The Oceanic Nutrition Leadership Platform (ONLP) brings together emerging nutrition leaders from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific to strengthen leadership, build lifelong professional networks, and drive positive change in food, nutrition and health systems across Oceania.
ONLP Impact:
• Four courses delivered since 2016
• 88 alumni from Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific
• Representation from academia, government, health, NGOs and industry
• Active alumni network fostering regional collaboration
• Links with the Global Nutrition Leadership Platform
Do you have what it takes to be a leader and make a difference in the field of nutrition?
Are you early or mid-career and working / planning to work in nutrition related fields in Australia, New Zealand or Pacific Islands? If yes, then you should apply!
Outcomes of 6-Day ONLP Course
Lead
• Leadership capacity
• Team skills
• Integrity and social responsibility
Influence
• Communication
• Advocacy
• Policy
Influence
• Cross-sector networks
• Alumni network
Transform
• Food systems
• Nutrition security
• Health and wellbeing
Who Should Apply?
Places in the ONLP course are awarded through a competitive application process by an independent selection committee. The cohort will include at least 20 participants and may include up to 30, although cohorts typically comprise around 22 participants.
We aim to create a diverse group of participants across:
• Countries, regions and institutions
• Sectors, including academia, research institutes, government, health services, industry and NGOs
• Gender
• Career stage, including early- and mid-career
We are committed to representation from across Oceania. At least:
2 places will be reserved for Pacific applicants
2 places will be reserved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
1 place will be reserved for a Māori applicant
The course is open to early- and mid-career professionals and students working or studying in nutrition-related fields in Oceania, including Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, who aspire to make a difference in nutrition.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates currently working or intending to work in Oceanic
countries (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands comprising
Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia) - Qualifications in nutrition or a field related to nutrition.
- Early- and mid-career individuals with either:
Advanced degrees (i.e. postgraduate qualifications such as Graduate Diploma, Masters or PhD) OR Significant experience working in nutrition or a nutrition-related field, including working as a leader in nutrition or nutrition-related field - Candidates have to be proficient in English.
Definitions
post-highest qualification.
post-highest qualification.
will be considered in calculations of eligibility.
Deadline
Applications open until Sunday 11 October, 2026. Candidates will be informed of the decision of the selection committee by 18 December 2026.
Course Fee
$5500 AUD – includes leadership training, course materials and full board and lodging. A 10% deposit ($550) is required when successful applicants accept their offer.
Scholarships
Partial financial assistance is available for a limited number of applicants. Candidates can apply for financial assistance through the online application process.
Program Structure and Outline
A feature of the ONLP course is the experiential learning opportunities, case-studies and reallife experiences shared by established nutrition leaders in Oceania. Group exercises, discussion
and self-reflection allow for participants to establish their own leadership style.
ONLP is based on a leadership model that has been successfully used by ENLP for more than 20 years and adopted by other nutrition leadership programs.
The program provides a supportive environment where participants can develop their leadership skills, build networks and learn from one another. Throughout the course, participants work in teams to complete tasks, meet deadlines and take on different roles and responsibilities alongside the formal training.
These experiences expose participants to new challenges and perspectives, helping them develop confidence, self-awareness and practical leadership skills. Opportunities for self-reflection and peer feedback are an important part of the learning and development process.
Successful applicants are expected to attend and stay at the course venue for the full 6 days.
Course Workshops
Leadership
Workshop
Leading with Insight: Participants develop insight and adaptability to lead effectively in different contexts, build high-performing teams and support collaboration, change and innovation.
Leading with Intent: Participants define their leadership purpose, brand and presence while strengthening their coaching skills, self-awareness and ability to influence others.
Team-Building
Activities
ONLP course participants engage in fun team building activities in a relaxed and supportive environment to gain an understanding and appreciation of the different roles individuals play within a team.
Communication
Workshop
Participants build core communication skills by simplifying complex ideas, tailoring messages to audiences and clarifying the key takeaway. They apply these skills to create and deliver a compelling project pitch using clear messaging, storytelling and a focused call to action.
Diverse Food Culture
Workshop
ONLP participants explore how indigenous foods carry meaning far beyond nutrition and the tensions between traditional food sovereignty and the influences of colonialism and globalisation.
Social Responsibility
Workshop
ONLP course participants developed a greater awareness of the social responsibility associated with nutrition leadership, the diversity of perceptions in social responsibility, and the relevant dilemmas faced by nutrition leaders.
Food Systems
Workshop
Participants will use systems-based thinking to understand the complexity and multiple drivers of the global food supply, while developing greater awareness of the interconnected roles different sectors play in shaping sustainable food environments.
Influencing Nutrition
Policy Workshop
Participants will explore how global nutrition policy is developed through examples of food regulatory systems, considering diverse stakeholder perspectives and using an established framework to research and advocate for effective nutrition policy.
ONLP Alumni
Network
ONLP course participants will develop strategies to build a strong foundation for ongoing networking and collaboration beyond the course.