Professor Brian Head
Professor

Brian Head

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 334 67450

Background

Professor Brian Head joined the University of Queensland in mid-2007 after holding senior roles in government, universities, and the non-government sector. He is the author or editor of several books and numerous articles on public management, governance, social isues and environmental policy. His major interests are evidence-based policy, complex or 'wicked' problems, program evaluation, early intervention and prevention, collaboration and consultation, public sector integrity, and leadership. He has undertaken several consultancies on program evaluation, policy review, organisational performance, and good governance processes. He has strong interests in applied research across many areas of public policy and governance, and is committed to building closer links between the research and policy sectors. His recent books include Wicked Problems in Public Policy (2022, Palgrave, open access), Reconsidering Policy (2020, Policy Press, co-authored), and Learning Policy, Doing Policy (2021, ANU Press, co-edited).

Availability

Professor Brian Head is:
Not available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Policy and administration Political science

Qualifications

  • Masters (Research), Monash University
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University College London
  • Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia

Research interests

  • Evidence-based policy

  • Complex wicked problems

  • Program evaluation

  • Early intervention and prevention

  • Social inclusion

  • Leadership strategies

  • Collaboration and consultation

  • Integrity and accountability

  • Service delivery

  • Engaged research

Research impacts

Professor Brian Head has provided submissions to numerous governmental policy reviews, on topics ranging from integrity and accountability, through to innovation and research impacts. He has presented inviational keynote addresses to several international conferences and workshops, including symposia organised by the OECD. He provides expert confidential advice to a range of state and federal agencies. He has been elected a Fellow of two professional associations and is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.

Search Professor Brian Head’s works on UQ eSpace

221 works between 1997 and 2024
All (221) Journal Article (126) Book Chapter (38) Conference Publication (17) Book (9) Other Outputs (31)

1 - 20 of 221 works

Featured

2020

Book

Reconsidering policy: complexity, governance and the state

Crowley, Kate, Stewart, Jenny, Kay, Adrian and Head, Brian W. (2020). Reconsidering policy: complexity, governance and the state. Bristol, United Kingdom: Policy Press. doi: 10.2307/j.ctvw1d4zv

Reconsidering policy: complexity, governance and the state

Featured

2016

Journal Article

Toward more "evidence-informed" policy making?

Head, Brian W. (2016). Toward more "evidence-informed" policy making?. Public Administration Review, 76 (3), 472-484. doi: 10.1111/puar.12475

Toward more "evidence-informed" policy making?

Featured

2015

Book

Policy Analysis in Australia

Brian Head and Kate Crowley eds. (2015). Policy Analysis in Australia. Bristol, United Kingdom: Policy Press.

Policy Analysis in Australia

2024

Book Chapter

Managing Wicked Problems: Challenges for Sustainable Tourism

Head, Brian W. (2024). Managing Wicked Problems: Challenges for Sustainable Tourism. Advances in Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research. (pp. 31-41) Emerald Publishing Limited. doi: 10.1108/s1871-31732024000017a003

Managing Wicked Problems: Challenges for Sustainable Tourism

2024

Journal Article

Traffic-related air pollution and childhood asthma—are the risks appropriately mitigated in australia?

Walter, Clare, Sly, Peter D., Head, Brian W., Keogh, Diane and Lansbury, Nina (2024). Traffic-related air pollution and childhood asthma—are the risks appropriately mitigated in australia?. Atmosphere, 15 (842) 842, 1-17. doi: 10.3390/atmos15070842

Traffic-related air pollution and childhood asthma—are the risks appropriately mitigated in australia?

2024

Journal Article

Assessing stakeholder structure in water governance in the Murray-Darling Basin, a public submission perspective

Hong, Paul, Wei, Yongping, Bouckaert, Frederick, Johnston, Kim and Head, Brian (2024). Assessing stakeholder structure in water governance in the Murray-Darling Basin, a public submission perspective. Environmental Science and Policy, 156 103746. doi: 10.1016/j.envsci.2024.103746

Assessing stakeholder structure in water governance in the Murray-Darling Basin, a public submission perspective

2024

Journal Article

Knowledge brokering inside the policy making process: an analysis of evidence use inside a UK government department

Shaxson, Louise, Hood, Rick, Boaz, Annette and Head, Brian (2024). Knowledge brokering inside the policy making process: an analysis of evidence use inside a UK government department. Evidence & Policy, 1-20. doi: 10.1332/17442648Y2024D000000028

Knowledge brokering inside the policy making process: an analysis of evidence use inside a UK government department

2024

Journal Article

Advancing collaborative social outcomes through place-based solutions—aligning policy and funding systems

Lata, Lutfun Nahar, Reddel, Tim, Head, Brian W. and Craven, Luke (2024). Advancing collaborative social outcomes through place-based solutions—aligning policy and funding systems. Policy and Society. doi: 10.1093/polsoc/puae018

Advancing collaborative social outcomes through place-based solutions—aligning policy and funding systems

2024

Journal Article

Expertise, policy advice, and policy advisory systems in an open, participatory, and populist era: New challenges to research and practice

Craft, Jonathan, Head, Brian and Howlett, Michael (2024). Expertise, policy advice, and policy advisory systems in an open, participatory, and populist era: New challenges to research and practice. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 83 (2), 143-155. doi: 10.1111/1467-8500.12630

Expertise, policy advice, and policy advisory systems in an open, participatory, and populist era: New challenges to research and practice

2024

Journal Article

Negotiating the budget for evidence-informed policy-making: insights from a UK government department

Shaxson, Louise, Hood, Rick, Boaz, Annette and Head, Brian (2024). Negotiating the budget for evidence-informed policy-making: insights from a UK government department. Public Money & Management, 44 (6), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/09540962.2024.2308003

Negotiating the budget for evidence-informed policy-making: insights from a UK government department

2024

Journal Article

Policy expertise in times of crisis

Aagaard, Peter, Easton, Marleen and Head, Brian W. (2024). Policy expertise in times of crisis. Policy & Politics, 52 (1), 1-22. doi: 10.1332/03055736y2023d000000016

Policy expertise in times of crisis

2024

Journal Article

Expert perspectives on the changing dynamics of policy advisory systems: the COVID-19 crisis and policy learning in Belgium and Australia

Easton, Marleen, Yarnold, Jennifer, Vervaenen, Valerie, De Paepe, Jasper and Head, Brian W. (2024). Expert perspectives on the changing dynamics of policy advisory systems: the COVID-19 crisis and policy learning in Belgium and Australia. Policy and Politics, 52 (1), 67-87. doi: 10.1332/03055736y2023d000000014

Expert perspectives on the changing dynamics of policy advisory systems: the COVID-19 crisis and policy learning in Belgium and Australia

2024

Book Chapter

Behavioural insights teams in practice: nudge missions and methods on trial

Ball, Sarah and Head, Brian W. (2024). Behavioural insights teams in practice: nudge missions and methods on trial. Beyond nudge: advancing the state-of-the-art of behavioural public policy and administration. (pp. 108-126) edited by Benjamin Ewert, Eva Thomann and Kathrin Loer. Bristol, United Kingdom: Policy Press. doi: 10.1332/030557320X15840777045205

Behavioural insights teams in practice: nudge missions and methods on trial

2024

Other Outputs

Governance principles for novel reef interventions

Shumway, Nicole, Foster, Rose, Head, Brian and Fidelman, Pedro (2024). Governance principles for novel reef interventions. Brisbane, QLD, Australia: The Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program.

Governance principles for novel reef interventions

2024

Journal Article

Stakeholder engagement in natural resource management: Where go from here?

Han, Ziyan, Wei, Yongping, Bouckaert, Frederick, Johnston, Kim and Head, Brian (2024). Stakeholder engagement in natural resource management: Where go from here?. Journal of Cleaner Production, 435 140521, 140521. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140521

Stakeholder engagement in natural resource management: Where go from here?

2023

Journal Article

The limits of voluntary measures: Packaging the plastic pollution problem in Australia

Jones, Stephen and Head, Brian W. (2023). The limits of voluntary measures: Packaging the plastic pollution problem in Australia. Australian Journal of Public Administration. doi: 10.1111/1467-8500.12614

The limits of voluntary measures: Packaging the plastic pollution problem in Australia

2023

Journal Article

Reconsidering expertise for public policymaking: the challenges of contestability

Head, Brian W. (2023). Reconsidering expertise for public policymaking: the challenges of contestability. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 83 (2), 156-172. doi: 10.1111/1467-8500.12613

Reconsidering expertise for public policymaking: the challenges of contestability

2023

Journal Article

Policy solutions needed for the future of coral reefs

Shumway, Nicole, Foster, Rose, Head, Brian and Fidelman, Pedro (2023). Policy solutions needed for the future of coral reefs. BioScience, 73 (11), 1-3. doi: 10.1093/biosci/biad092

Policy solutions needed for the future of coral reefs

2023

Conference Publication

Place-based initiatives for addressing wicked problems: Lessons from recent Australian experience.

Lata, Lutfun Nahar, Reddel, Tim, Head, Brian and Craven, Luke (2023). Place-based initiatives for addressing wicked problems: Lessons from recent Australian experience.. The Australian Social Policy Conference 2023, Canberra, ACT, Australia, 11-13 September 2023.

Place-based initiatives for addressing wicked problems: Lessons from recent Australian experience.

2023

Journal Article

Stakeholder engagement in natural resources for energy transitions governance

Han, Ziyan, Wei, Yongping, Johnston, Kim and Head, Brian (2023). Stakeholder engagement in natural resources for energy transitions governance. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 102 107206, 107206. doi: 10.1016/j.eiar.2023.107206

Stakeholder engagement in natural resources for energy transitions governance

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2026
    Pre-conditions for the development of offshore wind energy in Australia (Blue Economy CRC project led by Uni Tasmania)
    Blue Economy CRC-Co Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2025
    Enhancing and evaluating stakeholder engagement for improved water outcomes
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2024
    Water resources management: past transformations for future sustainability
    ARC Special Research Initiatives - Australian Society, History and Culture 2020
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2022
    Stronger Places, Strong People- alignment of frameworks and funding
    Collaboration for Impact Limited
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2023
    Environmental indicators for tracking environmental condition and trend in Queensland
    Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science
    Open grant
  • 2021 - 2022
    Improving the effectiveness of environmental policy in Australia - using regulation, markets and science to achieve sustainability goals
    Australian Political Studies Association
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2024
    RRAP-REG-01-V1 Regulatory and Policy Environment (Great Barrier Reef Foundation funding administered by AIMS)
    Australian Institute of Marine Science
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Mapping and analysis of blue economy policy and legislative arrangements
    Blue Economy CRC-Co Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2019 - 2022
    The Integrated Bio-economy Project and the Controlled Biosphere
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2019
    Services to support the development Queensland's Post 2020 Climate Strategy
    Queensland Government Department of Environment and Science
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Hierarchy to high-performance? Evaluating 30yrs of Senior Executive Service
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2019
    Behavioural insights in the Australian public sector
    The Australia and New Zealand School of Government
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2017
    Water Utility Reform in Australia: Lessons for India
    International WaterCentre Pty Ltd
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2017
    Resolving Complex Policy Problems - the role of social science
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2014
    The governance of adaptive development practice in complex Indigenous contexts
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Water-energy-carbon linkages in households and cities: a new paradigm
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2018
    Centre for Research Excellence in Evidence-based Mental Health Planning: Translating Evidence into Policy and Services
    NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    Research Proposal: How do government agencies use evidence?
    The National Board of Health and Welfare
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Better governance for complex decision-making
    CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Better Regulatory Frameworks for Water Sensitive Cities
    CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2016
    Strategies for Influencing the Political Dynamics of Decision-Making
    CRC for Water Sensitive Cities
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2013
    Aboriginal responses to climate change in arid zone Australia - Regional understandings and capacity building for adaptation
    Climate Change Adaptation Research Grants Program
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Enhancing Risk Communication Regarding Potable Water Reuse (Administered by UNSW)
    University of New South Wales
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2015
    Collaborative Research Network Southern Cross University: Policy and Planning Research for Sustainable Regions
    Collaborative Research Networks (DIISR 3rd Party)
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Human factors in urban water system safety (SEQ Urban Water Security Research Alliance)
    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Trust
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    The Utilisation of Social Science Research in Policy Development and Program Review
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2016
    Evaluation of the Evolve behaviour support service
    Disability Services Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2013
    Housing - Housing Assistance and Homelessness Prevention
    Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    ResTeach 2010 0.2 FTE School of Political Science and International Studies
    UQ ResTeach
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Collaboration as a solution to wicked public policy problems: the example of regional environmental and natural resources policy in Australia
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2016
    Early intervention services for children with a physical disability
    Disability Services Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2012
    Demand Management and Communication Research (SEQ Urban Water Security Research Alliance)
    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Trust
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2012
    Institutional Change for Water Management (SEQ Urban Water Security Research Alliance)
    Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Trust
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Brian Head is:
Not available for supervision

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Influence of the Prospect of Biodiversity Offsetting on Development Impact Permitting

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Martine Maron

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the evolution of catchment water balance in the Murray-Darling Basin

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Yongping Wei

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The Political History of Modern Queensland

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Byrnes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the historical institutional regulations for future water resources management in Australia

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Yongping Wei

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The lessons from international development for indigenous affairs

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Tim Reddel

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Mitigating the health impacts of air pollution in Australia: From research to policy

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Peter Sly, Associate Professor Nina Lansbury

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Brian Head directly for media enquiries about:

  • Collaboration
  • Environmental policy
  • Evidence-based policy
  • Innovation policy - social sciences
  • Policy - Environmental
  • Policy - social
  • Policy - water
  • Social policy
  • Social sciences - innovation policy
  • Water policy

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