Louise Burke

Burke undertook all her university education at Deakin University in Melbourne: 1980 – Bachelor of Science (Nutrition) ; 1981 – Graduate Diploma of Dietetics ; and 1989 – PhD with thesis titled 'Dietary intake and food use of groups of elite Australian male athletes'.[1][2][3]

Besides her employment at the Australian Institute of Sport, Burke had held several positions at Australian universities: 1987–1988 – Joint co-ordinator and lecturer, Nutrition Unit, Melbourne College of Advanced Education (now University of Melbourne) ; 1993–2000 – Preparation of Sports Nutrition module for Monash University Medical School Distance Education program (Graduate Diploma of Family Medicine) ; 1994–2003 – Lecturer, master's degrees in sports medicine and sports physiotherapy, Australian Institute of Sport and University of Canberra ; 2002–2005 – Visiting professor of sports Nutrition, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Deakin University and 2006–2009 – Honorary chair in sports nutrition, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia.

In 2014, she was appointed the chair in sports nutrition, Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research Australian Catholic University, Melbourne.[4]

Between 1984 to 1990, Burke provided private clinical sports nutrition services in Melbourne.[3][2] In 1990, Burke was appointed Head of Sports Nutrition at the Australian Institute of Sport. This position involved involved individual and team nutrition counselling, development of AIS Dining Hall menus, team travel advice and assistance to AIS and Australian teams, development of educational resources for AIS and Australian athletes and leading edge research.[5]

In 2014, in response to the misuse of supplements in Australian sport, Burke played a major role in coordinating the development of the AIS Sports Supplements Framework.[6] In 2018, as part of an AIS resutrcture, Burke was appointed to the position of Chief of AIS Nutrition Strategy.

Burke was founding member of the Executive of Sports Dietitians Australia in 1996.[3] Burke has held the position of Team dietitian for the Australian Olympic teams for the 1996 Atlanta, 2000 Sydney, 2004 Athens, 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games.[7]

In 2020, Burke holds significant international positions, including Member of Nutrition Working Group of International Olympic Committee (2003–) and director, International Olympic Committee Diploma in Sports Nutrition (2005-).[8]

• 2000 – Australian Sports Medal[11]
• 2007 – Australia Bulletin Smart 100 Award: Winner in Category: Sport[4]
• 2007 – Distinguished Scholar Award: Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists, USA[4]
• 2007 – David R Lamb Excellence in Education Award, Gatorade Sports Science Institute[4]
• 2009 – Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to sports nutrition as a dietician and through academic, research and administrative roles[11]
• 2009 – Citation Award from the American College of Sports Medicine[4]
• 2017 – Excellence in Sports Nutrition Mentoring, Sports Dietitians Australia[12]

Burke is also a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine, Sports Medicine Australia and Sports Dietitians Australia.[4]

Burke is married to Professor John Hawley and they have a son Jack.[3] Burke personal interest in sport include triathlon and running and she has completed Ironman World Championship – Kona, Hawaii (1985, 1986, 1987, and 1988), Ironman Japan - Lake Biwa (1986), Ironman New Zealand - Auckland (1987) and Ironman Australian - Forster-Tuncurry (1988) and major city marathons - Sydney, Melbourne, London and Chicago , Rotterdam, Berlin and New York. Burke is a loyal supporter of the St Kilda AFL team and has assisted them with her expertise several times during her professional career.[3]