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 2025
All (221) Journal Article (126) Book Chapter (38) Conference Publication (17) Book (9) Other Outputs (31)

201 - 220 of 221 works

2008

Conference Publication

Wicked problems: Implications for policy and management

Head, Brian and Alford, John (2008). Wicked problems: Implications for policy and management. Australasian Political Science Association 2008 Conference, Brisbane, Australia, 6-9 July 2008.

Wicked problems: Implications for policy and management

2008

Book Chapter

Promoting Integrity: Trends and Prospects

Head, B.W. (2008). Promoting Integrity: Trends and Prospects. Promoting Integrity: Evaluating and Improving Public Institutions. (pp. 307-317) edited by Head, B.W., Brown, A.J. and Connors, C.. The United Kingdom: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

Promoting Integrity: Trends and Prospects

2008

Journal Article

Wicked problems in public policy

Head, Brian W. (2008). Wicked problems in public policy. Public Policy, 3 (2), 110-118.

Wicked problems in public policy

2008

Book Chapter

Consequences, Capacity and Coherence: An Overall Approach to Integrity System Assessment

Brown, A. J. and Head, Brian W. (2008). Consequences, Capacity and Coherence: An Overall Approach to Integrity System Assessment. Promoting Integrity:Evaluating and Improving Public Institutions. (pp. 285-306) edited by B. W. Head, A. J. Brown and C. Connors. Surrey, U.K.: Ashgate Publishing Ltd.

Consequences, Capacity and Coherence: An Overall Approach to Integrity System Assessment

2008

Journal Article

Assessing network-based collaborations: Effectiveness for whom?

Head, Brian W. (2008). Assessing network-based collaborations: Effectiveness for whom?. Public Management Review, 10 (6), 733-749. doi: 10.1080/14719030802423087

Assessing network-based collaborations: Effectiveness for whom?

2007

Journal Article

Evidence-based advocacy

Head, Brian W. and Stanley, Fiona J. (2007). Evidence-based advocacy. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health, 19 (3), 255-262. doi: 10.1515/IJAMH.2007.19.3.255

Evidence-based advocacy

2007

Book Chapter

The public service and government communication: Pressures and dilemmas

Head, Brian (2007). The public service and government communication: Pressures and dilemmas. Government communication in Australia. (pp. 36-50) edited by Sally Young. Melbourne, Australia: Cambridge University Press.

The public service and government communication: Pressures and dilemmas

2007

Journal Article

Community engagement: Participation on whose terms?

Head, B. W. (2007). Community engagement: Participation on whose terms?. Australian Journal of Political Science, 42 (3), 441-454. doi: 10.1080/10361140701513570

Community engagement: Participation on whose terms?

2007

Book Chapter

Taking subsidiarity seriously: What role for the States?

Head, Brian (2007). Taking subsidiarity seriously: What role for the States?. Federalism and regionalism in Australia: New approaches, new institutions?. (pp. 155-170) edited by A. J. Brown and Jennifer Bellamy. Canberra, Australia: ANU E Press.

Taking subsidiarity seriously: What role for the States?

2006

Journal Article

Engaging Indigenous communities: Towards a policy framework for Indigenous community justice programs

Ryan, Neal, Head, Brian, Keast, Robyn and Brown, Kerry (2006). Engaging Indigenous communities: Towards a policy framework for Indigenous community justice programs. Social Policy and Administration, 40 (3), 304-321. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-9515.2006.00491.x

Engaging Indigenous communities: Towards a policy framework for Indigenous community justice programs

2005

Conference Publication

Assessing integrity systems: Introduction to the Symposium

Brown, A. J. and Head, Brian (2005). Assessing integrity systems: Introduction to the Symposium. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8500.2005.00438.x

Assessing integrity systems: Introduction to the Symposium

2005

Journal Article

Institutional capacity and choice in Australia's integrity systems

Brown, A. J. and Head, Brian (2005). Institutional capacity and choice in Australia's integrity systems. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 64 (2), 84-95. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8500.2005.00444.x

Institutional capacity and choice in Australia's integrity systems

2005

Conference Publication

Institutional capacity and choice in Australia's integrity systems

Brown, A. J. and Head, Brian (2005). Institutional capacity and choice in Australia's integrity systems. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8500.2005.00444.x

Institutional capacity and choice in Australia's integrity systems

2005

Journal Article

Assessing integrity systems: Introduction to the symposium

Brown, A. J. and Head, Brian (2005). Assessing integrity systems: Introduction to the symposium. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 64 (2), 42-47. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8500.2005.00438.x

Assessing integrity systems: Introduction to the symposium

2005

Book Chapter

Leaders and the leadership challenge

Head, Brian, Wanna, John and Williams, Paul (2005). Leaders and the leadership challenge. Yes, Premier : Labor leadership in Australia's states and territories. (pp. 253-264) edited by John Wanna and Paul Williams. Sydney, Australia: University of NSW.

Leaders and the leadership challenge

2005

Book Chapter

Participation or co-governance?: Challenges for regional natural resource management

Head, Brian W. (2005). Participation or co-governance?: Challenges for regional natural resource management. Participation and governance in regional development: Global trends in an Australian context. (pp. 137-154) edited by Robyn Eversole and John Martin. Burlington, VT: Ashgate.

Participation or co-governance?: Challenges for regional natural resource management

2005

Book Chapter

Governance

Head, Brian W. (2005). Governance. Ideas and influence: Social science and public policy in Australia. (pp. 44-63) edited by Peter Saunders and James Walker. Sydney, Australia: University of Sydney Press.

Governance

2004

Journal Article

Can co-governance work? Regional natural resource management in Queensland, Australia

Head, Brian and Ryan, Neal (2004). Can co-governance work? Regional natural resource management in Queensland, Australia. Society and Economy, 26 (2-3), 361-382. doi: 10.1556/SocEc.26.2004.2-3.11

Can co-governance work? Regional natural resource management in Queensland, Australia

2004

Book Chapter

Regional NRM planning arrangements: Evaluating through the state lens

Head, Brian (2004). Regional NRM planning arrangements: Evaluating through the state lens. Regional natural resource management planning: The challenges of evaluation as seen through different lenses. (pp. 19-26) edited by Jennifer Bellamy. Brisbane, Australia: CSIRO; Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

Regional NRM planning arrangements: Evaluating through the state lens

2003

Journal Article

Working with non-government organisations: A sustainable development perspective

Head, Brian and Ryan, Neal (2003). Working with non-government organisations: A sustainable development perspective. Asian Journal of Public Administration, 25 (1), 31-56.

Working with non-government organisations: A sustainable development perspective

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

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
  • 2021 - 2024
    Water resources management: past transformations for future sustainability
    ARC Special Research Initiatives - Australian Society, History and Culture 2020
    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 Political History of Modern Queensland

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Cassandra Byrnes

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Unfolding Stakeholder Engagement in Water Governance in the Murray-Darling Basin

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Yongping Wei

  • 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

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Unfolding Stakeholder Engagement in Water Governance in the Murray-Darling Basin

    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

    Enabling empowerment: exploring better ways to close the gap for all Australians in the Bottom Million

    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

  • 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

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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