Dr. Liam O'Connor-Davis is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing at The Australian National University (ANU). He holds a PhD and BSc (Hons) in Computer Science from the University of New South Wales (UNSW), awarded in 2019 and 2013, respectively. His research interests include type systems, formal methods, and systems programming, as evidenced by his doctoral work on 'Type Systems for Systems Types' and his undergraduate project 'Formalising GHC's Type System'. He has held an external affiliation as a Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh until July 2024. His academic background emphasizes foundational aspects of programming languages and software engineering. Despite no explicit publications listed here, his educational focus suggests contributions to theoretical computer science and practical system implementations.
Dr. Barbara Barbosa Neves is a sociologist of technology and ageing at the University of Sydney’s Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, holding a prestigious Sydney Horizon Fellowship in AI Social Science. She specializes in loneliness, social isolation, and digital inequalities in later life, with over $6 million in competitive funding from global bodies. Her research bridges sociology and computer science, focusing on inclusive technology design for older adults. Education: PhD in Sociology. Formerly an Associate Director at the Technologies for Aging Gracefully Lab, University of Toronto, Canada. Visiting positions at Oxford, Oslo, Louvain, and Toronto. Research Interests: Sociology of Technology , Aging Anxieties , Healthcare AI , and Ageism . Her work examines how AI, VR, and robotics can benefit older adults while addressing ethical and social challenges. Key themes include combating age-based digital divides and designing technologies that align with care ethics. Grants & Projects: Lead Investigator for the $1M+ evaluation of Australia’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme, ARC Discovery Project on loneliness and technology, and MRFF-funded dementia studies. Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams, including computer scientists and policy experts. Awards: 28+ international awards, including Mather Awards (US), George Story Distinguished Lecturer, and Fellowships from the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Public Engagement: Over 200 media contributions, including ABC op-eds and SBS documentaries. Her research informs policy and public discourse on aging, technology, and social equity.
Dr. Cathy Oke OAM is an Associate Professor and Melbourne Enterprise Principal Fellow in Informed Cities at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne. She serves as Director of the Melbourne Centre for Cities and holds roles as a Senior Advisor to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. Her work bridges research, policy, and practice to advance nature and climate action in urban environments. Previously, she served as a Councillor for the City of Melbourne (2008–2020) and contributed to the Clean Air and Urban Landscapes Hub (CAUL) as a Knowledge Broker. Cathy holds a PhD in Genetics and over 20 years of experience in environmental communications and project management. Her research focuses on urban sustainability, climate resilience, and nature-based solutions. Key initiatives include Innovate4Cities, which drives city-led climate innovation, and projects on urban biodiversity restoration. Cathy’s work emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of scientific evidence into actionable policies. Educations: PhD in Genetics RMIT University affiliation as a former research fellow Awards: 2023 Order of Australia Medal for service to Local Government and the Environment Her articles highlight themes such as urban climate governance, nature-based solutions, and global city networks. She collaborates with international bodies to enhance city diplomacy and accelerate climate action. Cathy leads the Melbourne Centre for Cities, a hub for urban research and policy engagement.
Marita Dale is a Senior Lecturer in the Discipline of Physiotherapy at the University of Sydney and an Early Career Researcher affiliated with the Charles Perkins Centre. She specializes in cardiorespiratory physiotherapy, focusing on exercise interventions for chronic respiratory and cardiac diseases, particularly asbestos-related and dust-related conditions. Her work emphasizes improving accessibility to pulmonary rehabilitation services and leveraging mHealth technologies for patient care. Education: PhD in Physiotherapy (2016, University of Sydney). Her research interests include optimizing pulmonary rehabilitation through mobile health platforms, such as the m-PR™ app, and investigating pediatric burn injury rehabilitation, including orthosis use and scar prevention. She also explores multimorbidity management and simulation-based learning in healthcare education. Recent studies have highlighted her contributions to COPD care protocols, telehealth implementation during the pandemic, and qualitative analyses of patient experiences. Major awards: Sydney School of Health Sciences Teaching Citation (2022), Ashurst Prize for Outstanding Oral Presentation (2015), Helga Pettitt FHS Postgraduate Study Award (2010). Marita supervises Honours, Masters, and PhD students, including Mitchell Taylor on airway clearance in bronchiectasis. Her teaching spans undergraduate and postgraduate programs in cardiopulmonary and musculoskeletal physiotherapy. She collaborates on projects like the Lung Support Service, a nationwide text message program for chronic respiratory patients during the pandemic, and contributed to the commercialization of the Perx-R app for pulmonary rehab. Labs/teams: Active member of the Charles Perkins Centre, focusing on interdisciplinary chronic disease research and healthcare innovation.
Dr. Kenji Fujita is a Research Fellow at the Kolling Institute, University of Sydney, specializing in ageing, pharmacology, and pharmaceutical care quality. He holds a PhD, MScMed (ClinEpid), and BPharm from the University of Sydney. Previously a pharmacist in Japan, he leads international initiatives in the Pharmaceutical Care Network Europe (PCNE) and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). His work focuses on deprescribing strategies, polypharmacy, and developing quality indicators for healthcare services. Dr. Fujita’s research integrates big data analysis, statistical modeling, and machine learning to address challenges in geriatric pharmacotherapy. Current projects include validating frailty indices, evaluating deprescribing interventions in older adults, and developing NLP tools for clinical documentation analysis. He has also contributed to assessing organizational readiness for guideline implementation in community pharmacies. Awards include the 2023 Outstanding Poster Presentation Award at the IAGG Asia/Oceania Congress and 2022 Best Poster at the Japanese Society of Social Pharmacy. He has secured grants such as the 2024 electronic frailty index project and the 2021 systems-approach to medication review initiative. Dr. Fujita collaborates with global networks like J-HOP (Japan Home Visiting Pharmacy Association) and leads multidisciplinary teams across Australia and Europe. His lab focuses on translating data-driven insights into actionable clinical practices to improve medication safety and quality in ageing populations.
Nashwa Masnoon is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy at the Kolling Institute, part of the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney. She is also a hospital pharmacist at the Royal North Shore Hospital. Her academic background includes a BPharm(Hons) and a PhD from the University of South Australia, where her doctoral work focused on identifying risks of adverse outcomes from polypharmacy in older adults with multimorbidity. Dr Masnoon’s research interests span geriatric pharmacology, deprescribing practices, pharmacoepidemiology, and quality use of medicines. Her current projects include developing stewardship programs for anticholinergic/sedative deprescribing, optimizing medication use in hospitals for older patients, and educating hospital pharmacists using the Drug Burden Index intervention bundle. She has co-supervised Honours students in 2022 and 2023, focusing on deprescribing in hospital settings and patient-reported experiences post-intervention. Research Themes: Healthy Ageing Key Approaches: Systematic reviews, clinical interventions, pharmacoepidemiological analysis Dr Masnoon has received notable awards including the 2023 FMH Showcase Travel Award, Royal North Shore Hospital Travel Fellowship (2023), and a 2017 People’s Choice Award for her 3 Minute Thesis presentation. Her work emphasizes improving medication outcomes through evidence-based deprescribing and precision medicine approaches. She is affiliated with the Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association (APSA), International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), and Australian Deprescribing Network (ADeN). Her grants include the 2024 electronic frailty index project and a 2022 travel award-funded initiative.
Professor Heiko Spallek is Head of School and Dean at the University of Sydney’s Sydney Dental School, leading the school’s integration with the Faculty of Medicine and Health. He also serves as Academic Lead for Digital Health and Health Service Informatics at the faculty level. His research focuses on advancing dental informatics, teledentistry, and evidence-based practice, while advocating for improved oral health policy and public health initiatives. He holds roles including director at Community Connections Australia and membership in the Charles Perkins Centre. Education: DMD, Dr. med. dent., MSBA(CIS), FACD, FAIDH Leadership: Oversees Sydney Dental School’s academic and clinical programs, emphasizing interprofessional education and digital health innovation. Research interests include leveraging big data and machine learning in dentistry, improving access to oral healthcare through teledentistry, and addressing systemic issues in dental education and policy. He has led projects on laser dentistry applications, dental caries prevention, and healthcare workforce regulation. Notable contributions include the OpenWide conference series, the BigMouth dental data repository, and advocacy for equitable dental funding in Australia. Grants include initiatives on oral hygiene in aged care and analysis of healthcare advertising perceptions. Media engagements highlight his role in public discourse on dental access and policy, including commentary on Australia’s dental crisis and aged care reforms. He actively promotes interdisciplinary collaboration through platforms like the Dental Informatics Online Community. Labs/Teams: Directs the Sydney Dental School’s research programs in informatics and public health, collaborating with national and international networks such as the National Dental PBRN.
Professor Sabine Dittmann is a leading expert in coastal ecosystem ecology and marine sciences at Flinders University, Australia. As a Professor of Marine Biology in the College of Science and Engineering, her work bridges research and environmental management, focusing on hypersaline estuaries, blue carbon restoration, and invasive species control. She holds a Habilitation in Ecology from the University of Bremen (2001), PhD from the University of Göttingen (1987), and MSc from the same institution (1984). Her research interests include coastal ecosystem health, mangrove and saltmarsh restoration, and decision support frameworks for marine conservation. She has advised government agencies on marine parks, Commonwealth Marine Reserves, and the Coorong ecosystem. Key roles include national president of the Australian Marine Sciences Association (2012–2014), current president of the Royal Society of South Australia, and member of the Australian Antarctic Science Council since 2019. Her recent work emphasizes the global challenges of hypersaline wetland restoration, invasive species impact, and blue carbon methodologies. Over 112 publications span estuarine dynamics, benthic macrofauna, and policy-relevant ecosystem assessments. Projects like the Coorong benthic surveys highlight her commitment to translating science into conservation action.
Emmanuel Stamatakis is a Professor of Physical Activity, Lifestyle, and Population Health at the University of Sydney's School of Health Sciences (Faculty of Medicine and Health). He holds NHMRC Leadership Fellowships (2021-2025 and 2026-2030) and leads the Charles Perkins Centre's Physical Activity & Exercise Theme. His research focuses on lifestyle behaviors' impacts on cardiometabolic conditions, cancer, and cardiovascular health, using large-scale cohort studies and wearable device data. Key roles include directing the Mackenzie Wearables Research Hub and co-chairing WHO's Physical Activity Guidelines Development Group. Education: PhD from University of Bristol (2003), post-doctoral training at University College London. He leads the ProPASS consortium, involving 45 cohorts with wearable data. Over 460 peer-reviewed publications, including Clarivate's Highly Cited list since 2019. Research interests integrate physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep analytics with clinical outcomes. Current projects explore wearables-based measurement innovations, SPAN (sleep-physical activity-nutrition) synergies, and intervention designs for GLP-1 receptor agonist users. Recent articles emphasize VILPA (vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity) benefits, sleep-cardiovascular links, and multimodal lifestyle optimization. Awards include Australia's Top Researcher in Sports Medicine and multiple NHMRC grants. Supervises PhD projects on physical activity measurement and intervention design. Active in 50+ peer-reviewed journals and national/international funding bodies.
Kees Dorst is a Professor of Transdisciplinary Innovation at the TD School of the University of Technology Sydney. He bridges philosophical understandings of design with practical applications, focusing on tackling complex societal challenges through designerly thinking. His research develops methodologies for strategic transformation and networked problem-solving in public sectors. Professor of Transdisciplinary Innovation, UTS Director, Designing Out Crime Research Centre International keynote speaker and advisor on design thinking Research Interests Dorst specializes in: Transdisciplinary innovation for societal challenges Design thinking and co-evolutionary processes Reframing complex problems in public policy Design cognition and metacognition Urban environment design for safety Recent Research Trends show increasing focus on: Hypercomplex problem-solving frameworks Strategic transformation through design Cognitive models in design processes Public sector innovation methodologies Teaching & Leadership includes: Bachelor of Creative Intelligence and Innovation Master of Creative Intelligence and Strategic Innovation Founding the Designing Out Crime Research Centre International design research symposium leadership
Professor Josef Dick serves as a Professor and Deputy Head in the School of Mathematics & Statistics at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). With a distinguished career in computational mathematics, he has established himself as a leading researcher in numerical integration methods and quasi-Monte Carlo theory. His work bridges theoretical mathematics with practical computational applications across various scientific domains. Dr. Dick earned his PhD in Mathematics from UNSW in 2004 and his MSc in Mathematics from the University of Salzburg in 2001. His academic journey reflects a strong foundation in both theoretical and applied mathematics, which has informed his subsequent research contributions. Professor Dick's research primarily focuses on numerical integration and quasi-Monte Carlo rules , employing techniques from number theory , abstract algebra (particularly finite fields), discrepancy theory , wavelet theory , and statistics . His work provides rigorous analysis of practical algorithms for computational problems, with implementations often provided in Matlab to bridge theory and application. His research has successfully addressed point distributions on the unit cube for numerical integration, completely uniformly distributed sequences for Markov chain quasi-Monte Carlo algorithms, and explicit constructions of uniformly distributed points on the sphere. Analysis of his recent publications (2022-2025) reveals a consistent focus on advancing quasi-Monte Carlo methods, with increasing integration of machine learning techniques and applications to complex computational problems. His work demonstrates strong interdisciplinary connections between pure mathematics, computational science, and practical engineering applications, particularly in uncertainty quantification and high-dimensional numerical integration. Discovery project from Australian Research Council (2012-2014): "Mathematics in the round - the challenge of computational analysis on spheres" Queen Elizabeth II Fellowship from Australian Research Council (2010-2014): "Algebraic methods for Markov Chain Monte Carlo and quasi-Monte Carlo" UNSW Vice Chancellor Fellowship (2006-2009) Professor Dick has supervised numerous PhD and Honours students working on topics including Quasi-Monte Carlo methods, Discrepancy Theory, Markov chain Monte Carlo, and Uncertainty Quantification. His research has been supported by significant grants from the Australian Research Council, including serving as Chief Investigator on multiple projects. Beyond his research, he serves as an Editor for the Journal of Complexity and Journal of Approximation Theory, demonstrating his leadership in the mathematical community. He teaches courses in Algebra and Mathematical Computing for Finance at UNSW.
Dr. Jannah Baker is a Research Fellow at the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney. She holds a PhD in Statistics specializing in Bayesian spatiotemporal modelling of chronic diseases, alongside dual postgraduate diplomas in Public Health and Statistics. Her clinical background includes five years as a practicing physician. Her research focuses on cancer prevention (breast, endometrial, melanoma), spatiotemporal disease modeling, health economics, and clinical trial design. She has led projects on sepsis detection systems, diabetes management, and surgical outcomes analysis. Notable contributions include a seminal systematic review on fertility-sparing endometrial cancer treatments referenced in international guidelines. Jannah has attracted $6M+ in collaborative funding and oversees grants such as the 2023 NHMRC-funded ROADMAP trial and a Department of Health-funded study on pediatric sepsis management. Her work spans 50+ peer-reviewed articles across journals like Journal of Medical Internet Research and PLOS One . Professional activities include clinical trials statistics, health economics analysis, and implementation science lectures. She has mentored multiple research teams and maintains an ORCID profile (0000-0002-2208-6584).
Dr. Abby Haynes is a Research Fellow at the Sydney School of Public Health, University of Sydney, affiliated with the Institute for Musculoskeletal Health and Faculty of Medicine and Health. Her work focuses on physical activity for healthy ageing and people with disability, employing qualitative research, systems thinking, and realist evaluation. Key research themes include: Healthy Ageing Disability and Physical Activity Implementation Science Knowledge Mobilisation Her recent publications analyze: Inclusive sports programs for children with disability Fall prevention in acute hospitals Telehealth physiotherapy for aged care Realist evaluations of yoga and dance interventions Systems thinking in public health policy These emphasize public health, gerontology, and health equity approaches. Grants include MRFF-funded projects on traumatic brain injury rehabilitation (2024), fall prevention (2023), and aged care mobility (2022).
Minh Hue Nguyen is a Senior Lecturer in EAL/TESOL Teacher Education at Monash University's School of Curriculum, Teaching and Inclusive Education within the Faculty of Education. She holds a PhD in Education (TESOL focused) from Monash University and has taught at Vietnam National University, Deakin University, and the University of Melbourne. Her educational background includes: PhD in Education (TESOL focused), Monash University (2015) MA in Applied Linguistics, Victoria University of Wellington (2008) BA in English Language Teaching, Vietnam National University (2003) Nguyen's research centers on teachers' professional learning, curriculum, and pedagogy in TESOL and EAL contexts, with specific focus on emotional experiences, identity development, mentoring, agency, and collaboration. She explores sociocultural contexts of teacher development through activity theory and sociocultural perspectives, examining how institutions support teachers' learning journeys from preservice to in-service stages. Recent work investigates professional learning for teacher educators and implementation of the Victorian EAL Curriculum. Her 15 most recent publications (2024-2025) reveal a strong thematic focus on language teacher agency, identity negotiation, and multilingual pedagogies. The research increasingly examines emotional dimensions of teaching, cross-cultural identity tensions, and collaborative models between EAL and content teachers, with significant contributions to understanding how teachers navigate complex educational contexts while developing professional identities. Her scientific recognition includes: Penny McKay Award Special Commendation Monash Education Research Community's Publication Award ATEA/Kay Martinez Award for Best Paper Monash Dean of Education’s ECR Project Award Advancing Women's Research Success Grant Vietnamese Government Merit-based Scholarships Nguyen actively supervises PhD research in TESOL teacher professional learning, teacher identity, and curriculum development, though is currently unavailable for new PhD students until 2027. She contributes to editorial boards for Teaching and Teacher Education, Second Language Teacher Education, and System journals, and serves on the Australian Teacher Education Association. Her work supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education) through inclusive pedagogical frameworks. She leads research projects including 'Elucidating practices to assist EAL learners to acquire specialised science vocabulary' and 'Establishing an online community-of-practice model for learner agency during work placements,' demonstrating commitment to practical educational innovations.
Dr. Sophie Adams serves as an ARC DECRA Fellow in the Department of Sociology at La Trobe University, where she conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of human geography and Science and Technology Studies. Her work critically examines the social dimensions of climate change mitigation and adaptation, with particular emphasis on renewable energy transitions and the societal implications of technological solutions to environmental crises. Adams' research program centers on the politics of environmental knowledge , investigating how climate science informs policy formation and the negotiation of social objectives in decarbonisation processes. She employs qualitative and participatory methodologies to analyze climate change adaptation in energy systems , social license for technological interventions , and the redistribution of expertise in public health and environmental governance. Her scholarship consistently addresses power dynamics in knowledge production and the democratic challenges of sustainability transitions. Analysis of her publication trajectory (2019-2025) reveals increasing focus on energy-social interfaces, with significant contributions to understanding virtual power plants, demand-side management, and the role of modeling in climate policy. Her work demonstrates methodological innovation through participatory approaches while maintaining critical engagement with resilience thinking and adaptation frameworks. Scientific recognition includes: Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (ARC DECRA) Supported by her DECRA fellowship, Adams leads independent research projects examining the societal dimensions of energy transitions. Her collaborative work spans geography, public health, and energy engineering, as evidenced by interdisciplinary co-authorship patterns. Current projects investigate Australian householders' conditions for participating in virtual power plants and the social implications of climate modeling in adaptation planning, reflecting her commitment to socially relevant environmental research.
