Prof Gemma Sharp

About Gemma

Professor Gemma Sharp is a distinguished clinician-scientist in psychological and biological sciences, currently serving as a Professor in the School of Psychology at Adelaide University with a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Emerging Leadership 2 Fellowship (2023-28), following an earlier NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (2018–22). She established and has led the Body Image, Eating and Weight Disorders Research Program since 2018, advancing understanding of body image concerns, eating disorders and related issues across the lifespan and gender spectrum using a biopsychosocial approach.

Through Sharp AI Psychology, Professor Sharp (Founder and Owner) has pioneered the development and national/international dissemination of digital mental health tools, including world-first evidence-based eating disorder focused AI chatbots JEM® (prevention) and ED ESSI® (early intervention). She also served as lead expert for the Australian Psychological Society’s Practice Guidelines on the use of AI in mental health care.

As Founding Director of the Consortium for Research in Eating Disorders (CoRe-ED), she leads a global collaborative charity uniting researchers, clinicians, lived-experience advocates and partners from over 40 countries and 6 continents to accelerate research impact, education and practice improvements. CoRe-ED delivers frequent international events and fosters community-centred innovation in eating disorders research and care.

Professor Sharp is also a registered clinical psychologist, nationally credentialed eating disorder clinician and board approved supervisor. She has worked across the private and public sectors and founded a private practice in 2019. She has served as a lead expert for multiple national clinical guidelines.