Ron Plotnikoff

Canadian-born Professor Ron Plotnikoff is co-leader of the HMRI Cardiovascular Program and the Director of the University of Newcastle’s Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition since 2010. Since moving to Australia in 2009, Professor Plotnikoff has contributed significantly to the field of cardiovascular health through promoting effective prevention and healthy lifestyle tools.

Professor Plotnikoff’s research focuses on promoting physical activity behaviours for the prevention and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease as well as the promotion of healthy body weight and general health of the population. By working with multiple different sectors and groups, Professor Plotnikoff is able to harness the capabilities of public health authorities, the education and government sectors, schools, workplaces and health care organizations to work together in improving the cardiovascular health of a variety of different populations groups.

He has been the successful recipient of many prestigious research awards and grants over the years including a Senior Health Scholar Award from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and the Canadian Psychiatric Association Council of Psychiatric Continuing Education Annual Award. He leads a team of talented researchers at the University of Newcastle in the priority research centre for physical activity and nutrition including postdoctoral research fellows and PhD students alike.

His multi-disciplinary training background includes Kinesiology, Education (2 Masters Degrees), Behavioural Epidemiology (PhD) & Community Medicine (Post-doc). His interdisciplinary research and publications over the past 15 years cross the fields of public health, health psychology, health promotion/education, exercise psychology, and behavioural epidemiology. In 1998 he was recruited as the founding faculty for University of Alberta's Centre for Health Promotion Studies.

Since 2004 Professor Plotnikoff has helped secure over $35 million in funding for 55 projects, completed 40 supervision, and has 9 ongoings. He has contributed to over 285 journal articles and presented at more than 90 conferences throughout the world.