Professor Kingsley Agho

Position

Professor in biostatistics

Biography

Kingsley Emwinyore Agho, BSc, BEd, MSc, MEng, PhD, MPH, is a Professor of Biostatistics in the School of Science and Health at Western Sydney University, Australia. Prior to his current role, Professor Agho gained extensive teaching and research experience at the University of Sydney and the University of Newcastle. Professor Agho has more than 20 years of expertise in designing and analysing large-scale epidemiological datasets, including longitudinal and cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) data.

Professor Agho’s research interests span epidemiology, global health, nutrition, and water management, with a particular focus on innovative programs such as one-to-one water-saving initiatives for high water users. Professor Agho has supervised 28 PhD candidates and 4 Master's by Research students, and he is currently supervising 10 postgraduate students.

Professor Agho  has an impressive publication record, with over 300 peer-reviewed journal articles (H-index = 71; >19264 citations, August 2025), 150 of which have been published in the last five years. Professor Agho serves as an Associate Editor for BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth and is a Chief Investigator on six NHMRC project grants, totalling over $12 million, aimed at reducing malnutrition and child mortality in Bangladesh and Laos.

Professor Agho is the inaugural Chair of the Global Maternal and Child Health Research Collaboration (GloMACH) and a founding member of the South Asia Infant Feeding Research Network (SAIFRN). Both GloMACH and SAIFRN aim to improve infant and young child feeding practices and reduce infant mortality in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Professor Agho's research leadership has influenced national and international health policies, particularly in Nigeria, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Laos, Uganda, Malawi, and Mozambique. Professor Agho’s work has addressed pressing public health challenges such as maternal and child undernutrition, iron deficiency in women, climate change, injury prevention, and the double burden of malnutrition. Professor Agho has also explored the use of mobile phone technology to improve nutrition outcomes.

Professor Agho’s research has led to advocacy and policy change in maternal and child health across Australia, Asia, and Africa. His findings have contributed to legislative changes (e.g. gun laws, climate change policy reviews) and supported food security and nutrition improvements aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), helping shape evidence-based interventions to be achieved by 2030.

Professor Agho is an Honorary Professor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg, both in South Africa. These roles support ongoing collaboration and knowledge exchange in global health research and education.

Interests

• Maternal and Child Health
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Qualifications and Recognition

• School of Science and Health - Research Excellence Award 2016-08-08
• MPH University of Newcastle (NSW)
• PhD University of Technology, Sydney
• ME University of Newcastle (NSW)
• MScIndMath University of Benin

Research and Publications

• For a complete list of my publications please see my publications page (opens in a new window)
• View my ResearchGate profile (opens in a new window)

Contact Details