A/Prof Liana Leach (B Applied Pych, Hons, PhD) is a highly experienced mental health epidemiologist at the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (NCEPH) at The Australian National University (ANU). She is located within the Department for Health Economics, Society and Wellbeing (ANU). Liana's research is grounded in a social determinants of health framework, and she has taught post-graduate courses explaining this approach.

Liana has been awarded $4.9 million in funding as a research investigator on a wide range of projects – including government funding (e.g. Medical Research Future Fund, National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council) and from NGOs (e.g. Beyondblue, Rotary Health, Raising Children’s Network).  Liana has published 80 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, and has co-authored several government reports (including reports describing the impacts of the COVID pandemic on mental health in Australia).

PhD (ANU)

A/Prof Liana Leach's research is at the forefront of understanding how social and environmental contexts (including work and caregiving roles) impact mental health across the transition to parenthood. Her research is informed by both large-scale population-level datasets and targeted community intervention and evaluation studies. She has strong community and policy partnerships developed over 15 years, including as Board Member for the Perinatal Wellbeing Centre (2015-21). The PWC provides mental health services that support 500+ families annually.