Li Kheng Chai

Dr Li Kheng Chai is a pioneer in the prevention and management of obesity in children and an active proponent for health equity for all Australians. A dietitian and advocate for children’s health and nutrition, her current research focuses on obesity prevention through system changes associated with nutrition and physical activity, using technology based nutrition and lifestyle interventions to improve children’s health and diet quality.

With over 10 years experience across a diverse range of settings - academia, state government, local health districts and private consultancy, Li Kheng has sought expertise in clinical nutrition and dietetics practices, community health promotion and education, behavioural and implementation sciences research, and university teaching and supervision. She has been recognised nationally and internationally through her collaboration with Leeds Beckett University to adopt her Telehealth program in the United Kingdom, an editorial appointment with European Journal of Clinical Nutrition and joint publications with international experts from Australia, United States, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Hong Kong, World Obesity Federation, and World Health Organization.

Her many awards include the Beryl Young Researcher Award in the University of Newcastle Alumni Excellence Awards 2021, Dietitians Australia Emerging Researcher Award 2016, Queensland Children’s Hospital Precinct Early Career Researcher of the Year 2019, Queensland Health Practitioner Research Grant the same year (to trial a clinical pediatric nutrition care model) and Best Oral Presentation at the 2020 Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society International Conference.

Growing up in a multicultural country, Malaysia, Li Kheng is fluent in multiple languages which adds to her strengths in fostering international research collaborations, which led to her role as a member of an international systematic review working group (DiET-CO Consortium) consists of international experts from Australia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden, and Hong Kong.