Ainsley Burgess

Director, Science Communication

Ainsley Burgess is the Prevention Centre’s Director of Science Communication, responsible for developing an innovative communications strategy to boost knowledge translation in prevention research. She leads the production of communications about the Prevention Centre, its work and people, as well as about key issues in the prevention of chronic disease.

With more than 20 years’ experience, Ainsley has worked her way through hundreds of research reports, translating findings into news stories, policy briefs, videos, and podcasts for different audiences, in a way that the intended audience will understand and act on.

Her special area of interest is science communication, finding innovative methods from other disciplines to create clear and concise communications that cut through, translating complex science into policies that lead to societal change for the benefit of public health. In 2022, Ainsley was awarded the Postgraduate University Medal for a Master of Strategic Communication.

An experienced science communicator, she worked at the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare in Canberra for more than 10 years, producing their flagship publications, Australia’s Health and Australia’s Welfare. Ainsley also consulted for various non-government organisations in-country before joining Cancer Council NSW as Publishing Editor.

Ainsley is a member of the Collaboration for Enhanced Research Impact (CERI) Science Communications Community of Practice, and Australian Science Communicators, a national forum for science communicators.