. (2022). Screening, diagnosis and management of sarcopenia and frailty in hospitalized older adults: recommendations from the Australian and New Zealand Society for Sarcopenia and Frailty Research (ANZSSFR) expert working group. Journal of Nutrition, Health and Aging, 26 (6), 637-651. doi: 10.1007/s12603-022-1801-0
2022
Journal Article
“We’d be really motivated to do something about it”: a qualitative study of parent and clinician attitudes towards predicting childhood obesity in practice
Canfell, Oliver J., Littlewood, Robyn, Wright, Olivia R. L. and Walker, Jacqueline L. (2022). “We’d be really motivated to do something about it”: a qualitative study of parent and clinician attitudes towards predicting childhood obesity in practice. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 34 (2), 398-409. doi: 10.1002/hpja.611
2022
Journal Article
Mediterranean Style Dietary Pattern with High Intensity Interval Training in Men with Prostate Cancer Treated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Pilot Randomised Control Trial
Baguley, Brenton J., Adlard, Kirsten, Jenkins, David, Wright, Olivia R. L. and Skinner, Tina L. (2022). Mediterranean Style Dietary Pattern with High Intensity Interval Training in Men with Prostate Cancer Treated with Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Pilot Randomised Control Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19 (9) 5709, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095709
2022
Journal Article
Food and nutrition security: underutilized plant and animal-based foods
Wright, Olivia R. L., Sivakumar, Dharini, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael E. (2022). Food and nutrition security: underutilized plant and animal-based foods. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8 821388, 821388. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.821388
2022
Book
Food and nutrition security: underutilized plant and animal-based foods
Yasmina Sultanbawa, Michael Erich Netzel , Dharini Sivakumar and Olivia Renee Louise Wright eds. (2022). Food and nutrition security: underutilized plant and animal-based foods. Frontiers Research Topics, Lausanne, Switzerland: Frontiers Research Foundation. doi: 10.3389/978-2-88974-532-6
2021
Other Outputs
Sharper Minds 2021 Pilot Report
Dingle, G.A., Hodges, J., Hides, L., McKimmie, B., Gomersall, S., Beckman, E., Birch, S., Smith, S., Zurynski, Y., Maccallum, F., Bentley, S., Wright, O., Walter, Z. and Alhadad, S. (2021). Sharper Minds 2021 Pilot Report.
2021
Journal Article
How do music activities affect health and well-being? A scoping review of studies examining psychosocial mechanisms
Dingle, Genevieve A., Sharman, Leah S., Bauer, Zoe, Beckman, Emma, Broughton, Mary, Bunzli, Emma, Davidson, Robert, Draper, Grace, Fairley, Sheranne, Farrell, Callyn, Flynn, Libby Maree, Gomersall, Sjaan, Hong, Mengxun, Larwood, Joel, Lee, Chiying, Lee, Jennifer, Nitschinsk, Lewis, Peluso, Natalie, Reedman, Sarah Elizabeth, Vidas, Dianna, Walter, Zoe C. and Wright, Olivia Renee Louise (2021). How do music activities affect health and well-being? A scoping review of studies examining psychosocial mechanisms. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 713818, 713818. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.713818
2021
Conference Publication
Novel sources of functional ingredients: the potential of Australian Indigenous Edible Halophytes
Srivarathan, Sukirtha, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Wright, Olivia, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael E. (2021). Novel sources of functional ingredients: the potential of Australian Indigenous Edible Halophytes. Joint virtual Workshop between The ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Uniquely Australian Foods (ARC ITTC UAF), Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia and The SARChI Research Programme in Phytochemical Food Network to Improve the Nutritional Quality for Consumers, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa, Virtual, 24-25 August 2021.
2021
Journal Article
The measurement of antioxidant capacity and colour attributes in wild harvest samphire (Tecticornia sp.) samples using mid-infrared spectroscopy
Srivarathan, Sukirtha, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Wright, Olivia, Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Netzel, Michael E. and Cozzolino, Daniel (2021). The measurement of antioxidant capacity and colour attributes in wild harvest samphire (Tecticornia sp.) samples using mid-infrared spectroscopy. Food Analytical Methods, 14 (11), 2328-2334. doi: 10.1007/s12161-021-02065-6
2021
Journal Article
i‐PATHWAY : Development and validation of a prediction model for childhood obesity in an Australian prospective birth cohort
Canfell, Oliver J., Littlewood, Robyn, Wright, Olivia R. L. and Walker, Jacqueline L. (2021). i‐PATHWAY : Development and validation of a prediction model for childhood obesity in an Australian prospective birth cohort. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 57 (8), 1250-1258. doi: 10.1111/jpc.15436
2021
Conference Publication
Australian indigenous edible halophytes as potential salt substitutes
Srivarathan, Sukirtha, Mantilla , Sandra, Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Phan, Anh, Wright, Olivia and Netzel, Michael E (2021). Australian indigenous edible halophytes as potential salt substitutes. 15th NZOZ Sensory and Consumer Science Symposium (A Virtual Conference), virtual, 9-11 February 2021.
2021
Journal Article
Tecticornia sp. (Samphire)—A Promising Underutilized Australian Indigenous Edible Halophyte
Srivarathan, Sukirtha, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Hong, Hung Trieu, Chua, Elvis T., Wright, Olivia, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael E. (2021). Tecticornia sp. (Samphire)—A Promising Underutilized Australian Indigenous Edible Halophyte. Frontiers in Nutrition, 8 607799, 607799. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.607799
2021
Journal Article
Mediterranean-style dietary pattern improves cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in men with prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy: a pilot randomised control trial
Baguley, Brenton J., Skinner, Tina L., Jenkins, David G. and Wright, Olivia R. L. (2021). Mediterranean-style dietary pattern improves cancer-related fatigue and quality of life in men with prostate cancer treated with androgen deprivation therapy: a pilot randomised control trial. Clinical Nutrition, 40 (1), 245-254. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2020.05.016
2020
Journal Article
Anthocyanins: “berry” much more than common plant pigments
Wright, Olivia R. L., Phan, Anh D. T., Hong, Hung T., Netzel, Gabriele, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael E. (2020). Anthocyanins: “berry” much more than common plant pigments. Australian Berry Journal, Summer (5), 22-23.
2020
Conference Publication
Australian grown Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) – an underestimated fruit?
Netzel, Michael E., Phan, Anh D. T., Cozzolino, Daniel, Wright, Olivia and Sultanbawa, Yasmina (2020). Australian grown Feijoa (Acca sellowiana) – an underestimated fruit?. Queensland Annual Chemistry Symposium (QACS), Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27 November 2020. Melbourne, VIC Australia: RACI.
2020
Conference Publication
Edible halophytes—a novel source of functional food ingredients?
Srivarathan, Sukirtha, Phan, Anh Dao Thi, Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Wright, Olivia and Netzel, Michael E. (2020). Edible halophytes—a novel source of functional food ingredients?. 1st International Electronic Conference on Food Science and Functional Foods, Online, 10–25 November 2020. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/foods_2020-07822
2020
Conference Publication
Folate in Red Rhapsody Strawberry—Content and Storage Stability
Netzel, Michael E., Dumler, Caroline, Weber, Nadine, Rami, Julius, Rychlik, Michael, Netzel, Gabriele, Wright, Olivia, Hong, Hung Trieu and O’Hare, Tim J. (2020). Folate in Red Rhapsody Strawberry—Content and Storage Stability. 1st International Electronic Conference on Food Science and Functional Foods, Online, 10–25 November 2020. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI. doi: 10.3390/foods_2020-07670
2020
Conference Publication
Edible Halophytes – A novel Source of Functional Food Ingredients?
Srivarathan, Sukirtha, Phan, Anh D. T., Sultanbawa, Yasmina, Wright, Olivia and Netzel, Michael E. (2020). Edible Halophytes – A novel Source of Functional Food Ingredients?. 1st International Electronic Conference on Food Science and Functional Foods (MDPI), Online, 10-25 November 2020. Basel, Switzerland: MDPI.
2020
Conference Publication
Nutritional features of Australian grown feijoa (Acca sellowiana) fruit
Phan, Anh, Cozzolino, Daniel, Wright, Olivia, Rychlik, Michael, Sultanbawa, Yasmina and Netzel, Michael (2020). Nutritional features of Australian grown feijoa (Acca sellowiana) fruit. 5th International Conference on Metrology in Food and Nutrition, Prague, Czech Republic, 16-18 September 2020. Prague, Czech Republic: IMEKOFOODS.
2020
Journal Article
Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and chronic disease in Australia: national nutrition and physical activity survey analysis
Aridi, Yasmine S., Walker, Jacqueline L., Roura, Eugeni and Wright, Olivia R. L. (2020). Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and chronic disease in Australia: national nutrition and physical activity survey analysis. Nutrients, 12 (5) 1251, 1251. doi: 10.3390/nu12051251
Funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Olivia Wright is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
The practice and effectiveness of the Accredited Practising Dietitian in multidisciplinary outpatient treatment of eating disorders
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Impact of Culinary Education on Adolescents¿ Psychosocial Wellbeing
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Breanna Lepre, Dr Aoife-Marie Foran, Professor Lauren Ball
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Doctor Philosophy
Exploring and understanding the nutritional quality and functional properties of wild harvested Australian grown elderberries (native elderberries)
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Heather Smyth, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, Dr Michael Netzel
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Doctor Philosophy
Recruitment and Retention of Allied Health Professionals
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lauren Ball, Dr Karly Bartrim
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Doctor Philosophy
Dietary patterns and molecular mechanisms associated with the pathogenicity of appendicitis in humans
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Daniel Hwang, Professor Eugeni Roura
Completed supervision
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Opening the Discussion on Harnessing Traditional Knowledge and Plants for Indigenous Health: Development of a Bush Food-based Carbonated Beverage
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Michael Netzel, Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa
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2025
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the Therapeutic Value of Mealtimes in Rehabilitation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Adrienne Young, Dr Emmah Doig
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDES AND PRACTICES TOWARDS THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH ADHERENCE: A COLLABORATIVE STUDY BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND SPAIN
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker, Professor Eugeni Roura
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The Influence of Diet and Exercise on Prostate Cancer-Related Fatigue and Quality of Life
Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Investigations into the bone health of men on the prostate cancer continuum: A focus on osteoporosis and health behaviours
Principal Advisor
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Are We Ready for the Future? An Exploration of Australian Dietitians' Competence, Preparedness, and Experiences Working in Aged Care
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Lauren Ball
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Australian indigenous edible halophytes - potential sources of functional ingredients
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Yasmina Sultanbawa, Dr Michael Netzel
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2020
Doctor Philosophy
i-PATHWAY: a clinical prediction model to prevent childhood obesity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Adjunct Professor Robyn Littlewood, Dr Jacki Walker
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Australian Residential Aged Care Foodservices Menu design, quality and standards - a time for action
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Sandra Capra
Media
Enquiries
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