Professor John Cairney, PhD, PGDipOL (Oxford), MBA (Sport Management) is a globally recognized leader in sport, health, and higher education. He is Head of School at the University of Queensland and Deputy Executive Director of the Office of Games Engagement, where he co-leads UQ’s strategic involvement in Brisbane 2032. With over 25 years’ experience, he has published 320+ peer-reviewed papers, secured over $55 million in research funding, and built international partnerships across academia, government, and sport. He also directs UQ’s IOC-sanctioned Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies. Professor Cairney blends executive leadership with deep research impact, holding advanced qualifications from Oxford and an MBA in Sport Management from the Escuela Universitaria Real Madrid–Universidad Europea.