Mark Lawrence Wahlqvist (born 5 February 1942, Adelaide, South Australia) is an Australian physician, academic, and public health nutritionist known for his contributions to human nutrition, food policy, eco-nutritional science, and global public health.[1]
Wahlqvist was the first appointed Professor of Human Nutrition in Australia and has held senior academic positions domestically and internationally, as well as leadership roles in major nutrition science organizations. His academic appointments include an Emeritus Professorship at Monash University,[2] along with Honorary Professorships at Deakin University and Zhejiang University.[3]
Wahlqvist began his academic and medical career with research in metabolicphysiology and clinical medicine.[8] He served in senior academic roles in both Australia and Sweden before becoming the Foundation Professor of Human Nutrition at Deakin University in 1978.[9] In 1987, he was appointed Chair of Medicine at Monash University, where he later directed the Asia Pacific Health and Nutrition Centre at the Monash Asia Institute (now Monash Asia Initiative).[3]
His career has included positions at institutions in Sweden, Indonesia, China, and Taiwan. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition for over 25 years.[11] He also played a role in food policy as the Inaugural Chair of the Food Safety Council of Victoria.[9]
Research and publications
Wahlqvist’s work encompasses clinical nutrition, public health, food systems, and ecohealth. His research has examined the relationships between diet and chronic disease, eco-nutritional approaches to health, and cross-cultural nutrition. He has authored more than 500 peer-reviewed publications and numerous books,[11] including 'Food and Nutrition in Australia' first published in 1981 by Cassell and 'Food and Nutrition in Australia and New Zealand' published by Allen & Unwin. The fifth edition Food and Nutrition. Sustainable Food and Health Systems, scheduled for publication in February 2026 by Routledge in London, is a collaborative work with Danielle Gallegos and Naiyana Wattanapenpaiboon.
He has also contributed to two editions of This I Believe, an Australian anthology compiled by John Marsden and published by Random House, featuring philosophical and personal reflections by 100 prominent Australians.[3]
Views
Wahlqvist has emphasised the importance of sustainable food systems for both public health and environmental protection. He has advocated for dietary approaches that integrate ecological, cultural, and social considerations, highlighting the interconnections between nutrition, chronic disease prevention, and food security[12]. In interviews and publications, he has promoted intercultural dialogue in nutrition science, arguing that cross-cultural understanding is essential for effective health interventions and global nutrition policy.
Charlotta Medal from the Emigrants Research Institute (Utvandrarnas Hus) in Växjö, Sweden – awarded in 1994 for distinguished contributions to international cultural and scholarly exchange[14]
Distinguished Foreign Fellow, Chinese Nutrition Society – 2015[2]
Honorary Fellow, British Nutrition Society – 2016[15]
Wahlqvist has been honored by national nutrition societies in Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, China, and Taiwan for his international leadership in clinical and community nutrition.[16]
He has been awarded through several educational and policy initiatives. The Mark Wahlqvist Award for Creativity and Innovation was established at Westbourne Park Primary School in South Australia to recognize students who demonstrate originality and problem-solving skills.[6]
Reflecting his formative ties to Indonesia, he was made an honorary Bataknese by the Bupati of Simalungun Regency on May 3, 2012,[9] following a recommendation by the local branch of the Indonesian Women’s Association.[10] As part of this honor, he was given the traditional name "Purba," acknowledging his cultural integration and service.
Personal life
Wahlqvist was married to Soo Sien Huang, with whom he had two children. Following her death in 2004, he remarried Meei-Shyuan Lee.[3] He has lived and worked across multiple continents, advocating for sustainable food systems and intercultural dialogue.[17]
He has cited his father as a major influence on his approach to work and life, recalling the advice: “With your principles, do not be afraid to go the second mile and to go against the tide, for that is where you will make your contribution."[3]
He currently divides his time between Melbourne and Taipei.
Legacy and impact
Wahlqvist is recognized for pioneering human nutrition as an academic discipline in Australia and for advancing cross-disciplinary approaches linking nutritional science with ecosystem and public health. He has influenced nutrition education, food policy, and global health initiatives over several decades.
↑Wahlqvist, Mark L. (2005). "Dietary fat and the prevention of chronic disease". Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 14 (4): 313–318. ISSN0964-7058. PMID16326637.
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