Welcome Tim Gill – the new Executive Director of the Obesity Collective!

May 13, 2024 | Highlights of actions, Latest news & media

I am delighted to announce that Honorary Professor Tim Gill has taken on the role of Executive Officer of the Obesity Collective. Tim has been involved with the Collective since Day 1, as one of the founding leaders and co-designers, and has had an impressive career working on many aspects of the obesity challenge. He has worked in a variety of positions in clinical and community health settings, non-government organisations, health professional associations as well as government health departments. For the past 25 years Tim has worked at the University of Sydney in a variety of academic positions before moving to an advisory role within Sydney Local Health District in 2024.

Tim understands the significance of the Collective as a driver for systems change that includes prevention, treatment and stigma reduction. He has a clear understanding of Australia’s history with the topic and barriers to action. Importantly, he is also a strong supporter of the lived experience voice and of the Weight Issues Network. I am sure he will be an excellent new Executive Officer for the Collective and am extremely grateful he has stepped up to assume the role.

We would like to thank the outgoing Director, Tiffany Petre, for leading the Collective since our launch in 2018. She has stepped down from the role as she needs to move closer to family in the US, but we hope she will continue to be involved from there as the Collective grows into its next iteration. We are beyond grateful for all of Tiff’s efforts in helping grow the Collective from an ambitious idea to becoming the National Peak Body for obesity, with world class leadership and significant impact across its realms of activity.

Please join me in thanking Tim and Tiff for their contributions to the Collective’s work.

Recent articles

Global Obesity Observatory Receives Major Update

The World Obesity Federation maintains a comprehensive repository of obesity data and policies from across the world in the Global Obesity Observatory. This has recently undergone a substantial revision and update to improve the extent, currency and presentation of...

Reflections from the European Congress on Obesity 2026

Several members and advisors from The Obesity Collective attended the European Congress on Obesity (ECO) in Istanbul from 12–15 May 2026. The following reflections highlight some of the key themes and discussions emerging from this year's congress. Over 4,500 people...

World Obesity Day 2026: 8 Billion Reasons to Act on Obesity

This World Obesity Day, we hosted our Spotlight Series, featuring expert speakers across biology, weight stigma, treatment, policy, and lived experience. Across five days, the series explored how obesity affects individuals, families, communities, and health...

In Memory of Professor William “Bill” Bellew

We are deeply saddened by the recent passing of Professor William “Bill” Bellew, a valued advisor to our collective and a respected leader in chronic disease prevention. Bill was a Professorial Fellow with the Prevention Research Collaboration at the Charles Perkins...

Highlights from the 2025 ANZOS Annual Scientific Meeting

We were delighted to attend and contribute to the 2025 Australia New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS) Annual Scientific Meeting in Perth. This year, it was especially meaningful to see so many voices from our collective and our close partners like the Weight Issues...