- Posted on 4 Dec 2025
- 1 min 8 sec read
The 2025 FoodWISE Asia Pacific Regional Meeting on Food and Water Security was held at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) between September 17-19.
Co-convened by Professor Jacqui Webster, (WHO Collaborating Centre of Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Development UTS), Professor Greg Lesie (UNSW Global Water Institute) and Professor Sera Young (Northwestern University), the meeting marked a pivotal step in addressing rising food and water insecurity - challenges compounded by climate change and worsening health outcomes across the region.
The event launched the FoodWISE Asia-Pacific Network, a collaborative platform to exchange tools, case studies and expertise, and to drive policy change. Central to discussions were the Water InSecurity Experiences (WISE) scales, which can support local and national surveillance, inform policies, guide targeted interventions to build more resilient food and water systems.
More than 50 delegates from 15 countries – including policy makers, practitioners and researchers – developed actionable recommendations to scale up tools like WISE and embed them into policy design, program evaluation and community-led advocacy. Thematic sessions showcased practical applications, with insights from Australian Aboriginal communities and regional experiences from Indonesia, Fiji and Timor Leste.
The meeting strengthened regional partnerships and cross-sector collaboration, positioning the FoodWISE Network as a catalyst for sustainable inclusive solutions to food and water security – critical determinants of health and wellbeing.
Addressing food and water security is not just a development issue, it is a health imperative.”
“For nurses and midwives in the Pacific, these challenges are deeply connected to maternal and child health, nutrition and climate resilience,” adds Professor Jacqui Webster.
“Prioritising food and water security means strengthening health systems and empowering frontline health workers to lead change.”
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