Lauren Ball

My work focuses on how universities can operate as deeply embedded institutions within the societies they serve. Knowledge is created through listening, trust and genuine partnership, and impact comes from being present, responsive and collaborative. I focus on strengthening universities’ social licence by developing new ways of working with and alongside communities. I am a Professor of Community Health and Wellbeing here at The University of Queensland, with an international reputation in community health, prevention, health services and policy. Together with my team, I lead research that shapes how communities thrive, with our work recognised through multiple awards for research excellence and real-world impact. The cornerstone of my work is leading the Springfield Living Lab. Living labs use place-based, systems-oriented approaches to bring together research, teaching and partnerships to co-create, test and refine solutions in real-world settings over time. Springfield provides a uniquely rich environment for this work through its integrated urban design, strong local governance and commitment to innovation across health, education and technology. As Australia’s largest master-planned city, it offers a complex, real-world context for understanding how community-led approaches can translate into scalable models for broader application. As a leader, I bring people together across disciplines, sectors and lived experience to create shared purpose and coordinated action. I support teams and organisations to imagine what is possible, map pathways forward and translate ambitious ideas into sustained impact. My leadership is values-led, collaborative and grounded in practical delivery. I am particularly interested in how research, teaching and engagement can be better aligned to address complex societal challenges, while building cultures where people can do their best work. I welcome opportunities to work with people and organisations committed to community connection, partnership and innovation. Together, we can strengthen trust, build capability and design approaches that are meaningful for the next generation and for society more broadly. Aged health care, Digital health, General practice, Health Sciences, Health equity, Health promotion, Health services and systems, Health systems, Implementation science and evaluation, Mental health services, Preventative health care, Primary health care, Public health, Social determinants of health

[2026] Food environment assessment in two socioeconomic contexts in Queensland, Australia [2026] A retrospective study evaluating outcomes of the Allied Health Rural Generalist Training Positions in the Queensland public health system [2026] How Substance Use Patterns Shape Perceived Cardiac Concern Among An International Sample of Men Who Use Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids [2026] Oral health interventions for culturally and linguistically diverse children and caregivers: a RE‐AIM systematic review of implementation gaps [2026] Comparing Motivations for Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use Among an International Sample of Men [2026] Systems science in nutrition and dietetics research: a practical lens for applying systems approaches in research [2026] Validity of nutrition-related outcome measure