Mrs Bianca Pilla
Senior Research Fellow
School of Public Health
College of Health
Bianca Pilla is the Director of Global Relations at JBI, where she manages partnerships with 90+ Universities and Health Facilities across 40+ countries, striving to improve healthcare quality and outcomes globally through Evidence-Based Healthcare. Bianca is also the founder and Committee Chair for World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day, a global initiative established in 2020 that raises awareness of the need for better evidence to inform healthcare policy, practice and decision-making to improve health outcomes globally. Her expertise is in multi-stakeholder partnership development at global, national and community levels; science communication; policy development; and program evaluation. With a background in International Development, Bianca has led development programs with several NGOs across diverse fields, including tertiary and vocational education and training, community health, livelihoods, gender and disability in Afghanistan, Australia, India and Kenya in both development and emergency contexts.
Bianca is a PhD candidate in Public Health at Adelaide University. Her doctoral research examines how global collaborative evidence networks can be designed and governed to advance health equity and evidence-based healthcare across diverse settings. With over 20 years of experience in international development, organisational development and evidence-based healthcare, Bianca brings a unique interdisciplinary perspective to her research and practice.
Bianca's research spans two interconnected programs. The first examines the design and governance of global collaborative evidence networks — how they can be structured to promote health equity, strengthen evidence ecosystems, and ensure that power, participation and representation are embedded in network governance. This work draws on her experience leading the JBI Collaboration, a network of 90+ collaborating entities (universities and hospitals) across more than 40 countries, and extends to examining how evidence synthesis efforts can align with global health agendas, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Her second program of research focuses on the science, practice and governance of communicating evidence to diverse interest holders in evidence-based healthcare. This work addresses a critical gap: publication of evidence alone is insufficient to bring about its transfer or use, and without clear, inclusive and trustworthy communication, knowledge often remains confined to academic settings while misinformation spreads widely. Her research in this area spans four interconnected domains: communicating findings from diverse evidence synthesis types; inclusive science communication, including the development of integrated quality and equity frameworks; the role of AI and generative AI in evidence communication, particularly failure modes, bias and the reconfiguration of existing exclusions within opaque technical systems; and digital knowledge transfer, including how content format influences evidence uptake. Across both programs, Bianca is committed to participatory, equity-centred approaches that centre the voices of knowledge users, communities and practitioners in shaping how evidence is generated, communicated and used.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 - ongoing | Senior Research Fellow | University of Adelaide |
| 2014 - ongoing | Director, Global Relations | JBI, The University of Adelaide |
| 2014 - 2021 | Community Officer | Australian Refugee Association |
| 2014 - 2014 | Quality Assurance and Government Relations Coordinator | Yourkids Children and Youth Services |
| 2011 - 2012 | Organisational Development Consultant | School of St Jude/ East Africa Fund |
| 2011 - 2011 | Research Consultant | Save the Children |
| 2010 - 2014 | Program and Communications Manager | Afghan Australian Development Organisation |
| 2009 - 2010 | Policy Officer | Project Respect |
| 2009 - 2009 | International Development Tutor | University of Melbourne |
| 2008 - 2009 | Program Officer | Centre for Community Economics and Development Consultants Society |
| 2007 - 2008 | Program Officer | World Youth International |
| 2007 - 2007 | International Relations Tutor | University of South Australia |
| 2006 - 2006 | Research Assistant | Centre for International Risk, University of South Australia |
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Award | Excellence in External Engagement | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2022 | Award | Female Innovator of the Year- Government/ Non-Profit | Stevie Awards for Women in Business | United States | - |
| 2022 | Award | Communications Campaign of the Year- Global Issues | Stevie Awards for Women in Business | United States | - |
| 2022 | Award | South Australian Woman of the Year- Shine Award Finalist | SA Woman Awards | Australia | - |
| 2010 | Award | Leaders in Communities Award | University of Melbourne | Australia | - |
| 2008 | Award | Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc - Con Marinos AM Prize | Flinders University | Australia | - |
| 2006 | Honour | University Medal Academic Excellence (Honours) | Flinders University | Australia | - |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Spanish - Latin American | Can read, write, speak and understand spoken |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD Candidate |
| 2009 - 2010 | University of Melbourne | Australia | Masters |
| 2001 - 2006 | Flinders University | Australia | Bachelor (Hons) |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Pilla, B., Porritt, K., & Jordan, Z. (2026). Addressing global health equity through Global Collaborative Evidence Networks: a narrative literature review of governance models, power and participation.. Global Health, 22(1), 16 pages. |
| 2026 | McCulloch, H., & Pilla, B. (2026). Digital media campaigns for knowledge transfer: reflections on JBI Methodology Month. Jbi Evidence Synthesis, 24(3), 396-400. |
| 2025 | Pilla, B., Stone, J., & Jordan, Z. (2025). Cracking the code: AI's role in mapping evidence syntheses to the United Nations sustainable development goals.. Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique, 83(1), 10 pages. |
| 2024 | Lai, J., Pilla, B., Stephenson, M., Brettle, A., Zhou, C., Li, W., . . . Wu, Y. (2024). Pre-treatment assessment of chemotherapy for cancer patients: a multi-site evidence implementation project of 74 hospitals in China. BMC Nursing, 23(1), 320. Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC3 |
| 2023 | Jordan, Z., Lockwood, C., Aromataris, E., Pilla, B., Porritt, K., Klugar, M., . . . Munn, Z. (2023). Corrigendum to "JBI series paper 1: introducing JBI and the JBI model of EHBC" [Journal of Clinical Epidemiology 150 (2022) 191-195/10807]. . Journal of clinical epidemiology, 162, S0895-4356(23)00178-6. |
| 2023 | Jordan, Z., & Pilla, B. (2023). From agenda to action: JBI Evidence Syntheses and the United Nations sustainable development goals.. JBI evidence synthesis, 22(3), 364-377. Scopus4 WoS5 Europe PMC3 |
| 2022 | Jordan, Z., Lockwood, C., Aromataris, E., Pilla, B., Porritt, K., Klugar, M., . . . Munn, Z. (2022). JBI Series Paper 1: Introducing JBI and the JBI Model of EHBC.. J Clin Epidemiol, 150, 191-195. Scopus19 WoS15 Europe PMC15 |
| 2022 | Pilla, B., Jordan, Z., Christian, R., Kynoch, K., McInerney, P., Cooper, K., . . . Munn, Z. (2022). JBI Series Paper 4: The role of collaborative evidence networks in promoting and supporting evidence-based healthcare globally: reflections from 25 years across 38 countries.. Journal of clinical epidemiology, 150, 210-215. Scopus19 WoS20 Europe PMC19 |
| 2022 | Lockwood, C., Munn, Z., Jordan, Z., Pilla, B., Alves de Araújo Püschel, V., Borges Dos Santos, K., . . . Lizarondo, L. (2022). JBI Series Paper 3: The importance of people, process, evidence, and technology in pragmatic, healthcare provider-led evidence implementation. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 150, 203-209. Scopus14 WoS11 Europe PMC10 |
| 2022 | Jordan, Z., Pilla, B., Porritt, K., Munn, Z., Aromataris, E., & Lockwood, C. (2022). Turning the flywheel: mobilizing the JBI model of evidence-based healthcare.. JBI Evid Implement, Publish Ahead of Print(1), 96-100. Scopus8 WoS6 Europe PMC6 |
| 2020 | Pilla, B., Scott, A. M., & Jordan, Z. (2020). If not now, when? Time to focus on "evidence to impact". JBI evidence synthesis, 18(10), 2104-2105. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| - | Aromataris, E., Lockwood, C., Porritt, K., Pilla, B., & Jordan, Z. (Eds.) (2024). JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. JBI. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Porritt, K., Evans, C., Bennett, C., Loveday, H., Bjerrum, M., Salmond, S., . . . Lockwood, C. (2025). Systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. In E. Aromataris, C. Lockwood, K. Porritt, B. Pilla, & Z. Jordan (Eds.), JBI Manual for Evidence Synthesis. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Pilla, B. S., Nakayama, M. K., & Nicholson, P. (2006). Characterizing e-learning practices in companies - an exploratory research in Australia. In D. Kumar, & J. Turner (Eds.), EDUCATION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY - IMPACT OF ICT AND DIGITAL RESOURCES Vol. 210 (pp. 145-+). CHILE, Santiago: SPRINGER. WoS1 |
| 2005 | Nakayama, M. K., da Silva Schröeder, C., Pilla, B. S., Haro, D. G., & Binotto, E. (2005). Virtual corporate training systems -: Defining criteria and indicators for evaluation. In T. VanWeert, & A. Tatnall (Eds.), Information and Communication Technologies and Real-Life Learning Vol. 182 (pp. 13-20). AUSTRALIA, Melbourne: SPRINGER. DOI WoS1 |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2021 | Barker, T., Munn, Z., Stern, C., McArthur, A., Stephenson, M., & Pilla, B. (2021). The JBI Comprehensive Systematic Review Training Program: Improves Participant Knowledge of the SR Process. Poster session presented at the meeting of Engaging Evidence 2021. |
| 2019 | Barker, T., McArthur, A., Stern, C., Porritt, K., Stephenson, M., Pilla, B., & Munn, Z. (2019). Evidence-based learning: design, evaluation and conduct to optimise student outcomes. Poster session presented at the meeting of G-I-N & JBI 2019 Adelaide. Adelaide, South Australia. |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| - | Pilla, B. (n.d.). The Power of Networking: But Who Benefits? Exploring Equity in Global Collaborative Evidence Networks. World Evidence-based Healthcare Day. DOI |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Pilla, B. (2023). The Power of Networking: But Who Benefits? Exploring Equity in Global Collaborative Evidence Networks. World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day. DOI |
| - | Pilla, B. (n.d.). Impact stories: collaborative knowledge communication in action. World Evidence-based Healthcare Day. DOI |
2024 Australia Awards, DFAT
Australia Awards Fellowship: Toward Universal Health in the Philippines – Health Workforce Development in Evidence Synthesis. $260,771.73 AUD. Co-Investigator.
2020 DREAMIN Foundation
Improving the Capacity of Healthcare Professionals to Stem the Spread of COVID-19 In Kenya. $14,000 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2019 Perpetual Impact Grant, Philanthropy Australia
Improving the capacity of healthcare practitioners to implement evidence-based practice in Indigenous communities in Northern Territory, Australia. $89,871 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2019 Australia Awards, Coffey International Development
PNG Midwifery Graduate Workplace Reintegration Workshop. $34,246 AUD. Co-Investigator.
2013 Australia Afghanistan Community Resilience Scheme (AACRS), AusAID
Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Project Afghanistan. $281,767 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2013 Australia Awards, AusAID
Retraining Afghanistan’s STEM Teachers. $186,452 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2013 Displaced Person Program, Department of Immigration and Citizenship, Australia
Life Skills Project for Internally Displaced Women and Girls, Charahi Qambar IDP camp, Kabul. $122,463 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2012 The Planet Wheeler Foundation
Master Science Teacher Training Afghanistan (Kabul, Parwan, Samangan, Herat Provinces). $265,000 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2012 Dave and Kerry Foundation
Master Science Teacher Training Afghanistan (Uruzgan Province). $125,000 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2012 Direct Aid Program, Australian Embassy Kabul
Carpentry Training and Vocational Education Training Program (Kabul). $25,000 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2011 Perpetual Impact Grant, Philanthropy Australia
Life Skills Training for rural women and girls in Afghanistan. $85,000 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2011 French Embassy Kabul
Science Teacher Training Afghanistan (Qarabagh). $45,000 USD. Chief Investigator.
2011 The Planet Wheeler Foundation
In-Service Science Teacher Training Afghanistan (Kabul). $150,000 AUD. Chief Investigator.
2010- Cabrini Mission
2012 Life Skills Training for rural women and girls in Afghanistan. $415,000 AUD. Chief Investigator.
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 - 2018 | Secretary | JBI Advisory Committee | JBI, University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2011 - 2014 | Member | Governance Board | Children United | Australia |
| 2010 - 2014 | Member | Governance Board | Refugee Council of Australia | Australia |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 - ongoing | Representative | Leads of International and External Engagement | Adelaide University | Australia |
| 2024 - 2025 | Member | Governance Planning Group | Evidence Synthesis Infrastructure Initiative | United Kingdom |
| 2023 - 2025 | Chair | JBI Colloquium Global Organising Committee | JBI, Adelaide University | Australia |
| 2023 - 2025 | Member | Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences School Internationalisation Leads Network | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Member | HIFA-WHO Collaboration Committee | HIFA | United Kingdom |
| 2022 - ongoing | Member | Steering Committee | Evidence Synthesis Taxonomy Initiative | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | Member | Scientific Committee | JBI, Adelaide University | Australia |
| 2020 - ongoing | Founder | World EBHC Day Steering Committee | World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day | Australia |
| 2017 - 2024 | Member | Global Organising Committee | Global Evidence Summit | United Kingdom |
| 2014 - 2018 | Secretary | JBI Collaboration Committee of Directors | JBI, Adelaide University | Australia |
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