Speakers
Click on the speakers headshot to view their biography.
More speakers to be announced soon.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Dr Karen Hacker
Director, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Dr Karen Hacker
Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, is the Director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, where she oversees more than 1,000 staff dedicated to preventing chronic diseases and promoting health across the life span. Since her appointment, she has overseen the community health worker and social determinant of health accelerator plan initiatives. She oversees a broad portfolio that includes Maternal Mortality, School health, obesity prevention, smoking policies and the leading chronic diseases.
Dr. Hacker has a long history of public health practice at the local level having served as the Director of the Allegheny County Health Department in Pennsylvania for 6 years. She also held a variety of leadership roles at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, including her role as the Senior Medical Director for Public and Community Health.
Dr. Hacker has published extensively and is an expert in community-based participatory research (CBPR). She served as the Director of the CBPR program of the Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Award Initiative and wrote Community-Based Participatory Action Research, a widely used academic text.
Dr. Hacker received her MD from Northwestern University School of Medicine and her MPH with Honors from Boston University School of Public Health and continues to see patients as a primary care physician in adolescent medicine.
Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, is the Director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, where she oversees more than 1,000 staff dedicated to preventing chronic diseases and promoting health across the life span. Since her appointment, she has overseen the community health worker and social determinant of health accelerator plan initiatives. She oversees a broad portfolio that includes Maternal Mortality, School health, obesity prevention, smoking policies and the leading chronic diseases.
Dr. Hacker has a long history of public health practice at the local level having served as the Director of the Allegheny County Health Department in Pennsylvania for 6 years. She also held a variety of leadership roles at the Cambridge Health Alliance in Massachusetts, including her role as the Senior Medical Director for Public and Community Health.
Dr. Hacker has published extensively and is an expert in community-based participatory research (CBPR). She served as the Director of the CBPR program of the Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Award Initiative and wrote Community-Based Participatory Action Research, a widely used academic text.
Dr. Hacker received her MD from Northwestern University School of Medicine and her MPH with Honors from Boston University School of Public Health and continues to see patients as a primary care physician in adolescent medicine.
Dr Norman Swan
Co-Founder, Tonic Media Network
Dr Norman Swan
MBBS MPH PhD
Physician turned broadcast journalist, Norman has spent 40 years with the ABC, hosting Radio Nationals Health Report and as commentator for 7.30, Midday, News Breakfast and Four Corners.
More recently, Norman became Australia’s most trusted voice during the COVID-19 pandemic, as co-host of the Coronacast podcast. He has authored to best selling books So You Think You Know What’s Good for You and So You Want to Live Younger Longer, with a third to be released this year.
Norman is the Co-Founder of Tonic Media Network, whose mission is to deliver better health outcomes through patient activation at point of care.
MBBS MPH PhD
Physician turned broadcast journalist, Norman has spent 40 years with the ABC, hosting Radio Nationals Health Report and as commentator for 7.30, Midday, News Breakfast and Four Corners.
More recently, Norman became Australia’s most trusted voice during the COVID-19 pandemic, as co-host of the Coronacast podcast. He has authored to best selling books So You Think You Know What’s Good for You and So You Want to Live Younger Longer, with a third to be released this year.
Norman is the Co-Founder of Tonic Media Network, whose mission is to deliver better health outcomes through patient activation at point of care.
Dr John Gerrard
Chief Health Officer, Queensland Health
Dr John Gerrard
BSc (Med) MB BS (Syd) MSc (Microbiology) DLSHTM DTM&H (Lon) FRACP
Dr John Gerrard has been Queensland's Chief Health Officer since Decemeber 2021.
Dr Gerrard completed his medical and specialist training in Sydney and London between 1980 and 1993, quickly becoming one of Australia's leading infectious disease specialists. As a young doctor in 1993, Dr Gerrard rewrote Australia's medical history by identifying the country's earliest known case of AIDS.
Dr Gerrard moved to the Gold Coast in 1994 to take up the post of Director of Infectious Diseases at the Gold Coast Hospital. Like many other Australians, he first visited Queensland for Expo 88 and immediately fell in love with it.
Throughout his time on the Gold Coast he developed in international reputation for research in emerging infectious diseases and an organism called "Heterorhabditis Gerradi" that glows in the dark, was named in his honour by American researchers in 2009. He is the only living Australian with a human pathogen named after him.
In 2014, he travelled to Sierra Leone during the West African Ebola epidemic. There, he formed part of a team that established Australia's first Ebola Treatment Centre outside Freetown.
During the COVID pandemic, Dr Gerrard managed Queensland' first cases from Wuhan, China in January 2020. Shortly after, he travelled to Tokyo a part of a mission to assist Japanese authorities in containing the outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the Diamond Princess.
In April 2021, Dr Gerrard travelled to the Dutch Antilles as part of a Dutch-sponsored mission where he first experienced the full impact of COVID-19.
Shortly after his return, he took on the role of Chief Health Officer.
BSc (Med) MB BS (Syd) MSc (Microbiology) DLSHTM DTM&H (Lon) FRACP
Dr John Gerrard has been Queensland's Chief Health Officer since Decemeber 2021.
Dr Gerrard completed his medical and specialist training in Sydney and London between 1980 and 1993, quickly becoming one of Australia's leading infectious disease specialists. As a young doctor in 1993, Dr Gerrard rewrote Australia's medical history by identifying the country's earliest known case of AIDS.
Dr Gerrard moved to the Gold Coast in 1994 to take up the post of Director of Infectious Diseases at the Gold Coast Hospital. Like many other Australians, he first visited Queensland for Expo 88 and immediately fell in love with it.
Throughout his time on the Gold Coast he developed in international reputation for research in emerging infectious diseases and an organism called "Heterorhabditis Gerradi" that glows in the dark, was named in his honour by American researchers in 2009. He is the only living Australian with a human pathogen named after him.
In 2014, he travelled to Sierra Leone during the West African Ebola epidemic. There, he formed part of a team that established Australia's first Ebola Treatment Centre outside Freetown.
During the COVID pandemic, Dr Gerrard managed Queensland' first cases from Wuhan, China in January 2020. Shortly after, he travelled to Tokyo a part of a mission to assist Japanese authorities in containing the outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the Diamond Princess.
In April 2021, Dr Gerrard travelled to the Dutch Antilles as part of a Dutch-sponsored mission where he first experienced the full impact of COVID-19.
Shortly after his return, he took on the role of Chief Health Officer.
Tiani Van Haren
Tiani Van Haren is the Executive Director, Partnerships, Strategy and Development within Sport and Recreation at the Queensland Department of Tourism and Sport. Tiani has extensive experience in the public sector, in particular within the Sport and Recreation portfolio, where she currently leads the Partnerships, Strategy and Development team to drive collaboration and create the strategic focus and direction for the Queensland Government and active industry by ensuring strategy, partnerships, programs and services encourage and support Queenslanders to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle. Tiani is passionate about equality and improving quality of life through public service. Prior to this role, Tiani’s key achievements included being the inaugural Director of the Partnerships Office within Sport and Recreation. In addition to curating partnerships across government, industry and community sectors, Tiani and her team were proud to successfully launch ActiveKIT, enhancing how the active industry use knowledge, innovation and technology to reduce barriers to physical activity and address other industry barriers. Tiani was an integral part of the team that developed Activate! Queensland, the first physical activity strategy for Queensland.
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Tiani is passionate about equality and improving quality of life through public service. Prior to this role, Tiani’s key achievements included being the inaugural Director of the Partnerships Office within Sport and Recreation. In addition to curating partnerships across government, industry and community sectors, Tiani and her team were proud to successfully launch ActiveKIT, enhancing how the active industry use knowledge, innovation and technology to reduce barriers to physical activity and address other industry barriers. Tiani was an integral part of the team that developed Activate! Queensland, the first physical activity strategy for Queensland.
PLENARY SPEAKERS
Assoc. Prof. Becky Freeman
School of Public Health, University of Sydney
Assoc. Prof. Becky Freeman
Associate Professor Becky Freeman is an established global authority on the potential of the Internet to circumvent tobacco-advertising bans and enhance tobacco control efforts. As part of the Prevention Research Collaboration, she leads a program of research focused on countering the commercial determinants of health. She is a frequent commentator in the news media on tobacco control topics and the health impacts of advertising. She is the Chief Investigator of the Generation Vape research study.
Dr Sandro Demaio
CEO, VicHealth
Dr. Sandro Demaio
MBBS MPH PhD
Dr Sandro Demaio is the CEO of VicHealth, a medical doctor and a globally-renowned public health expert and advocate. Previously the CEO of the EAT Foundation, the science-based global platform for food systems transformation, Dr Demaio has also held the role of Medical Officer for non-communicable conditions and nutrition at the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr Demaio originally trained and worked as a medical doctor at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. He holds a Masters degree in public health, a PhD in non-communicable diseases, and has held fellowships at Harvard Medical School, Copenhagen School of Global Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Melbourne. To date, he has published more than 40 scientific papers, including coordinating the 2019 Lancet series on nutrition.
MBBS MPH PhD
Dr Sandro Demaio is the CEO of VicHealth, a medical doctor and a globally-renowned public health expert and advocate. Previously the CEO of the EAT Foundation, the science-based global platform for food systems transformation, Dr Demaio has also held the role of Medical Officer for non-communicable conditions and nutrition at the World Health Organization (WHO).
Dr Demaio originally trained and worked as a medical doctor at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. He holds a Masters degree in public health, a PhD in non-communicable diseases, and has held fellowships at Harvard Medical School, Copenhagen School of Global Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the University of Melbourne. To date, he has published more than 40 scientific papers, including coordinating the 2019 Lancet series on nutrition.
Prof. Anthony Okley
University of Wollongong
Prof. Anthony Okely
Anthony Okely is a Distinguished Professor of Public Health and NHMRC Leadership Fellow in at the University of Wollongong, Australia where he is also co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Children’s Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity.
His research focuses on movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) in children, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Anthony has led teams that developed national and international physical activity guidelines. He has consulted for WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank on projects related to children’s physical activity.
Anthony Okely is a Distinguished Professor of Public Health and NHMRC Leadership Fellow in at the University of Wollongong, Australia where he is also co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Children’s Food, Nutrition and Physical Activity.
His research focuses on movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep) in children, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries. Anthony has led teams that developed national and international physical activity guidelines. He has consulted for WHO, UNICEF and the World Bank on projects related to children’s physical activity.
Tiani Van Haren
Queensland Department of Tourism and Sport
Tiani Van Haren
Tiani Van Haren is the Executive Director, Partnerships, Strategy and Development within Sport and Recreation at the Queensland Department of Tourism and Sport. Tiani has extensive experience in the public sector, in particular within the Sport and Recreation portfolio, where she currently leads the Partnerships, Strategy and Development team to drive collaboration and create the strategic focus and direction for the Queensland Government and active industry by ensuring strategy, partnerships, programs and services encourage and support Queenslanders to pursue a healthy and active lifestyle. Tiani is passionate about equality and improving quality of life through public service. Prior to this role, Tiani’s key achievements included being the inaugural Director of the Partnerships Office within Sport and Recreation. In addition to curating partnerships across government, industry and community sectors, Tiani and her team were proud to successfully launch ActiveKIT, enhancing how the active industry use knowledge, innovation and technology to reduce barriers to physical activity and address other industry barriers. Tiani was an integral part of the team that developed Activate! Queensland, the first physical activity strategy for Queensland.
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Tiani is passionate about equality and improving quality of life through public service. Prior to this role, Tiani’s key achievements included being the inaugural Director of the Partnerships Office within Sport and Recreation. In addition to curating partnerships across government, industry and community sectors, Tiani and her team were proud to successfully launch ActiveKIT, enhancing how the active industry use knowledge, innovation and technology to reduce barriers to physical activity and address other industry barriers. Tiani was an integral part of the team that developed Activate! Queensland, the first physical activity strategy for Queensland.
Assoc. Prof. Sjaan Gomersall
The University of Queensland
Assoc. Prof. Sjaan Gomersall
Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall is Associate Director and Principal Research Fellow at the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation at School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences and a Teaching and Research academic in Physiotherapy at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland. Established in 2022, the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation (HWCRI) is a collaborative, co-funded research centre by The University of Queensland and Health and Wellbeing Queensland. The HWCRI combines world class research expertise in physical activity,nutrition and health at The University of Queensland, with the reach and capacity of Health and Wellbeing Queensland to integrate, deliver and evaluate evidence-based programs that provide scalable, equitable access to improve the health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders, and beyond.
Associate Professor Gomersall is an expert in physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health. Her research has focused on understanding, measuring and influencing physical activity and sedentary behaviour using a variety of methods and with a range of populations, with a focus on adults, the prevention and management of chronic disease and physical activity promotion in healthcare settings. Sjaan has a strong track record for multi-disciplinary collaborations and industry partnerships, with specific expertise in partnering with healthcare organisations to build capacity in research and physical activity behaviour change, to evaluate the impact of healthcare services and to co-design and test innovative solutions to gaps in service delivery. Dr Gomersall is a nationally and internally recognised leader in physical activity and health. She is the President-Elect of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health, Co-Lead for the Physical Activity in Healthcare Special Interest Group for the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity, a Consultant for Physical Activity for the World Health Organisation and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviours.
Associate Professor Sjaan Gomersall is Associate Director and Principal Research Fellow at the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation at School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences and a Teaching and Research academic in Physiotherapy at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at The University of Queensland. Established in 2022, the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation (HWCRI) is a collaborative, co-funded research centre by The University of Queensland and Health and Wellbeing Queensland. The HWCRI combines world class research expertise in physical activity,nutrition and health at The University of Queensland, with the reach and capacity of Health and Wellbeing Queensland to integrate, deliver and evaluate evidence-based programs that provide scalable, equitable access to improve the health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders, and beyond.
Associate Professor Gomersall is an expert in physical activity, sedentary behaviour and health. Her research has focused on understanding, measuring and influencing physical activity and sedentary behaviour using a variety of methods and with a range of populations, with a focus on adults, the prevention and management of chronic disease and physical activity promotion in healthcare settings. Sjaan has a strong track record for multi-disciplinary collaborations and industry partnerships, with specific expertise in partnering with healthcare organisations to build capacity in research and physical activity behaviour change, to evaluate the impact of healthcare services and to co-design and test innovative solutions to gaps in service delivery. Dr Gomersall is a nationally and internally recognised leader in physical activity and health. She is the President-Elect of the International Society for Physical Activity and Health, Co-Lead for the Physical Activity in Healthcare Special Interest Group for the Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity, a Consultant for Physical Activity for the World Health Organisation and an Associate Editor for the Journal of Activity, Sedentary and Sleep Behaviours.
Tim Klar
Chief Executive, QSport
Tim Klar
Tim is the CEO of QSport, the state’s peak body for sport, and his career includes senior roles with state and national sporting organisations, the Queensland Academy of Sport and The Kinetica Group. These roles encompassed diverse responsibilities including leadership of strategy, governance, community, high performance, inclusion, workforce development and digital transformation initiatives.
In his current role, Tim engages and works with stakeholders and voices across the country’s sport ecosystem to unlock positive and enduring impacts through improved learning, investment and collaboration. Tim is also a member of the Leadership Group for Play Well, the nation’s first ten-year sport participation strategy.
Tim is the CEO of QSport, the state’s peak body for sport, and his career includes senior roles with state and national sporting organisations, the Queensland Academy of Sport and The Kinetica Group. These roles encompassed diverse responsibilities including leadership of strategy, governance, community, high performance, inclusion, workforce development and digital transformation initiatives.
In his current role, Tim engages and works with stakeholders and voices across the country’s sport ecosystem to unlock positive and enduring impacts through improved learning, investment and collaboration. Tim is also a member of the Leadership Group for Play Well, the nation’s first ten-year sport participation strategy.
Prof. John Cairney
Head of School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland
Dr John Cairney
Dr John Cairney is Professor and Head of the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland. He is past-President of the North American Society for Pediatric Exercise Medicine. An internationally recognised leader in the field of child health, sport and physical activity, Dr. Cairney is the author/editor of four books and more than 300 peer-reviewed research articles. He has held numerous funded grants, totalling more than $18.5 million in research grants and contracts as a Principal Investigator. A sought-after scientific consultant to government, Dr. Cairney was co-lead on the evaluation of the child and youth mental health strategy in Ontario, a member of scientific advisory board for Healthy Kids Community Challenge, expert advisor on the brain health supplement to the ParticipACTION Report Card (2018), and lead investigator on the special needs strategy in the province of Ontario.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
Madonna King
Madonna King
Master of Ceremonies
Madonna King
Madonna King is an award winning journalist and author of 13 books, including the award-winning Being 14, which was shortlisted as the non-fiction book of the year. Six of her books on tweens and teens, and give voice to their challenges and triumphs. In the process, she has interviewed thousands of students, along with school principals, counsellors, psychologists, teachers, parenting experts and academics and spends time in schools working with students and their parent communities. Madonna is also a regular television and radio commentator, has two weekly columns, was chair of Queensland’s anti-cyber bullying taskforce, and is now chair of all-boys’ residential college, St Leo’s, at UQ.
DAY ONE SPEAKERS | TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3
Brooke Maund
Queensland Health
Brooke Maund
Brooke is a Senior Dietitian with over 12 years of experience working across metropolitan, regional, rural and very remote settings. Brooke spent the first 3 years of her career working as a clinical and community Dietitian in a community-led organisation, working in the remote First Nations communities of Napranum, Old Mapoon, Aurukun and Mossman Gorge in Cape York. This experience gave Brooke a unique skillset and first-hand experience of working towards creating healthy food landscapes, in very challenging environments. Since then, Brooke has taken on a number of clinical and community-based roles in Cairns and later Brisbane.
Brooke currently serves as the Statewide Coordinator for QLD Health's healthy food and drink supply strategy, A Better Choice. Brooke co-ordinates the implementation of A Better Choice across the state, where she liaises regularly with retailers, vendors and food industry, as well as health service representatives to ensure the sustainability of A Better Choice. Brooke also chairs the Statewide A Better Choice Network Working Group that continues to progress ABC work. The change management strategies Brooke has developed working across Cape York, and other settings, gives her a unique and valuable perspective to continue to implement ABC. Outside of work, Brooke is the mother of three beautiful and proudly Aboriginal children, making her passionate about working towards improving the future health outcomes of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Brooke is a Senior Dietitian with over 12 years of experience working across metropolitan, regional, rural and very remote settings. Brooke spent the first 3 years of her career working as a clinical and community Dietitian in a community-led organisation, working in the remote First Nations communities of Napranum, Old Mapoon, Aurukun and Mossman Gorge in Cape York. This experience gave Brooke a unique skillset and first-hand experience of working towards creating healthy food landscapes, in very challenging environments. Since then, Brooke has taken on a number of clinical and community-based roles in Cairns and later Brisbane.
Brooke currently serves as the Statewide Coordinator for QLD Health's healthy food and drink supply strategy, A Better Choice. Brooke co-ordinates the implementation of A Better Choice across the state, where she liaises regularly with retailers, vendors and food industry, as well as health service representatives to ensure the sustainability of A Better Choice. Brooke also chairs the Statewide A Better Choice Network Working Group that continues to progress ABC work. The change management strategies Brooke has developed working across Cape York, and other settings, gives her a unique and valuable perspective to continue to implement ABC. Outside of work, Brooke is the mother of three beautiful and proudly Aboriginal children, making her passionate about working towards improving the future health outcomes of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Bruce Morton
Director Public and Environmental Health, West Moreton Public Health Unit
Bruce Morton
Director Public and Environmental Health, West Moreton Public Health Unit
Bruce Morton
Bruce is the Director Public and Environmental Health, West Moreton Public Health Unit. He oversees key teams of Communicable Diseases, Health Surveillance, Environmental Health, Sexual Health and School Based Nursing. He led the public health response to COVID 19 and 2011 Flood Event for West Moreton Health and continues to oversee public health response, planning and compliance frameworks for public health across the West Moreton area. Bruce is also currently Chair of the Qld Health Public Health Directors Forum and Member of the newly formed Qld Prevention Advisory Group.
He has been a Director at West Moreton Health since 2007 and before then was a senior policy officer for Queensland Health for various matters including First Nations Environmental Health.
In addition to his work with Queensland Health and Local Government, Bruce has been the National President of Environmental Health Australia, the premier association for Environmental Health Professionals and previously appointed as a Member of enHealth, the National Environmental Health Forum, the peak advisory body on environmental health for Australia. Bruce also has had various public health adjunct or advisory roles with several universities across Australia including Chair of the Environmental Health Officer Course Accreditation Committee.
He holds a Bach of Applied Science and Masters and other post graduate qualifications including management, health promotion and disaster management.
Bruce is the Director Public and Environmental Health, West Moreton Public Health Unit. He oversees key teams of Communicable Diseases, Health Surveillance, Environmental Health, Sexual Health and School Based Nursing. He led the public health response to COVID 19 and 2011 Flood Event for West Moreton Health and continues to oversee public health response, planning and compliance frameworks for public health across the West Moreton area. Bruce is also currently Chair of the Qld Health Public Health Directors Forum and Member of the newly formed Qld Prevention Advisory Group.
He has been a Director at West Moreton Health since 2007 and before then was a senior policy officer for Queensland Health for various matters including First Nations Environmental Health.
In addition to his work with Queensland Health and Local Government, Bruce has been the National President of Environmental Health Australia, the premier association for Environmental Health Professionals and previously appointed as a Member of enHealth, the National Environmental Health Forum, the peak advisory body on environmental health for Australia. Bruce also has had various public health adjunct or advisory roles with several universities across Australia including Chair of the Environmental Health Officer Course Accreditation Committee.
He holds a Bach of Applied Science and Masters and other post graduate qualifications including management, health promotion and disaster management.
Clare Johnson
Health and Wellbeing QLD
Clare Johnson
Health and Wellbeing QLD
Clare Johnson
Clare is a public health practitioner with over 20 years experience in leading the co-design, implementation and evaluation of quality improvement and health promotion programs in the areas of chronic disease prevention and management and cancer screening. Her working knowledge and experiences spans urban, rural and remote areas of Australia as well as internationally. Clare is passionate about improving health outcomes at the individual and population level through innovative models of care and systems change.
Colleen Smyth
Queensland Health
Colleen Smyth
Queensland Health
Colleen Smyth
Colleen Smyth is the Director of the Centre for Public Health Regulatory Excellence in Queensland Health, an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health, University of Queensland, and a Lecturer in the Department of Health Systems and Populations, Macquarie University.
Colleen’s recent work in Queensland and New South Wales has focused on policy, regulation and system performance in the areas of tobacco, e-cigarettes, obesity, HIV and viral hepatitis.
Colleen holds postgraduate qualifications in law and public health.
Colleen Smyth is the Director of the Centre for Public Health Regulatory Excellence in Queensland Health, an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Public Health, University of Queensland, and a Lecturer in the Department of Health Systems and Populations, Macquarie University.
Colleen’s recent work in Queensland and New South Wales has focused on policy, regulation and system performance in the areas of tobacco, e-cigarettes, obesity, HIV and viral hepatitis.
Colleen holds postgraduate qualifications in law and public health.
Prof. Danielle Gallegos
Queensland University of Technology
Danielle Gallegos
Denny Giguere
Clinical Operations Manager, Logan Healthy Living
Denny Giguere
Clinical Operations Manager, Logan Healthy Living
Denny Giguere
Fiona Nave
Health and Wellbeing QLD
Fiona Nave
Health and Wellbeing QLD
Fiona Nave
Health and Wellbeing QLD
Fiona Nave
Health and Wellbeing QLD
Fiona Nave
Fiona Nave is a Paediatric Dietitian and Senior Public Health Nutritionist, with over 20 years of experience working in secondary and tertiary hospitals across Queensland and the UK, and within public health in the ‘under 5s’. Her extensive experience working to support families and their children with chronic or acute health conditions across hospitals, has enabled Fiona to have a comprehensive understanding of the multi-disciplinary team and how health ‘works’ across the different levels of care and system barriers and enablers.
Having led the Early Years team within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and later across Central London Community Health, a joint collaboration of 3 NHS and representative of over 2 million people, Fiona has had extensive experience leading a wide range of health promotion projects to diverse populations, where a localised, but central approach was required. This supported an early recognition of the importance of data and quality evaluation, within individual service provision but equally across services and locations to enable the prioritisation of resources. Fiona has led Prevention in the first 2000 days for HWQld since 2022 and has loved getting back into the ‘upstream’ approach to create healthier environments that make it easier for families to achieve better health. Fiona is passionate about improving health outcomes at the individual and population level through innovation and informative decisions using data and technology to enable better equity and access.
Adj Prof. Frank Tracey
Health Service Chief Executive
Adj Prof. Frank Tracey
Health Service Chief Executive
Frank Tracey
Health Service Chief Executive
Frank has over 40 years’ experience working in health systems, including executive roles in large health organisations and the non-government sector. He has a clinical background in nursing and holds advanced qualifications in health management and governance. His extensive experience in health commissioning and service provision in clinical and community settings is complemented by strong executive management and leadership skills. Frank has an applied interest in population health planning and translational health research. While working in both government and non-government roles he has focused on delivering sustainable health strategies that serve the best interests of consumers, health professionals, the broader health system and the community.
La'Shauna Nathaniel
Gather and Grow, Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ)
La'Shauna Nathaniel
La’shauna Nathaniel is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from Waibene, Thursday Island, in the gateway to the Torres Strait. Starting out as a supermarket sales assistant to Nutrition Cadet in Community Enterprise Queensland, a non-for profit organisation that provides goods and services for remote communities, La’shauna has had the opportunity to travel to these remote communities and connect with the store teams and residents. Alongside working with teams, La’shauna is undertaking study for university. La’shauna now utilizes her cultural knowledge and newfound understanding in the importance of Food security and nutrition to actively pursue a career in Nutrition and give back to her people.
Heonjoo Kim
President, Korea Health Promotion Institute
Heonjoo Kim
President, Korea Health Promotion Institute
Heonjoo Kim
President, Korea Health Promotion Institute
Heonjoo Kim
Heonjoo Kim is the President of the Korea Health Promotion Institute.
He graduated from Seoul National University with a law degree and completed a doctorate in law from the University of North Carolina in the United States. From 1993 to 2023, he worked in the Ministry of Health and Welfare in South Korea, serving as General Director of positions such as Health Care Policy and Health Insurance Policy.
He was also the Vice Commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency during COVID-19.
Jacki Walker
Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
Jacki Walker
Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
Jacki Walker
Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
Jacki Walker
Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
Jacki Walker
Senior Lecturer, The University of Queensland
Jacki Walker
Dr Jacki Walker is a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics at the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland. She is also a Senior Research Fellow at Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Jacki’s work focuses broadly on the prevention and management of childhood overweight and obesity and associated co-morbidities, through a pragmatic research agenda that considers integrated public health approaches and systems change. The outcomes of Jacki’s work aim to contribute significantly to the comprehensive transformation of the way appropriate evidence-based and effective care, management and preventive strategies are delivered for children and adolescents who are living with or at risk of overweight and obesity in multiple settings across Queensland and Australia. Jacki is a paediatric dietitian by training and has worked with many children and families within acute hospital settings, community clinical settings and private practice. Jacki continues to consult professionally, focusing on health professional education and building capacity and capability in the dietetic and other health workforces.
Kevin Kapeke
Lead, Health Promotion Systems (VicHealth)
Kevin Kapeke
Lead, Health Promotion Systems (VicHealth)
Kevin Kapeke
Lead, Health Promotion Systems (VicHealth)
Kevin Kapeke
Kevin Kapeke is the Lead in the Health Promotion Systems domain at VicHealth, where he integrates evidence and lived experience to improve health outcomes for children, young people, and diverse communities. In this role, Kevin provides research, programming, and strategic leadership for two of VicHealth's largest investments in preventative health. He focuses on fostering the team's capacity to support cultural strengthening and address barriers to good health. Prior to this role, he worked in the CEO's office, optimising VicHealth's outreach with the community and fostering collaboration across government and community functions to ensure the integration of lived experiences in public health.
Additionally, Kevin serves as an Advisor for the Youth-led Unit at the Centre for Multicultural Youth, a sector-leading initiative that empowers individuals from diverse backgrounds.
His multifaceted approach includes speaking, teaching, facilitating, and building the capacity of communities to become impactful decision-makers.
Mark Robinson
University of Queensland
Dr. Mark Robinson
Dr Mark Robinson is a Senior Research Fellow in the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) and Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow. Mark is a public health and evaluation specialist and has led the development of evaluation frameworks with varied partners across a range of topics. He led the development of a detailed Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework for Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld), the evaluation of their Pick of the Crop program, and currently leads the strategic evaluation of a suite of six preventive health programs funded by HWQld. Mark also played a major role in the development of Queensland Health's Cancer Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People and recently led a detailed review of data, policies, and evidence relevant to men's health on behalf of the Commonwealth Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Prior to joining ISSR, Mark successfully led a range of research and evaluation projects to better understand population health and health inequalities at NHS Health Scotland, a national public health agency in Scotland. He led and contributed to numerous studies as part of the evaluation of the Scottish Government's national alcohol strategy, including an evaluation of the impact of minimum unit pricing on alcohol consumption and related harms. These studies have received widespread media coverage and the outputs and findings have been used to inform national policy and legislation in Scotland and beyond. In Scotland, Mark also successfully delivered a large program of research to estimate the impact of a wide range of interventions on population health and health inequality outcomes using epidemiological modelling and visualisation.
Mary-Anne Quilter
CheckUp
Mary-Anne Quilter
Mary-Anne is an experienced Project and Program Manager with 20 years’ experience working in the health and community services sectors. At CheckUP, she currently manages a Skin Cancer Early Detection Outreach Service which is delivering GP-led clinics throughout rural and remote communities in Queensland. Mary-Anne has also managed other health promotion programs and community and health support services, and led health workforce initiatives. Having lived and worked in rural Queensland, she is passionate about improving access to health services and creating healthier communities.
CheckUP is a not-for-profit health organisation dedicated to better health for people and communities who need it most. They are the jurisdictional fundholder of Commonwealth Outreach funding and are also funded to deliver a number of health and community services workforce programs on behalf of the Queensland Government.
Meg O'Donnell
QCWA Country Kitchens
Meg O'Donnell
Dr Megan Ferguson
Senior Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition, School of Public Health
Dr Megan Ferguson
Ofeina Filimoehala
CEO, Tonga Health
Ofeina Filimoehala
Mrs. ‘Ofeina Filimoehala has been the CEO for Tonga Health Promotion Foundation (Tonga Health) since April 2018. She is responsible for leading TongaHealth in advocating for multisectoral health promotion strategies for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. As the CEO, she works closely with the TongaHealth Board to ensure TongaHealth meets all statutory and governance requirements as well as developing and maintaining good relationships with all stakeholders and development partners. She is also the Executive Officer to the National NCD Committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Tuiaki ‘i he ‘Amanaki; Tonga National Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases 2021-2025. As CEO for Tonga Health, ‘Ofeina represents the Government of Tonga on the International Network of Health Promotion Foundations and she holds the position as Treasurer for the Network.
Prior to joining TongaHealth, she was the Manager Finance and Budgeting for Tonga Development Bank. Her experience also included working as the Deputy CEO for Compliance and Monitoring Division of the Ministry of Public Enterprises (2008-2015) and was seconded for 4 months as Acting General Manager for the largest hotel in Tonga; International Dateline Hotel when it was placed under Liquidation in 2011. She holds a Bachelor of Business in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Auckland University of Technology, Auckland , New Zealand.
Prof. Teo Yik Ying
Dean, Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore
Prof. Teo Yik Ying
Professor Teo Yik Ying is Dean of the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health at the National University of Singapore, and concurrently a Governing Board Member for the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network. Prior to his Deanship, he was the Director for the Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Research, and Founding Director for the Centre for Health Services and Policy Research for the School of Public Health.
Professor Teo is presently a member of the International Organising Committee for the Prince Mahidol Award Conference, as well as the M8 Alliance which forms the academic foundation for the World Health Summit. He is the Co-Director for the Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health’s Collaborating Centres for Health Promotion, and sits on the Global Coalition of Deans of Schools of Public Health.
Professor Teo previously worked on the use of genetic technologies for the control and elimination of several infectious diseases, including malaria and tuberculosis. As a previous member of the global MalariaGEN network, he was actively involved in training and capacity development of research fellows from different African and Southeast Asian countries.
He received his BSc in Mathematics from Imperial College in 2000, MSc in Applied Statistics and DPhil in Statistics from the University of Oxford in 2001 and 2006 respectively.
In 2023, Prof Teo was appointed Vice President of NUS’ new Office of Global Health, which is a multidisciplinary whole-of-University effort to drive NUS’ health engagement efforts on the global stage. Besides influencing health and policy outcomes through interdisciplinary translational research, advocacy and analysis, the Office of Global Health will also build on NUS’ strategic partnerships and develop local expertise in global health among neighbouring countries in the region through training and capacity-building.
Dr Rachael Beswick
Queensland Health
Dr Rachael Beswick
Dr Robyn Littlewood
CEO, Health and Wellbeing QLD
Dr Robyn Littlewood
Dr Robyn Littlewood is the CEO of Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the state’s prevention agency committed to fostering a healthier and more equitable Queensland.
With over 25 years of experience in clinical care, research and education, Dr Littlewood has made significant contributions to paediatric healthcare. Dr Littlewood is a published author with over 100 publications and has recently released her first book on health and wellbeing for Queensland. She has trained hundreds of students over two decades of frontline service.
Leveraging a systems-based and collaborative approach, Dr Littlewood continues to drive research and data outcomes in the area of health and wellbeing. Dr Littlewood leads a dedicated team focused on making healthy happen for all Queenslanders, with a particular focus on improving health outcomes for our next generation.
Dr Littlewood holds a raft of formal qualifications including a Bachelor of Science and Postgraduate Diploma in Nutrition and Dietetics, a Master of Medical Science, a Masters of Business Administration and a PhD. Dr Littlewood has also completed a number of postgraduate qualifications in executive leadership and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Dr Littlewood holds Adjunct Professor appointments from UQ, QUT and Griffith universities, has been awarded Fellow of Dietitians Australia, the Barbara Chester Award and QUT Health Alumni of the year in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the dietetics profession.
Sharyn Chin Fat
Cancer Council Queensland
Sharyn Chin Fat
Sharyn is the Senior Manager, Prevention and Early Detection at Cancer Council Queensland. She plays a pivotal role in developing and delivering information and programmes aimed at reducing cancer risk, encouraging cancer screening and early detection of cancer.
Sharyn Chin Fat has over 17 years of professional experience working with people affected by work-related injuries, including occupational related cancers, and in the health charities sector, with her most recent experience in cancer information and prevention. Her experience extends to various sectors, having worked in Government Owned Corporations, private industry and the Not for Profit and Charity sector.
Educationally, Sharyn holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Science, with majors in Psychology and Occupational Health and Safety management. Additionally, she has earned a Diploma in Frontline Management, and completed a mini-MBA.
Cancer Council Queensland’s mission is to lead Queenslanders in a partnership against cancer and is here to support all Queenslanders impacted by cancer by reducing cancer risk, improving early detection, and improving the quality of life for Queenslanders impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
Dr Dev Kawol
GP Supervisor
Dr Dev Kawol
MBBS MCRGP FRACGP DRCOG DFSRH MSc Diabetes
I started my journey towards medicine fascinated as a child and encouraged by my parents to become the first doctor in my family. I grew up in the beautiful island of Mauritius and had to go overseas to India, through a government scholarship to study medicine. After my MBBS, I embarked for my postgraduate experience in Obstetrics, gynaecology, clinical and pharmaceutical research in UK and then decided to settle in general practice in UK. I completed my fellowship in General practice in UK in 2008 and moved to Queensland in 2010. I noticed a big gap in knowledge in diabetes and chronic diseases and therefore empowered myself for a Masters in diabetes through University of South wales in UK. In 2012, I started my own clinic in Jimboomba and in 2014 started GP registrar supervision. Currently I am Fellow of the RACGP and member of the National faculty of Specific Interest in diabetes, chaired by Dr Gary Deed. I am also Qld Lead for NFSI Obesity group. Ongoing educational work with GP registrars and pharmaceutical companies. GP speaker in various fields and contributor of type 2 diabetes guidelines in Australia. I have a persistent desire and passion for further education and research in general practice. Since last 3 years, our practice is providing assistance to Jimboomba Aged Care. Before that, I had heard struggles of GPs but then confirmed the issues with my own experience. For last 2 years, we are teaching medical students from UQ, Griffith and Bond universities.
My dream is to have proper General Practice Recognition and remuneration in our Australian society.
Genevieve Noon
Queensland Health
Genevieve Noon
Queensland Health
Genevieve Noon
Queensland Health
Genevieve Noon
Queensland Health
Genevieve Noon
Having worked in health communications for the last 8 years, Genevieve has a passion for delivering targeted, behaviour change campaigns to encourage and empower Queenslanders to make healthier choices. In her current role in Queensland Health’s marketing team, Genevieve has led and delivered Queensland Health’s vaping campaigns, including ‘Vape Truths’ starring Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Queensland Health’s first youth targeted campaign ‘There’s nothing sweet about vapes’ which was co-designed with young Queenslanders.
Genevieve has a strong understanding of the vaping landscape in Queensland and the motivators and barriers associated with uptake and quitting.
Charlotte Morrison
Senior Public Health Nutritionist, Health and Wellbeing
Charlotte Morrison
Senior Public Health Nutritionist, Health and Wellbeing
Charlotte Morrison
Senior Public Health Nutritionist, Health and Wellbeing
Charlotte Morrison
Simone Braithwaite
Manager, Prevention Strategy Branch, Queensland Health
Simone Braithwaite
Simone Braithwaite brings over 30 years of expertise in nutrition, public health, and health promotion. Her career spans diverse settings, including acute healthcare, community services, public health, and non-governmental organizations, reflecting her deep passion for advancing health and wellbeing.
Simone thrives on the complexities of human health and the challenges of fostering healthy behaviors through effective public policy. Her extensive experience includes roles in remote, regional, and metro areas across Queensland, as well as international positions such as serving as the country nutritionist in Myanmar and working with refugee response teams for displaced Rohingya populations.
Her background encompasses the development and implementation of statewide strategies in key areas such as tobacco control, sun safety, physical activity, and sexually transmissible infections. In her current role, Simone leads the Prevention Strategy team within the Queensland Department of Health, driving initiatives to enhance public health outcomes across the state.
Vivian Chia-Hsiu Liu
Taiwan Health Promotion
Administration
Vivian Chia-Hsiu Liu
Taiwan Health Promotion Administration
Ms. Vivian Chia-Hsiu Liu
Ms. Vivian Chia-Hsiu Liu is a Senior Specialist of Tobacco Control Division of Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and welfare in Taiwan. She has been working in health promotion and chronic diseases prevention at the central government for over 15 years. She fully participated in the amendment process of the Tobacco Hazards Prevention Act in Taiwan that took effect in 2023. Throughout her career, she is experienced in health policy making, community health development, capacity buildings of healthy cities, health literacy and health communication. Prior to working at Health Promotion Administration, Ms. Liu was actively involved in infectious disease control in Taiwan Center for Disease Control, especially during SARS outbreaks in 2003.
Kani Thompson
Community Nutritionist, Apunipima Cape York
Health Council
Kani Thompson
Community Nutritionist, Apunipima Cape York
Health Council
Kani Thompson
Community Nutritionist, Apunipima Cape York
Health Council
Kani Thompson
Community Nutritionist, Apunipima Cape York
Health Council
Kani Thompson
Community Nutritionist, Apunipima Cape York Health Council
Kani Thompson
Kani Thompson has worked as a Community Nutritionist at Apunipima Cape York Health Council based in Cairns since 2015 and has worked in various public health and community nutrition roles for over 10 years based in Cairns while working in Cape York and the Torres Strait including in remote community store nutrition. Kani’s recent work has involved coming alongside remote communities while partnering with University of Queensland and a Northern Territory based Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, to explore the issue of food security with community members and leaders. Kani is a Torres Strait Islander woman whose family is from Saibai Island.
Adjunct Prof. Elizabeth Wilkes
Chief Midwife Officer, Queensland
Adjunct Prof. Elizabeth Wilkes
Chief Midwife Officer, Queensland
Adjunct Prof. Elizabeth Wilkes
Chief Midwife Officer, Queensland
Adjunct Prof. Elizabeth Wilkes
Chief Midwife Officer, Queensland
Elizabeth Wilkes
Liz Wilkes commenced in the role on Chief Midwife Officer on 26 February 2024. Liz has 29 years of experience as a registered midwife, as well as experience in significant leadership roles, including leading the largest private midwifery organisation in Australia (My Midwives). She also holds an adjunct position with Charles Darwin University.
As Queensland’s Chief Midwife Officer, Liz supports Queensland Health to deliver on providing midwifery leadership, leading maternity reforms and strengthening maternity services across the state, especially those in rural and regional communities, and building a skilled and sustainable midwifery workforce pipeline. This will ensure Queensland women and their babies receive the highest quality, safe, culturally appropriate, woman-centred midwifery care.
Cathie Gillan
Senior Skin Cancer Prevention Officer
Cathie Gillian
Cathie Gillan leads Queensland Health's Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection project. She has had a long career in health promotion, initially focusing on mental health promotion and later working on promoting health in partnership with sectors outside of health, such as schools, early childhood, and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Her passion for reducing health inequalities and facilitating health initiatives outside the health sector drives her work.
John Reilly
John Reilly is Chief Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) Officer within Clinical Excellence Queensland (CEQ) and Chief Psychiatrist. He has worked in clinical and administrative roles across many MHAOD service types in Queensland and Victoria, and is participating in MHAOD Branch safety and quality improvement initiatives in multimorbidity. He is studying screening, assessment and management of substance use disorders within adult mental health services.
John Ferguson
Health Promotion Officer, Central Queensland Public Health Unit
John Ferguson
Health Promotion Officer, Central Queensland Public Health Unit
John Ferguson
Health Promotion Officer, Central Queensland Public Health Unit
John Ferguson
Health Promotion Officer, Central Queensland Public Health Unit
John Ferguson
Health Promotion Officer, Central Queensland Public Health Unit
John Ferguson
Health Promotion Officer, Central Queensland Public Health Unit
John Ferguson
John Ferguson is a Health Promotion Officer in the Central Queensland Public Health Unit focusing on the prevention and early detection of skin cancer. John holds a Master in Public Health with a major in Health Promotion from the University of Queensland. He is working alongside his colleagues from the Central Queensland Public Health Unit in collaboration with the Prevention Strategy Branch of Queensland Health as they initiate a skin cancer prevention project to increase advocacy for, awareness of and access to skin cancer prevention strategies and early detection services in regional Queensland.
Nuttapun Supaka
Senior Director of Partnership and International Relations Section, Thai Health Promotion Foundation
Nuttapun Supaka
Senior Director of Partnership and International Relations Section, Thai Health Promotion Foundation
Nuttapun Supaka
Senior Director of Partnership and International Relations Section, Thai Health Promotion Foundation
Nuttapun Supaka
Senior Director of Partnership and International Relations Section, Thai Health Promotion Foundation
Nuttapun Supaka
Senior Director of Partnership and International Relations Section, Thai Health Promotion Foundation
Nuttapun Supaka
Nuttapun Supaka is the Senior Director of Partnership and International Relations Section and also serves as Acting Director of Academic and Innovation Section, Thai Health Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth), Thailand. He has spent the past ten years working with his team, partners and Foundation to develop and bring researches, health data and statistics, health promotion innovations, and policy interventions related to health promotion to the national and international stage. He aims to promote healthy behaviors and health literacy by innovative strategies and maximize appropriate health promotion action plans.
Prior to joining ThaiHealth, he was Head of Laboratory, Nano Characterization Laboratory (NCL), National Nanotechnology Center, National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) was responsible for overseeing all operations of the laboratory cover research, development, and any testing service activities. He also spent 11 years on his role with Senior Researcher responsible for researching covers all aspects of advanced nanoscale characterization, measurement, nanometrology, instrumentation, and standardization.
He received an outstanding research award from the Thailand Research Fund in 2015 for his contributions to national regulatory policy for nanosafety and health products. He has published 10 scientific articles.
He earned his Ph.D. in biotechnology from Chulalongkorn University, Thailand and Ph.D. in génie des procédés et de l’environnement from Institut National Polytechnique de Toulouse, France.
Elizabeth Good
Public health practitioner, Queensland Health
Elizabeth Good
Liz Good has been a public health practitioner with Queensland Health for nearly 20 years, mostly focused on regional, statewide, and national public health nutrition and food regulation initiatives. In the last three years, she has pivoted to smoking and vaping policy and regulatory compliance. Liz is currently leading the smoking reduction team within the Prevention Strategy Branch in the Queensland Department of Health. Liz is passionate about preventing children from ever smoking and protecting the community from second-hand smoke
Elizabeth Murphy
Medical Advisor - Brighter Beginnings: The First 2000 Days of Life, NSW Ministry of Health
Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Murphy
Associate Professor Murphy is the Medical Advisor - Brighter Beginnings: The First 2000 Days of Life, NSW Ministry of Health. She has overseen the implementation of state wide early intervention programs including the NSW-wide screening programs for hearing (SWISH – Statewide Infant Screening – Hearing) and vision (StEPS) and children in Out of Home Care(OOHC); the Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Health Strategy and the promotion of health checks for improved child development and health in the NSW Personal Health Record.
She is a past recipient of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians Medal and has been recognised as one of the top 50 Public Sector Women – NSW. In 2020 she was nominated as a Finalist for Public Servant of the Year and in the most recent Kings Birthday Awards awarded a Public Service Medal.
Prof. Julie Brimblecombe
Professor Public Health Nutrition with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Monash University
Prof. Julie Brimblecombe
Professor Public Health Nutrition with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Monash University
Prof. Julie Brimblecombe
Professor Public Health Nutrition with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Monash University
Prof. Julie Brimblecombe
Professor Public Health Nutrition with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Monash University
Prof. Julie Brimblecombe
Professor Public Health Nutrition with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Monash University
Prof. Julie Brimblecombe
Professor Public Health Nutrition with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Monash University
Prof. Julie Brimblecombe
Julie is Professor Public Health Nutrition with the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Monash University and an Honorary Fellow with Menzies School of Health Research and University of Queensland. Her experience as a public health nutritionist in North East Arnhem Land in the late 1980s and as nutrition adviser throughout the 1990s with the Ministry of Health in the Solomon Islands drives her passion. Her research is highly collaborative and translational and at the heart is striving to achieve equity within the remote food system of Australia with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, for improved population diet. She has led studies with partners, (researchers, communities, practitioners, retailers and government officers), to collectively build an understanding of the local food system and evidence sharing and feedback approaches for quality improvement. She draws on systems thinking, quality improvement and participatory action research methods with knowledge transfer always at centre. She moves between Melbourne and Darwin and her research is largely in Northern Australia.
Gita Mishra
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Gita Mishra
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Gita Mishra
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Gita Mishra
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Gita Mishra
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Gita Mishra
Gita Mishra is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Professor of Life Course Epidemiology at the University of Queensland (UQ). She is also the founding Director of the Australian Women and Girls’ Health Research Centre at UQ, where she leads the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women and Non-Communicable Diseases and the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health.
As an author of over 500 scientific papers, book chapters, and evidence reports, Professor Mishra is internationally recognised for her research on women’s health epidemiology. She is lead editor of the recently published book (July 2023), “A Life Course Approach to Women’s Health”, that presents the latest research in the field and is part of the ground-breaking Life Course Series from Oxford University Press.
She also works closely with governments on policy development. In 2023, Professor Mishra was scientific advisor to Queensland Health for the Queensland Women and Girls’ Health Strategy 2023-2032. Currently, she a member of the National Women's Health Advisory Council established by the Australian Government and is on the Strategic Advisory Committee for the Queensland Women and Girls’ Health Promotion Program.
In 2018, Professor Mishra became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. She has since received the 2022 RANZCOG award for Excellence in Women’s Health, and in 2023 she was appointed as Co-President for the 2025 World Congress for Endometriosis to be held in Sydney.
Dr Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon
CEO, Thaihealth Promotion Foundation
Dr Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon
Dr. Pongthep Wongwatcharapaiboon is the CEO of Thaihealth Promotion Foundation (ThaiHealth).
Regarding his professional backgrounds, he previously served as a specialized physician at Nan Hospital, with the responsibility of overseeing social medicine work. He accomplished various notable feats. These include setting up a quit smoking clinic at Nan Hospital, employing the 5A method to aid patients in smoking cessation. Additionally, he played a key role in promoting Nan Municipality as a safe global community and spearheaded initiatives like alcohol-free events such as alcohol-free boat racing. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, he served on both the investigation and spokesperson teams for pandemic management.
Moreover, he led a research team to evaluate the precision of rapid antigen test kits (ATK). His most recent government position was Deputy Director of Nan Hospital prior to resigning and assuming the role of Director of the Health System Development Section under ThaiHealth on April 1, 2022. He was responsible for health promotion through healthcare service systems, with the aim of supporting and promoting academic and other initiatives to enhance work processes. Essentially, this was intended to enhance the quality of healthcare services and enable equitable access to those services for Thai people.
Dr Suzanne Williams
Director of Clinical Services and clinician, Inala Primary Care
Dr Suzanne Williams
Anna Cambell
Queensland Walks
Anna Cambell
Queensland Walks
Anna Cambell
Queensland Walks
Anna Cambell
Queensland Walks
Anna Cambell
Queensland Walks
Anna Cambell
Queensland Walks
Dr Samantha Mulchay
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Dr Samantha Mulchay
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Dr Samantha Mulchay
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Dr Samantha Mulchay
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Dr Samantha Mulchay
Professor of Life Course Epidemiology, University of Queensland
Dr Samantha Mulcahy
DAY TWO SPEAKERS | WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4
Jodie Antrobus
Senior Health Promotion Officer, Queensland Health
Jodie Antrobus
Sheree Hughes
Heart Foundation
Sheree Hughes
Sheree Hughes is a multi-skilled health professional with 30 years’ experience spanning the fitness, health, cardiac care and corporate sectors. She has a Masters of Scientific Studies in clinical exercise rehabilitation and testing, and a passion for public health.
Sheree has developed a particular interest in Preventative Health and Advocacy, with a focus on enhancing the ways in which neighbourhood environments support active, healthy living. This work was acknowledged by her peers in 2021, when Sheree was awarded the Queensland PIA Planning Champion Award for Excellence, for inspiring Planners to lead conversations, inspire systemic change and achieve health for all.
Tay Choon Hong
Chief Executive, Health Promotion Board
Tay Choon Hong
Tay Choon Hong
Chief Executive, Health Promotion Board
Chief Executive, Health Promotion Board
Mr Tay Choon
Mr Tay Choon Hong is the Chief Executive of the Health Promotion Board (HPB), which is part of the Ministry of Health in Singapore. HPB’s role is to empower individuals to take ownership of their health, towards its vision of a nation of healthy people. To achieve this, HPB works with a wide spectrum of 3P partners and stakeholders to build a supportive ecosystem that enables Singaporeans to engage in healthy lifestyle activities, and lead healthier lives.
Mr Tay previously served in the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth; the Public Service Division and the National Population and Talent Division under the Prime Minister’s Office; the Ministry of Manpower; and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Jane Martin
Executive Manager, Food for Health Alliance
Jane Martin
Executive Manager, Food for Health Alliance
Executive Manager, Food for Health Alliance
Jane Martin
BA (Hons), MPH, Hon Doc (Deakin).
Jane has worked in public health advocacy and policy since the mid-1980s covering the risk factors of tobacco, diet, weight and alcohol. She heads the Food for Health Alliance, a leading advocacy agency working to reduce diet-related disease, as well as the alcohol and healthy diet programs at Cancer Council Victoria. Her role incudes developing the strategic advocacy and policy research agenda for the programs as well as coordinating public education and advocacy campaigns on healthy weight and alcohol use. Jane’s career has involved extensive engagement with policy and advocacy-oriented research to advance regulatory reform around tobacco, diet and alcohol control policies. She is experienced in both researching and applying advocacy strategies to encourage governments to adopt evidence-informed public health policies. Jane is a past Board Member of Sexual Health Victoria and the Immediate Past President of the Australia New Zealand Obesity Society (ANZOS). She has been recognised for her contribution to public health advocacy with an Honorary Doctorate by Deakin University and travelled on a Churchill Fellowship to study successful strategies for the adoption of policies to improve diets. In 2019 she was honoured with the Public Health Association of Australia President’s Award.
Dawn Lee
Director Corporate Marketing, Health Promotion Board
Dawn Lee
Prior to joining HPB, Dawn has more than 20 years of experience in the marketing and management of consumer-packaged goods. She held progressively responsible roles in several MNCs, including GSK, Sara Lee, Quaker Oats and 3M. In her past employment, Dawn managed the full spectrum of marketing function across different Asian markets; including the development of market entry strategies, branding and marketing communications, product portfolio management and new product development.
Dawn holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Master degree in Marketing. She is married with two children.
Dr Simone Nalatu
Director of Equity and Communities, Health and Wellbeing QLD
Dr Simone Nalatu
Anand Pillay
Department of Tourism and Sport
Anand Pillay
Anand Pillay
Department of Tourism and Sport
Department of Tourism and Sport
Anand Pillay
Anand has worked in the sport and recreation industry for the past 24 years. Prior to his current role as Regional Director for Sport and Recreation (North Queensland) he led the development of community partnerships for the State and was part of the team that developed Queensland’s first whole of government endorsed sport and active recreation strategy. He has previously held sport and recreation planning roles for Brisbane and Townsville City Councils and held a Manager’s role in the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s Economic Policy team.
Anand is an accomplished speaker having presented at a range of State, National and International conferences. He is a member of the inaugural Discover Sport board at James Cook University, a former Australian representative on the Board of World Urban Parks and a former Parks and Leisure Australia National Board member. Anand is completing the final stages of a PhD at James Cook University, investigating the Benefits and Value of Sport and Recreation Facilities and he has a passion for understanding how physical activity can provide a platform for equity.
Adrian Carson
CEO Institute for
Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH)
CEO Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH)
Adrian Carson
Adrian Carson is a Cobble Cobble man from Queensland’s Western Downs Region who was born and spent majority of his life on Turrbal and Jagera country in Brisbane. Adrian has almost thirty years’ experience in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector. Adrian is currently the CEO of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH) Ltd in South East Queensland (SEQ), and has held this role for over 10 years. Adrian is a former CEO of Queensland Aboriginal & Islander Health Council (QAIHC), Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) Brisbane Ltd – Queensland’s first Community Controlled Health Service – and is a founder member of the Galangoor Duwalami Health Service within Queensland’s Fraser Coast Region. Adrian has held various senior policy and program roles within both Queensland and Australian Governments. Adrian is a Board Member of the Metro North Hospital and Health Service (HHS), Australia’s largest health service.
Adrian holds a Graduate Certificate in Health Service Management from Griffith University and is completing a Master of Business Administration from the University of Queensland.
Acknowledgement of Country
Health and Wellbeing Queensland, and Queensland Health, respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners and custodians on the lands from across Queensland.
We pay our respects to the Elders past and present for they are the holders of the memories, traditions, the culture and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Queensland.
About Us
Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld) is the state’s prevention agency, committed to creating a healthier and fairer future for Queensland. Together, we can create a future where all Queenslanders have the best chance to lead a healthier life, no matter who they are or where they live.
Queensland Health provides strategic leadership and direction to the Queensland public health system. The department delivers expert health system governance, statewide clinical health support services, information and communication technologies, health promotion and disease prevention strategies, urgent patient retrieval services, health infrastructure planning and corporate support services in partnership with 16 Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) across the state.