Positions:
– Co-Director, Mental Wealth Initiative, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney
– Head, Systems Modelling, Simulation & Data Science, Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney
– Managing Director, Computer Simulation & Advanced Research Technologies (CSART)
Service:
– Advisor, OECD Neuroscience-inspired Policy Initiative, Paris, France
– Advisor, Brain Capital Alliance, San Francisco, US
– Member, SIPHER Scientific Advisory Board, Glasgow, UK
– Member, Policy Council, System Dynamics Society (Oceania Chapter)
A/Prof. Occhipinti is an epidemiologist and systems scientist working to improve the health and well-being of populations through systems modeling research. These systems models are used by health departments and service planners to improve the strategic allocation of investments by forecasting the impact of alternative decision options before they are implemented in the real world. Applications have provided decision support capability to address complex and persistent challenges such as suicide prevention, mental health service planning, alcohol-related harms, tobacco control, childhood overweight and obesity, chronic disease prevention, system planning to improve hospital performance, child protection service system reform, and homelessness strategy.
A/Prof. Occhipinti has a special research interest in the structural drivers of population mental health and the dynamics between mental health, social, and economic systems. Most recently, her work has been seeking to measure, monitor, and forecast the Mental Wealth of nations, to inform policy toward a Wellbeing Economy, and to elevate the importance of mental health and collective well-being as critical levers for sound economic management.