From Research to Real-World Impact: How Nutrition Science Creates Change with Dr. Fiona Wallace

Nutrition research is advancing rapidly, yet translating evidence into meaningful improvements in health remains a complex challenge. How do scientific discoveries become policies, programs, and practices that improve health, and what role do nutrition professionals play in making that happen? Dr. Fiona Wallace is the founder and principal consultant of Nutrition Opportunities Worldwide, where she supports NGOs, governments, and organizations in translating nutrition science into policy and practice. Her clients have included UNICEF, GAIN, Helen Keller International, CARE Malawi, and the SUN Business Network. Dr. Wallace earned her BSc in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Toronto, followed by an MSc in Human Nutrition, a PhD in Nutrition and Immune Function, an MBA, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Food Law in the United Kingdom. She began her career in nutrition research and development at GlaxoSmithKline before holding senior scientific, regulatory, and nutrition communications roles withNestlé and Bayer. Today, Dr. Wallace works across academia, industry, and global health to advance evidence-informed nutrition initiatives. She also serves on the American Society for Nutrition's Global Nutrition Council and is a founding member and past president of the University of Toronto's Department of Nutritional Sciences Alumni Association. In this episode, Dr. Wallace discusses what it takes to move nutrition science beyond publications and into policies, programs, products, and practices that improve health around the world.