AUT hosting prestigious conference
AUT will host the 2025 International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference, (ISBNPA), next month, bringing hundreds of researchers, public health and medical professionals, organisational leaders, policy makers and students together to advance impactful research for healthier communities.
At the heart of this annual conference is a focus on current developments, research and policy into physical activity, nutrition, sleep, sedentary behaviour, and built environment - and how these contribute to improved health and wellbeing.
Featuring nearly 800 presentations, this year’s conference has a distinctly Mātauranga Māori theme of ‘Manaaki Taiao, Manaaki Tāngata, Manaaki Meake Nei - Take care of the environment, take care of the people, take care of the future’.
AUT’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damon Salesa, who is officially opening the conference, says the prestigious, four-day event represents an invaluable opportunity to reinforce AUT’s position as New Zealand’s leading sports science university to more than 800 international delegates.
“As the country’s pre-eminent sports science university, AUT welcomes the opportunity to host the prestigious ISBNPA conference. AUT is well-known for our focus on real-world impact and our discoveries are widely used, both in New Zealand and around the world.
“AUT’s research community is very much looking forward to sharing their innovative research findings with a large international audience and engaging with them on future research collaborations to help address some of the most pressing public health challenges of our time,” he says.
On day one Professor Salesa will officially open the conference and AUT Deputy Vice-Chancellor – Research, Professor Mark Orams, and Professor Erica Hinckson will co-chair a plenary panel discussion translating research to practice in our local and international communities.
AUT’s Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences researchers, including PhD students, will present their research findings on topics ranging from indigenous research, child health, community wellbeing, exercise, health behaviours, technology, physical activity measurement and surveillance.
Professor Erica Hinckson, Chair of the Annual Meeting Committee and Local Organising Committee with AUT Co-Chair Professor Scott Duncan, says AUT is very much looking forward to hosting this important conference.
“With the amazing support of Robb Hogg, Senior Lecturer, AUT Sport and Recreation - Māori Advancement, and other wonderful AUT colleagues, I am particularly excited by how we have embedded Mātauranga throughout the scientific and social programmes at this year’s conference. This is a significant step towards more inclusive, culturally grounded approaches that honour indigenous knowledge while advancing global health and sustainability through nutrition and physical activity research.”
ISBNPA President, Professor Ester Cerin says, “The Society is thrilled to be collaborating with AUT.
Many of our members already have very well-established connections with AUT researchers and students in the fields of behavioural nutrition and physical activity and we are thrilled to be able to continue the important work we do together to provide real-world solutions,” she says.
Established in 1994, the ISBNPA has over 650 members representing 53 countries. Its mission is to stimulate and promote innovative and impactful research in behavioural nutrition and physical activity to improve human and planetary health and well-being worldwide.
Taking place at Auckland’s Aotea Centre from 11 - 14 June 2025, it is the first time the conference has been held in person in Auckland.