Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
Liam is Director and co-founder of BehaviourWorks Australia (BWA) and one of Australia’s leading authorities on behaviour change.
Liam is committed to using behavioural science to tackle public policy issues for the benefit of individuals and society at large and, since establishing BWA in 2011, he has overseen significant growth in the enterprise, which now employes nearly 20 researchers, and been directly involved in conducting and/or overseeing more than 100 behaviour change research projects.
By design, the BWA team consists of researchers from different backgrounds and disciplines who use their collective expertise to undertake applied behaviour change research in collaboration with government and industry professionals. BWA therefore acts as a bridge between academic research and practical real-world solutions.
Liam has also led the developement of a research methodology that is used to inform, develop and design behaviour change interventions – and improve their efficacy.
He has published numerous research reports, research papers and public discussion pieces (e.g. white papers and opinion pieces in The Conversation) and is an active contributor on Zoos Victoria’s Science Committee, South East Water’s Customer Engagement Council and VicHealth’s Leading Thinker Taskforce.
An exceptional public speaker, Liam believes that education and training is vital to wider uptake and application of behavioural insights. As such, he has delivered accredited education, executive education and public presentations to audiences around Australia and the world.
He regularly delivers training to government professionals through the Australian and New Zealand School of Government and the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Vic)’s Behavioural Insights Unit.
Related Links:
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Research area keywords
- Behaviour Change
- Social Inclusion
- pro-environmental behaviour
- Zoos
- Public Policy
- Innovation
- Behavioural Economics
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Developing a shared understanding of bushfire risk in Victoria
Plant, B. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Boulet, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Smith, L. (Chief Investigator (CI))
31/08/24 → 31/01/26
Project: Research
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Incorporating a Behavioural Approach to ReefClean
Tait, H. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Borg, K. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Smith, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Boulet, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Klemm, C. (Chief Investigator (CI))
4/03/24 → 30/09/27
Project: Research
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TSC - BWA Consortium 2023 to 2026
Goodwin, D. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Smith, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Gomes Da Mata, F. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/23 → 30/06/26
Project: Research
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ANZSOG - Bridging public opinion & policy
Mendoza Alcantara, A. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Bragge, P. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Saeri, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Smith, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Glover, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
Australia and New Zealand School of Government
29/11/23 → 28/06/24
Project: Research
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BHP South Flank: Using Science to Drive Meaningful Change to Behaviours
Denison, E. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Smith, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Jennings, L. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Pringle, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Genat, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Tear, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Zhao, K. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Goodwin, D. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wright, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Tull, F. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/11/22 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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2024-2025 Biodiversity Concerns Report: A survey of community attitudes toward nature conservation
Shaw, M., Hatty, M., Abiad, J., Smith, L., Trezise, J., Ashby, L., Dielenberg, J., Dean, A., Louis, W., Bekessy, S., Williams, K., Morgain, R., Wibisono, S., Klebl, C., Fielding, K., Pascoe, J. & Cameron, L., Mar 2025, Australia: The Biodiversity Council. 24 p.Research output: Book/Report › Other Report › Research
Open Access -
2024-25 Biodiversity Concerns Survey Snapshot: Support for environmental law reform policies. Key Results Summary
Hatty, M., Smith, L., Shaw, M., Dean, A., Louis, W. R., Bekessy, S., Williams, K., Morgain, R., Trezise, J., Wibisono, S., Klebl, C., Fielding, K. S., Ashby, L. & Pascoe, J., 31 Jan 2025, Melbourne Vic Australia: The Biodiversity Council. 9 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report › Other
Open Access -
A systematic meta-review of organizational diversity and inclusion interventions and their associated outcomes
Zhao, K., Hsieh, W., Faulkner, N. & Smith, L., 2025, In: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. 44, 9, p. 53-71 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Citation (Scopus) -
Eliciting diverse perspectives to prioritize community actions for biodiversity conservation
Dean, A. J., Fielding, K. S., Smith, L. D. G., Church, E. K. & Wilson, K. A., Apr 2025, In: Conservation Biology. 39, 2, 16 p., e14372.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus) -
Home energy efficiency upgrades are easy right?! A systematic review of factors influencing homeowner behaviour across multiple levels
Klemm, C., Boulet, M., Tsering, D. & Smith, L., Sept 2025, In: Energy Research & Social Science. 127, 11 p., 104322.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile
Prizes
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Australian Council of Graduate Research Award for Excellence in Promoting Industry Engagement in Graduate Research
Smith, L. (Recipient), 24 Mar 2020
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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One behaviour at a time - transforming the work of Industry through the "Applying Behavioural Science to Create Change" micro-credential
Garivaldis, F. (Recipient), Wild, A. (Recipient), Saeri, A. (Recipient), Bos, A. (Recipient), Goodwin, D. (Recipient), Riley, E. (Recipient), Tull, F. (Recipient), Paine, G. (Recipient), Raj, K. (Recipient), Aubanty, K. (Recipient), Jungbluth, L. (Recipient), Smith, L. (Recipient), Jaovisidha, M. (Recipient), Boulet, M. (Recipient), Santoso, M. (Recipient), Fadelli, M. (Recipient), Kneebone, S. (Recipient) & Kaufman, S. (Recipient), 14 Nov 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
- 1 Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
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Monash Nature Positive Network Webinar Series: A Nature Positive Australia - Why does it matter and how do we get there?
Foerster, A. (Organiser), Vines, E. (Organiser), Smith, L. (Speaker), McGeoch, M. (Speaker), Nagtzaam, G. (Speaker), Affleck, S. (Speaker), Walsh, L. (Speaker), Kaufman, S. (Speaker) & Pham, N. (Speaker)
30 Sept 2024 → 2 Oct 2024Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Contribution to workshop, seminar, course
Press/Media
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A nature positive Australia: What does it mean, why does it matter, and what will it take?
Foerster, A., McGeoch, M. & Smith, L.
24/09/24
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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97% of Australians want more action to stop extinctions and 72% want extra spending on the environment
Smith, L., Dielenberg, J., Borg, K. & Morgain, .
20/06/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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How to boost community and stakeholder support for the use of psychedelic medicines
Kunstler, B., Hatty, M., Smith, L., Wright, B. & Langmead, C.
14/02/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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Can Victorians stick to the stage 4 rules? Our perception of what others are doing might be the key
Smith, L. & Curtis, J.
6/08/20
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature
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This is how we nudged Victoria’s parents to get their kids the HPV vaccine.
Bragge, P., Tull, F., Smith, L., Kaufman, J., Halliday, J., Knott, C., Pellissier, S., Sutton, K. & Beasley, M.
14/05/18
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Article/Feature