Whether you are shaping policy, conducting business, generating evidence, living with harm or changing practice, there is a way to work with us grounded in integrity, clarity and action.
The Evidence Exchange
A research translation centre on the commercial and economic determinants of health
Reshaping how business and the economy impact health
The Evidence Exchange is a research translation centre on the commercial and economic determinants of health, funded by Deakin University and VicHealth. Our aim is to build a coordinated and collective response to transforming commercial and economic systems so that they support better health and fairness for people and the planet.
Why The Evidence Exchange was established
Population health is shaped by commercial and economic systems that often prioritise short-term profit over health, equity and sustainability, contributing to widening inequalities and environmental harm. Transformative change is urgently needed, requiring evidence, collaboration and meaningful engagement. The Evidence Exchange supports coordinated action for change by:
- generating targeted evidence
- synthesising and mobilising knowledge
- supporting evidence-based advocacy
- fostering learning and development
- embedding Indigenous knowledges and practices
- providing platforms and mechanisms for sustained knowledge exchange and collaboration.
Our strategy and program plan
Our strategy sets out the vision, aim, objectives and proposed approach for The Evidence Exchange. The strategy serves as an invitation for people, including community members, researchers and those working in government and businesses, to join us in working to improve the systems that are shaping population health.
Download The Evidence Exchange strategy 2026–2030 (PDF, 4.7MB)
Download The Evidence Exchange strategy on a page (PDF, 907.4KB)
Our focus areas
We have prioritised the scope of our research translation into three targeted focus areas. These are areas where there is strong evidence, growing momentum for change, and in which we are well positioned to adopt a strategic approach to supporting collective action.
Protecting communities from harmful commercial marketing
We work to create environments that support health, including restrictions on marketing of unhealthy food, alcohol, gambling and other harmful products and brands.
Rebalancing policy processes to prioritise health
We examine how policy decisions are made and whose voices are heard, while seeking to strengthen the role of civil society in policy processes. This includes work on corporate lobbying, political donations, conflicts of interest, and revolving-door relationships.
Transitioning to a wellbeing economy
We explore ways in which financial and economic systems can be designed to improve health, equity and sustainability, and support community wealth building.
The Centre will work in trans-disciplinary teams and with community groups, governments and businesses to understand what is working well, what needs to change, and how to get those changes put into practice.
Director, The Evidence Exchange
Meet our team
The Evidence Exchange brings together a diverse group of researchers and practitioners specialising in public health, First Nations health, business, economics, law and health policy, as well community-led research, lived-experience engagement, and translating evidence into real-world change.
Professor Gary Sacks is director of The Evidence Exchange. He is Professor of Public Health Policy in Deakin's School of Health and Social Development and co-director of the Deakin Centre for Global Preventive Health and Nutrition (GLOBE). His research focuses on the commercial and economic determinants of health, mostly related to food and nutrition policy.
How can we work towards fairer systems that advance First People’s interests so that health, wellbeing and Country are prioritised over commercial gain?
Co-leads:
How can we systematically monitor, expose and act on commercial practices that harm health?
Co-leads:
How can we address power imbalances in policy and regulatory processes to improve health, advance equity, and ensure communities have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their lives?
Co-leads:
How can we engage with diverse perspectives, including researchers, communities, governments, civil society and values-aligned businesses, to share knowledge and generate action?
Co-leads:
- Alison Coughlan
- Alana Faust, Senior Engagement Officer, Health Voices Victoria
- Steph Thow, First Nations Engagement Manager, Health Voices Victoria
How do we equip members and others with the knowledge, skills and support required to advance change in the commercial and economic determinants of health?
Lead:
Our core staff lead the program operations of The Evidence Exchange, and provide research translation and engagement support to all the people involved.
- Jasmine Chan, Program Manager
- Sarah Dean, Research Translation and Impact Officer
- Jo Szczepanska, Innovation and Service Development Manager, Health Voices Victoria
