
Overview
Background
Dr Robyn Littlewood – Chief Executive, Health and Wellbeing Queensland
As leader of the state’s first dedicated prevention agency, Dr Littlewood is a passionate advocate for health promotion in Queensland.
Dr Littlewood believes every Queenslander has the right to better health, with expertise in driving outcomes for individual patients and populations in the area of non-communicable diseases. She is relentless in driving policy and action to achieve fairness for all and reach the right communities at the right time.
An experienced leader, researcher, clinician, academic and educator, Dr Littlewood has more than 25 years’ experience working with the most vulnerable patients and families across paediatric obesity prevention, nutrition and dietetics.
Dr Littlewood holds a raft of formal qualifications in dietetics, business, research and executive leadership from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), James Cook University and The University of Queensland (UQ). These include a PhD, Master of Business Administration, Master of Medical Science and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. As such, bringing universities, industry, government and communities together to solve problems is key to her work.
She currently holds three Adjunct Professor appointments with Griffith University, QUT and UQ, and is proud to be working with these outstanding teaching and research universities. Dr Littlewood remains passionate about education, fostering student learning opportunities at HWQld.
Before her Chief Executive appointment in 2019, Dr Littlewood was a member of the inaugural HWQld board and held titles including Director, Health Services Research, Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service and Conjoint Associate Professor, Nutrition at UQ. While Director of specialist private nutrition practice ChildD, she led the first national paediatric dietetics training course in Australia, alongside Dietitians Australia.
Dr Littlewood has been awarded for her work and proudly accepted the QUT Outstanding Alumni Award (Health) in 2020. She has also held several Board roles including Board Director, Dietitians Australia, and has been awarded Fellow, Dietitians Australia for her service.
Dr Littlewood holds a range of national and Queensland clinical and academic positions and has been an invited speaker at state, national and international conferences. Her extensive list of publications includes co-authoring ‘Digital health and precision prevention: shifting from disease-centred care to consumer-centred health’ in peer-reviewed journal, Australian Health Review.
She is most passionate about children’s health, especially those who need it the most. Through her role at HWQld, Dr Littlewood’s focus remains firmly on driving an agenda of equity to ensure the next generation of Queenslanders live healthy and active lives.
Availability
- Adjunct Professor Robyn Littlewood is:
- Available for supervision
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics, Queensland University of Technology
- Masters (Extended) of Medical Science, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Paediatric Nutrition and Dietetics, The University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership, The University of Queensland
- Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (International), James Cook University
- Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (International), James Cook University
- Graduate Certificate in Executive Leadership, Australian Institute of Company Directors
- Masters (Coursework) of Business Administration (International), James Cook University
Works
Search Professor Robyn Littlewood’s works on UQ eSpace
2024
Journal Article
What have equity and human rights got to do with dietetics?
Littlewood, Robyn (2024). What have equity and human rights got to do with dietetics?. Nutrition & Dietetics, 81 (4), 352-355. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.12904
2024
Conference Publication
Making Healthy Happen - a whole-of-government commitment to a healthier Queensland
Kheng Chai, Li, Nean, Judy, Nalatu, Simone and Littlewood, Robyn (2024). Making Healthy Happen - a whole-of-government commitment to a healthier Queensland. ANZOS (Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society) Conference 2024, Sydney, NSW Australia, 16-18 October 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.09.004
2024
Conference Publication
An evaluation of a school nutrition program to improve accessibility to and consumption of vegetables and fruit among primary school students in Queensland, Australia: From ‘What’s this?’ to ‘I grew it!’
I Fathi, Leila, Young, Charlotte, Cleary, Anne, Porter, David, Taylor, Danielle, Dick, Mathew, Morrison, Charlotte, Chai, Li Kheng, Nethery, Zoe, Cacavas, Katherine, Littlewood, Robyn and Robinson, Mark (2024). An evaluation of a school nutrition program to improve accessibility to and consumption of vegetables and fruit among primary school students in Queensland, Australia: From ‘What’s this?’ to ‘I grew it!’. ANZOS (Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society) Conference 2024, Sydney, NSW Australia, 16-18 October 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.09.010
2024
Conference Publication
The development, delivery and evaluation of a health promotion campaign to drive healthy habits in families
Murray, Clare, Farletti, Rebecca, Munro, Joanna, Harvey, Zoe, Rielly, Janine, Chai, Li Kheng and Littlewood, Robyn (2024). The development, delivery and evaluation of a health promotion campaign to drive healthy habits in families. ANZOS (Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society) Conference 2024, Sydney, NSW Australia, 16-18 October 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.09.031
2024
Conference Publication
Developing a framework to enable clinical health promotion across the healthcare system in Queensland, Australia
Walker, Jacqueline, Doring, Alice, Cotugno, Jacqueline, Farletti, Rebecca, McKinlay, Lynne, Hardt, Jessica, Campbell, Miranda, Chai, Li Kheng, Nean, Judy, Gomersall, Sjaan, Munro, Joanna and Littlewood, Robyn (2024). Developing a framework to enable clinical health promotion across the healthcare system in Queensland, Australia. ANZOS (Australian & New Zealand Obesity Society) Conference 2024, Sydney, NSW Australia, 16-18 October 2024. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/j.orcp.2024.09.035
2024
Journal Article
Exploring the long‐term sustainability of school‐based nutrition and food programs: what works, where and why?
Fathi, Leila I., Yang, Danyu, Walker, Jacqueline L., Robinson, Mark, Littlewood, Robyn A. and Truby, Helen (2024). Exploring the long‐term sustainability of school‐based nutrition and food programs: what works, where and why?. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35 (4), 1149-1157. doi: 10.1002/hpja.847
2023
Journal Article
Applying the Integrated Sustainability Framework to explore the long-term sustainability of nutrition education programs in schools: a systematic review – CORRIGENDUM
Fathi, Leila Isabella, Walker, Jacqueline, Dix, Clare Frances, Cartwright, Jessica Rose, Joubert, Suné, Carmichael, Kerri Amelia, Huang, Yu-Shan, Littlewood, Robyn and Truby, Helen (2023). Applying the Integrated Sustainability Framework to explore the long-term sustainability of nutrition education programs in schools: a systematic review – CORRIGENDUM. Public Health Nutrition, 26 (12), 3380-3380. doi: 10.1017/s1368980023002483
2023
Journal Article
Dietary strategies for obesity
Walker, Jacqueline L. and Littlewood, Robyn (2023). Dietary strategies for obesity. Nutrients, 15 (19) 4275, 1-3. doi: 10.3390/nu15194275
2023
Journal Article
Healthier Together: Implementation and evaluation of a co-designed, culturally tailored childhood obesity community prevention program for Māori and Pacific Islander children and families
Hardt, Jessica, Canfell, Oliver J., Walker, Jacqueline L., Webb, Kerri-Lyn, Brignano, Sebastien, Kira, Kirstine, Peu, Tevita, Santos, Daphne, Bernard, Anne and Littlewood, Robyn (2023). Healthier Together: Implementation and evaluation of a co-designed, culturally tailored childhood obesity community prevention program for Māori and Pacific Islander children and families. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 35 (3), 1-16. doi: 10.1002/hpja.803
2023
Journal Article
Applying the Integrated Sustainability Framework to explore the long-term sustainability of nutrition education programs in schools: a systematic review
Fathi, Leila, Walker, Jacqueline, Dix, Clare, Cartwright, Jessica, Joubert, Suné, Carmichael, Kerri, Huang, Yu-Shan, Littlewood, Robyn and Truby, Helen (2023). Applying the Integrated Sustainability Framework to explore the long-term sustainability of nutrition education programs in schools: a systematic review. Public Health Nutrition, 26 (10), 2165-2179. doi: 10.1017/s1368980023001647
2023
Journal Article
Mealtimes in the context of poverty: comparison of ECEC services providing food and those requiring food provided from home
Searle, Bonnie, Staton, Sally, Littlewood, Robyn and Thorpe, Karen (2023). Mealtimes in the context of poverty: comparison of ECEC services providing food and those requiring food provided from home. Child: Care, Health and Development, 49 (6), 995-1005. doi: 10.1111/cch.13109
2022
Journal Article
Characteristics and treatment outcomes of children and adolescents accessing treatment in Child and Youth Mental Health Services
Lu, Zhen Qi, Geus, Hanna, Roest, Sanna, Payne, Leanne, Krishnamoorthy, Govind, Littlewood, Robyn, Hoyland, Margaret, Stathis, Stephen, Bor, William and Middeldorp, Christel M. (2022). Characteristics and treatment outcomes of children and adolescents accessing treatment in Child and Youth Mental Health Services. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 16 (12), 1297-1308. doi: 10.1111/eip.13275
2022
Journal Article
A rapid review of the impact of family-based digital interventions for obesity prevention and treatment on obesity-related outcomes in primary school-aged children
Chai, Li Kheng, Farletti, Rebecca, Fathi, Leila and Littlewood, Robyn (2022). A rapid review of the impact of family-based digital interventions for obesity prevention and treatment on obesity-related outcomes in primary school-aged children. Nutrients, 14 (22) 4837, 1-19. doi: 10.3390/nu14224837
2022
Journal Article
Watch me grow integrated (WMG-I): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a web-based surveillance approach for developmental screening in primary care settings
Eapen, Valsamma, Liaw, Siaw-Teng, Lingam, Raghu, Woolfenden, Susan, Jalaludin, Bin, Page, Andrew, Kohlhoff, Jane, Scott, James G., Lawson, K. D., Lam-Cassettari, Christa, Heussler, Helen, Descallar, Joseph, Karlov, Lisa, Ong, Natalie, Colditz, Paul B., Littlewood, Robyn, Murphy, Elisabeth, Deering, April, Short, Kate, Garg, Pankaj, Blight, Victoria, Rodgers, Kim, Chalmers, Lucille, Webb, Kerri-Lyn, Atkins, Heidi, Newcomb, Dana, Beswick, Rachael, Thomas, Clare, Marron, Catherine ... Pritchard, Margo (2022). Watch me grow integrated (WMG-I): protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a web-based surveillance approach for developmental screening in primary care settings. BMJ Open, 12 (8) e065823, 1-9. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065823
2022
Journal Article
What do health professionals and parents want as part of an online childhood obesity prevention program?
Walker, Jacqueline L., Dix, Clare, Hardt, Jessica, Farletti, Rebecca and Littlewood, Robyn (2022). What do health professionals and parents want as part of an online childhood obesity prevention program?. Childhood Obesity, 19 (2), 88-101. doi: 10.1089/chi.2021.0313
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
Precision public health for non-communicable diseases: an emerging strategic roadmap and multinational use cases
Canfell, Oliver J., Davidson, Kamila, Woods, Leanna, Sullivan, Clair, Cocoros, Noelle M., Klompas, Michael, Zambarano, Bob, Eakin, Elizabeth, Littlewood, Robyn and Burton-Jones, Andrew (2022). Precision public health for non-communicable diseases: an emerging strategic roadmap and multinational use cases. Frontiers in Public Health, 10 854525, 1-10. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.854525
2022
Journal Article
Addressing childhood obesity in Queensland: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker perspectives and practices
Vincze, Lisa, Boswell, Megan, Atkins, Heidi, Littlewood, Robyn and Williams, Lauren (2022). Addressing childhood obesity in Queensland: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker perspectives and practices. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33 (S1), 163-173. doi: 10.1002/hpja.585
2022
Journal Article
Associations between food provision and feeding practices in socially disadvantaged childcare centres
Searle, Bonnie-Ria E., Staton, Sally S., Littlewood, Robyn and Thorpe, Karen (2022). Associations between food provision and feeding practices in socially disadvantaged childcare centres. Appetite, 169 105811, 1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2021.105811
2022
Journal Article
Empowerment approaches in childhood weight management: A systematic review
Earle, Renae, Littlewood, Robyn, Nalatu, Simone and Walker, Jacqueline (2022). Empowerment approaches in childhood weight management: A systematic review. Childhood Obesity, 18 (1), 2-30. doi: 10.1089/chi.2021.0049
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Adjunct Professor Robyn Littlewood is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Implementing Design Thinking and Community-Based Participatory Research Frameworks to Improve Nutrition-Related Health Behaviours and Skills in Vulnerable Adolescents in a Community-Based Setting.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Implementing at Scale the First Allied Health (AH)-led Program to Treat Paediatric Overweight and Obesity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Implementing at Scale the First Allied Health (AH)-led Program to Treat Paediatric Overweight and Obesity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the implementation and sustainability of school-based food and nutrition initiatives with a local case study and global insights
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker, Associate Professor Mark Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Exploring the long-term implementation and sustainability of school-based food and nutrition initiatives with a local case study and global insights
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker, Associate Professor Mark Robinson
-
Doctor Philosophy
Doing things differently - how do we optimise care for those children and adolescents at risk or living with type 2 diabetes?
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker
-
Doctor Philosophy
Tackling the Nutrition Burden with an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Led and Co- Designed Healthy Living Program
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker, Dr Kai Wheeler
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Implementing Design Thinking and Community-Based Participatory Research Frameworks to Improve Nutrition-Related Health Behaviours and Skills for Adolescents Experiencing Vulnerability in a Community-Based Setting.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jacki Walker
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
Why mealtimes matter: food provision and practices in childcare centres serving low-income communities.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Sally Staton, Professor Karen Thorpe
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
i-PATHWAY: a clinical prediction model to prevent childhood obesity
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Olivia Wright, Dr Jacki Walker
Media
Enquiries
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