Naomi is a PhD Candidate at the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney working on advancing global food security for infants and young children. Naomi Hull is also a Registered Nurse and an IBCLC. She attained a Masters of Public Health (Nutrition) in 2017. Her passion for breastfeeding and lactation began after the birth of her first baby and led to training as a peer support counsellor in 2006. During her Master of Public Health, her interest in the ‘bigger picture’ grew stronger and for this reason, chose to look at the implementation of the Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy (2010-2015) as the topic of her Dissertation. Naomi went on from there to become the National Coordinator of the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative - bringing together the Australian team who have now completed two assessments of Australia’s policies and programs in 2018 and 2023 and is on the executive team of the Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance. She continues to feel strongly about the protection of breastfeeding and ensure the structural enablers are in place to enable women to breastfeed their babies for as long as they wish.

Experience

  • 2017–present
    Assistant researcher, Australian National University
  • 2017–present
    Coordinator World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative Assessment of Australia, International Baby Food Action Network
  • 2019–present
    Senior Manager, Australian Breastfeeding Association

Education

  • 2024 
    University of Sydney , PhD candidate
  • 2017 
    University of Queensland, Masters of Public Health (Nutrition)
  • 2010 
    International Board Certified Lactation Examiners, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
  • 2001 
    NSW College of Nursing, Grad Cert Critical Care Nursing
  • 1995 
    Australian Catholic University, Bachelor of Nursing Post Registration

Publications

  • 2020
    Providing breastfeeding support during the COVID-19 pandemic: Concerns of mothers who contacted the Australian Breastfeeding Association, Breastfeeding Review 2020, 28(3), 25–35
  • 2017
    Perspectives of Key Stakeholders and experts in infant feeding on the implementation of the Australian National Breastfeeding Strategy 2010-2015 , Breastfeeding Review 2017; 25(1): 25–34

Professional Memberships

  • Lactation Consultants of Australia and New Zealand
  • Public Health Association of Australia
  • International Lactation Consultants Association
  • World Public Health Nutrition Association
  • Australian Breastfeeding Association
  • Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance

Contact Naomi for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration