Katherine Livingstone is a National Health and Medical Research Council Emerging Leadership Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Australia. She leads an internationally renowned research program to design personalised nutrition approaches to improve dietary patterns. In 2020 she was awarded an “Australian Institute of Policy and Science Young Tall Poppy Science Award” in recognition of her commitment to nutrition science.
Year completed ENLP programme: 2015
Twitter: @katmlivingstone
- What is your favourite activity from the ENLP?
I loved the outdoor team building activities! They were an opportunity to put our communication and teamworking skills into action in high pressure situations. What’s more, after deep diving into self-analysis sessions on our leadership styles, these activities were also a fun way to get to know our peers!
- What have you done since you completed the ENLP and what are you doing now?
I completed ENLP back in 2015, while I was a Research Associate at Newcastle University in the UK. Since then I have moved to Melbourne, Australia, where I have held two fellowships and a lecturing position. I’m currently a Senior Research Fellow on a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant. I’ve also bought my first home and will sit my Australian citizenship test this month!
- How did the ENLP contribute to where you are now?
ENLP was a catalyst for my career in academia. I would say that ENLP had two lasting impacts: 1) it gave me confidence in my own leadership style and 2) the intense, shared ENLP experience with my peers made me genuinely feel part of a community. Before ENLP, I had no idea what leadership really meant for me. Working through my own insecurities and misconceptions, I discovered that I could use my strengths to my advantage, and that I didn’t need to fit a stereotype of what I thought leadership should be. This was liberating! I’m now domain co-ordinator for our institute’s Food, Nutrition and Health Research Domain and broadened my network of nutrition professionals and I know that I can reach out to them if I need to. In fact, I still keep in contact with many of my ENLP peers, including collaborating with one at the moment!
- How does being a member of the ENLP network continue to help you?
I’m proud to say than I’m an ENLP and ONLP (Oceanic) alumni. One of the key benefits of ENLP was building a network of nutrition professionals in Europe. So, I was keen to do the same when I moved to the other side of the world! Since completing both courses I have been fortunate to be involved with key nutrition science platforms in Australia, including being on the Scientific Programming Committee for the 2020 Nutrition Society of Australia Conference, and being selected to represent early-to-mid career researchers on the Australian Academy of Science National Committee for Nutrition.
- What do you envisage your career path to be? How do you envisage taking part in the ENLP helping you with your career aspirations?
Good question! So far in my career I’ve worked in the food industry as a product developer, I’ve been employed as a research associate on a large pan-European trial, I’ve secured three international fellowships that have moved me across the world and I’ve obtained a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Learning and Teaching and have worked as lecturer in population nutrition. I’d love to continue to build my program of research in personalised nutrition and dietary patterns. ENLP inspired me to aim high with my career aspirations and helped build my confidence as a nutritional professional; I hope that it continues to do so for others who complete the course!
- What advice would you give to those considering participating in ENLP programmes?
Go for it! In my experience, the benefits of attending the course are long lasting and far reaching, both professionally and personally. It may seem like a long time to be away from work and family, but if you can take the time, then I strongly encourage you to!
