Brian Head is Professor of Public Policy at the University of Queensland (since 2007).

He was Director of the Centre for Policy Futures in 2020-21, and program leader for policy research engagement in the Institute for Social Science Research 2011-15. Prior to 2007 he held senior roles in state government agencies (1990-2003) and in the not-for-profit sector (2005-07). He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, a former Vice-President of the International Public Policy Association, and currently the President of the Scientific Advisory Committee for the UNESCO social sciences program.

Brian teaches in the Master of Public Policy & Governance program and the bachelor program in Politics Philosophy & Economics (PPE Honours). He regularly provides keynote presentations for conferences and workshops internationally and in Australia (including longstanding links with ANZSOG). He has made submissions to a variety of public inquiries, including those focused on research priorities and impacts, industry policy, water policy reform, and sustainability issues.

Brian has published more than a dozen books and 150 articles on the relationships between the research and policymaking sectors and the need for high-quality policy decision-making processes. His specialist areas are ‘evidence-based’ policy, wicked and contested problems, socio-economic inequalities, environmental policies, research impacts, and methods to improve research and policy responses to complex problems. His recent book Wicked Problems in Public Policy (Palgrave 2022) attracted international acclaim, and is available open access at: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-94580-0