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Dr Julie Smith and Dr Phil Baker will discuss the findings of the 2023 Lancet Series on Breastfeeding. Learn about the immense value breastfeeding women generate for society, and how the vulnerabilities of women, children and families are exploited by the formula milk industry. Topics of conversation will include:

• Infant behaviours, feeding practices and multisectoral interventions to support breastfeeding.
• How baby behaviours are misconstrued to undermine breastfeeding, but multi-sectoral interventions work to protect it.
• How the formula marketing ‘playbook’ targets parents, health professionals and policy-makers and undermines the health and rights of children and mothers.
• How power imbalances and political and economic structures determine feeding practices, women’s rights and health outcomes.

About Julie

Honorary Associate Professor Julie Smith is an ARC Future Fellow at the ANU and her research focusses on the economics and regulation of markets in mothers' milk. She has uniquely applied feminist economic perspectives to valuing women’s breastfeeding work. She recently led development of the Mothers’ Milk Tool and the Green Feeding Tool in partnerships with Alive and Thrive East Asia Pacific. She has published over 65 peer-reviewed articles, including recently in The Lancet, and is an Associate Editor for International Breastfeeding Journal. Dr Smith has advised the US Surgeon-General Office and WHO on the economics of breastfeeding, and conducted reviews for WHO on marketing and the Australian Department of Health on breastfeeding interventions. She has also worked with international civil society organisations such as IBFAN and WABA on investing in breastfeeding and maternity protection. She is a former Board Director with ABA. Dr Smith previously worked in Australian and New Zealand treasury/finance ministries on tax and economic policy.

About Phil

Dr Phillip Baker is an ARC Future Fellow / Senior Research Fellow at the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, and a member of the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. He has a PhD from the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health (Population Health), Australian National University, and a Masters of Health Science (Nutrition, with First Class Honors) and a Bachelor of Science (Biology, with Senior Prize) from the University of Auckland. His research focuses on understanding the drivers and dynamics of global food systems change, and the implications for human and planetary health. His recent work covers the global rise of ultra-processed foods, the political economy of food systems transformation, and the commercial determinants of infant and young child nutrition. He has regularly consulted to United Nations nutrition agencies on these topics. Dr Baker has recently delivered high-enrolling units on food policy and regulation, and on international nutrition.