Satyajit Kundu
Attending the Australian Public Health Conference in Geelong / Wadawurrung Country in September 2026 was an incredibly rewarding experience. I am sincerely grateful to PHAA Queensland Branch for supporting my participation through its conference scholarship.
One highlight was hearing the keynote opening address by Professor Tilman Ruff AO, who spoke about the anti-health effects of weapons and war. As a co-founder and former international and Australian chair of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Professor Ruff shared powerful insights into the public health consequences of armed conflict and nuclear weapons. Learning about ICAN’s role in receiving the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize was both inspiring and a reminder of the important role public health professionals can play in advocating for peace and global wellbeing.
The conference also provided exceptional networking opportunities. It was a privilege to meet many leading public health researchers from across Australia and internationally. One particularly enjoyable aspect was meeting several researchers in person for the first time after collaborating or communicating with them for years online. These conversations allowed me to exchange research ideas, discuss potential collaborations, and receive valuable feedback from highly experienced researchers.
I attended several presentation sessions closely aligned with my interests in adolescent health, nutrition, health promotion, and health inequalities. It was fascinating to learn about current public health research being conducted across Australia and beyond. The question-and-answer discussions following presentations were especially valuable, as they highlighted both the strengths and limitations of different studies, and often generated new ideas for future research.
Among the conference’s satellite events, I particularly enjoyed the “Beyond the Degree: From the Classroom to Experience” session organised by the association’s Students and Young Professionals in Public Health Committee and its Victoria Branch. It provided practical advice on navigating career pathways beyond university, and offered an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow students and early-career professionals. I found the discussions both encouraging and highly relevant as I approach the completion of my PhD.
Another highlight was presenting findings from one of the studies in my PhD project. My paper, “Exploring the determinants of diet quality among adolescent girls in Bangladesh through the lens of the socio-ecological model: A rapid review,” was recently published in Adolescents. The study synthesised evidence on the factors influencing diet quality among adolescent girls in Bangladesh. My presentation, pictured above, was part of a session featuring around 10 studies relevant to my research area. It was a wonderful opportunity to share findings from my PhD project with an engaged audience, and contribute to discussions on nutrition, health promotion, and health equity. The questions and feedback I received helped me reflect on my work from new perspectives, and provided useful suggestions for future analyses and publications.
Finally, I met several senior researchers and professors who were recognised with PHAA awards. Hearing about their research journeys, funding experiences, and approaches to recruiting postdoctoral researchers was particularly valuable as I prepare for the next stage of my academic career. Overall, the conference was an inspiring and enriching experience that strengthened my research skills, expanded my professional network, and reinforced my commitment to improving public health through research and collaboration.
Satyajit Kundu is a PhD candidate and Teaching Fellow in Public Health at Griffin University. He is also a member of the PHAA QLD Branch.
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