Professor Rebecca Mason is a physician with clinical experience in endocrinology and a scientist who leads a research program in the fields of bone and skin, with a particular interest in the study of vitamin D, calcium and phosphate. She notes, the link between bone and skin is vitamin D, which is synthesised in skin and is critical for bone health, but, as our research has discovered, also important in skin for photoprotection. Her research interest in calcium underpins her team’s studies on the role of calcium sensing receptor (CaSR) in bone health. Professor Mason is internationally recognised for major contributions to the field of vitamin D research. She developed one of the first assays in Australia for measuring vitamin D compounds in blood and was one of the first scientists to demonstrate extra-renal production of the active hormone made from vitamin D, and among the first to study the role of vitamin D compounds in skin. Her group discovered the ability of vitamin D metabolites to reduce UV-induced DNA damage in skin. Professor Mason’s research has substantially influenced health policy, including the revision of sun exposure guidelines in Australia, which have moved away from total sun avoidance and advise some sun exposure to synthesise vitamin D. She led the process of updating the Vitamin D position statement for Australia and New Zealand and contributed to the revised Vitamin D statement for pregnancy, infants and children. She has received an award from the International Workshop on Vitamin D, recognising her ‘career contributions to vitamin D research’. Professor Mason is Board member of Osteoporosis Australia and a Past President of the ANZ Bone and Mineral Society.

Founder and Executive Director, Nicole was the former Deputy CEO and National Perinatal Advisor of beyondblue between 2001-2013. Her role in the perinatal area specifically included oversight of the National Research Program, advocacy and the implementation of Australia’s $85M National Perinatal Depression Initiative (NPDI). Other areas of specialisation within the perinatal field include consumer research, national community awareness campaigns, clinical guidelines and resource development, digital screening and research and advocacy to inform and guide policy and best practice. Her leadership and strong commitment to perinatal mental health has resulted in the formal establishment of COPE in 2013.

Prof Helen O’Connell AO is Professor, Department of Surgery, at the University of Melbourne and the Director of Surgery and Head of Urology at Western Health, Victoria. She is a leading researcher in the area of female pelvic anatomy and was the first woman to complete training as a urologist in Australia. Prof O’Connell is the Chair for the 2021 International Continence Society meeting in Melbourne.

Dr Therese McGee is currently Clinical Director of Women’s and Newborn Health at Westmead Hospital with responsibility for over 500 staff. She trained as a specialist Obstetrician Gynaecologist and has worked across both the private and public sectors. She is particularly interested in trying to make sure that clinical care for women and newborn babies is safe, evidence-based and cost-effective. To achieve this she is involved in creating up to date practices & guidelines, and providing education for medical and midwifery staff.

Prof Teede AM is a clinician, academic and leader. She’s an endocrinologist with a focus on women’s metabolic and reproductive health through mechanistic, clinical, health services and public health research into practice and policy. She’s strongly committed to broad stakeholder engagement in health reform and service innovation, and is passionate about research and evidence translation into healthcare to improve health outcomes. Prof Teede’s research interests focus on women’s health during the reproductive years, and on obesity and its endocrine, reproductive and metabolic complications – PCOS, infertility, pregnancy complications, gestational diabetes and diabetes.

Prof Gerald Fogarty is Director of Radiation Oncology at The Mater Hospital, Sydney. He trained at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. He is also a radiation oncologist with GenesisCare and the Melanoma Institute of Australia. He authored the radiotherapy section of the 2019 NHMRC Management of Keratinocyte Guidelines. He is a former board member of the Melanoma and Skin Cancer Trials Group and former Chair of the Australian Merkel Interest Group.

Professor Fogarty’s goal is to establish level one evidence for radiation in skin disease. He is an active researcher having over 150 publications and he has a H index of 25.

Dr Cherry Koh works jointly at the Department of Colorectal Surgery in Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and the Surgical Division in Chris O’Brien Lifehouse. Prior to commencing in 2012 at the Royal Prince Alfred hospital, she was completing her Colorectal Fellowship at the John Radcliffe and Churchill Hospitals in Oxford, United Kingdom. Cherry has a wide clinical and academic interest. Clinically, she is interested in both minimally as well as maximally invasive surgery. Together with her colleagues, Cherry is organising the inaugural TAMIS (Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery) live surgery workshop in Lifehouse later this year which has been very well received.

A/Prof Elspeth McInnes AM is a senior lecturer and researcher in the School of Education at the University of South Australia. A/Prof McInnes’ doctoral research examined the impact of family violence and abuse on mothers’ transitions into single parent households. Her research has focused on family violence parental separation and child protection. A/Prof McInnes teaches pre-service early childhood educators about prevention, identification and responding to child abuse and neglect. A/Prof McInnes was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006 for her advocacy on behalf of single parents.

Monique has a background in counselling and psychology, specialising in supporting people in crisis. She has worked in bereavement for a decade and is passionate about bearing witness to the unbearable with her clients and advocating alongside them on their path to rebuilding. Monique currently coordinates Brisbane StandBy Support After Suicide. StandBy specialises in supporting individuals, families, and communities impacted by suicide loss.

Maria Said has been a member of Allergy & Anaphylaxis Australia (A&AA) since 1993 when her son was diagnosed with severe atopy (allergic disease) including food allergy. As a volunteer, she became national President of the organisation in 1999. Maria is an advocate for individuals who live with allergic diseases including food allergy and the risk of anaphylaxis. She shares information on the mission of the organisation and the consumer perspective with teaching and health professionals, the food industry, federal and state government departments and the Australian community.

Maria is an associate member of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) and holds a position on several working parties. She has co-authored several publications in medical and food industry journals. Maria is a committee member of international organisations with a focus on allergic disease and has presented at several US and European medical and food industry meetings.

As CEO of A&AA, Maria forwarded statements to Australian Coroners after the deaths of individuals from food anaphylaxis. Maria has assisted State Coroners as an expert witness in seven coronial inquests. The unfolding of these investigations has resulted in change throughout Australia.