Ahmed Shalaby serves as an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Department of Optometry and Vision Science within the School of Health and Clinical Sciences at The University of Western Australia. His research spans critical domains of eye care and visual function, with emphasis on: Diagnostic optometric techniques Visual impairment rehabilitation Refractive error management Ocular disease detection Low-vision aid development Binocular vision disorders As a part-time academic, his work bridges clinical practice and educational leadership in vision science, contributing to curriculum development and student mentorship within Australia's healthcare education framework.
Dr. Rose Ahlefeldt is a Senior Research Fellow at The Australian National University's Department of Quantum Science & Technology, affiliated with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology. Her research focuses on quantum information processing, with emphasis on spin coherence in rare-earth ions and silicon-based quantum systems. She collaborates extensively with leading researchers like Prof. Matthew Sellars and Prof. John Close. Key contributions include advancing Erbium-doped silicon for ultra-long spin coherence (exceeding 10-hour nuclear spin storage) and developing photon echo memory technologies. Her work integrates experimental physics with computational modeling, targeting scalable quantum devices. She has published widely on topics like Zeeman/hyperfine interactions, optical spectroscopy of single ions, and material engineering for quantum applications. Notable projects include optimizing stoichiometric rare-earth crystals for quantum communication and exploring telecom-compatible quantum memory systems. Her research bridges fundamental physics with applied quantum technologies, addressing challenges in coherence time extension and noise reduction. Dr. Ahlefeldt maintains active collaborations within the ANU Research School of Physics and has been involved in multiple ARC-funded projects. Her work demonstrates a strong focus on translating theoretical concepts into experimental quantum systems with real-world applicability.
Dr Shelley Hopkins is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Optometry and Vision Science at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She coordinates the pediatric optometry clinic within QUT Health Clinics and lectures in the Master of Optometry course. Dr Hopkins provides outreach optometry services to First Nations communities across Queensland and refugee communities of Brisbane as part of her clinical and research work. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (Queensland University of Technology) Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Optometry (University of Melbourne) Graduate Certificate in Business Administration (Deakin University) Bachelor of Optometry (University of Melbourne) Professional Certificate in Paediatric Eye Care (Ulster University) Dr Hopkins' research focuses on children's vision with particular emphasis on pediatric optometry, vision screening methodologies, and Indigenous children's eye health. Her work investigates the relationship between vision problems and academic performance in schoolchildren, with special attention to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She has developed and validated visual acuity charts specifically for First Nations children and studies the effects of screen-based tasks on vision in school-aged children. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward culturally safe optometry practices, Indigenous health equity, and the implementation of specialized vision screening frameworks for diverse populations. Dr Hopkins' work bridges clinical practice with educational initiatives to improve vision outcomes for children, particularly those from marginalized communities. Scientific Awards: Vice-Chancellor's Award for Excellence (Mixed Research Team – Children's Vision Team, 2017) Vice Chancellor's Performance Award (Team - Optometry Clinic Outreach Team, 2017) Fellow of the Higher Education Academy Dr Hopkins supervises students while providing outreach optometry services to First Nations communities across Queensland and refugee communities of Brisbane. Her teaching responsibilities include coordinating OPB557 - Binocular Vision and OPN163 - Primary Care Clinic 7, and lecturing in several courses including OPB201 – Foundations of Optometry and OPN161 – Optometry in Special Needs Groups. She has been instrumental in developing culturally safe optometry education frameworks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Dr Hopkins is affiliated with the Centre for Child and Family Studies and the Centre for Vision and Eye Research at QUT, where she collaborates on interdisciplinary projects focused on children's vision and health outcomes.
Norman Brandon serves as a Lecturer in the Department of Optometry and Vision Science within the School of Allied Health at The University of Western Australia, based at the Perth campus in Australia. His academic role centers on advancing education and research in eye health and visual sciences, contributing to the training of future optometry professionals through curriculum development and clinical instruction. His research spans critical areas of vision care, with primary focus on: Optometry Vision Science Clinical Optometry Visual Perception Refractive Errors Ocular Disease
Melinda Goodyear is a Senior Lecturer at the School of Rural Health, Monash University. Her expertise lies in family resilience and mental health, particularly in families affected by parental mental illness or substance abuse. She leads the 'Developing an Australian-First Recovery Model' project, focusing on integrating family-focused practices into mental health services. Dr. Goodyear holds a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience and a Master’s in Behavioral Science, with research spanning mental health interventions, child support systems, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Education: PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience (aetiology of refractive errors), Master’s in Behavioral Science (Multiple Sclerosis drug efficacy). She previously worked as a Research Fellow at MUDRIH and at The Bouverie Centre (La Trobe University). Research interests include intergenerational mental health impacts, family resilience mechanisms, and translating research into clinical practice. She has co-supervised three PhD students and contributed to over 80 publications. Dr. Goodyear’s work aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals related to quality education and good health. Awards: 2023 Leon Piterman Prize for Social and Educational Research. Projects include co-designing interventions for children of parents with mental illness, such as the 'Village Programme' in Austria, and evaluating mental health workforce practices. Key collaborations include work with Associate Professors Darryl Maybery and Andrea Reupert, and international partnerships in Tyrol, Austria. Her research emphasizes co-production with families and stakeholders to enhance support systems.
Professor Ian Cameron holds the Chair in Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Sydney's School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health. He serves as Head of the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research within the Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District. Concurrently, he maintains Senior Staff Specialist positions at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital and Southern NSW Local Health District. His research focuses on injury-related disability and rehabilitation, with specific expertise in: Disability and health in older adults Musculoskeletal injury in compensable settings Catastrophic injury management Geriatric rehabilitation Epidemiology of injury outcomes His work integrates clinical, epidemiological, and implementation research methodologies with interdisciplinary collaboration. Recent publications reveal strong trends in: Geriatric trauma rehabilitation (hip fractures, falls prevention) Compensable injury systems analysis Spinal cord injury community integration Long-COVID rehabilitation protocols Mental health impacts of traffic injuries His research consistently addresses real-world implementation challenges in rehabilitation systems. Award highlights: 2014 Sidney Licht Lectureship Award (International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) 2014 George Burniston Oration Award (Australasian Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine) Professor Cameron actively contributes to national health systems through: Grant Review Panels for NHMRC and NZ Health Research Council Advisory roles for NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority and Lifetime Care Policy development for WorkCover and Area Health Services Editorial leadership as Associate Editor of Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine His educational roles span the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and University of Sydney Medical Program. The John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research serves as his primary research hub, conducting interdisciplinary studies on injury-related disability with strong partnerships across government agencies, health districts, and international consortia including ConsoRTI.
Professor Alex Gentle is Deputy Dean at Deakin University's School of Medicine , with a focus on Vision Science . His career spans research and teaching in ocular biochemistry, myopia development, and optometric education. Education: BSc (City University London), Postgraduate Certificate in Ocular Therapeutics (University of Melbourne), PhD (University of Wales, Cardiff) His research explores ocular therapeutics , myopia progression , and scleral biochemistry , supported by NHMRC grants and industry collaborations. Recent publications analyze low vision rehabilitation, diabetic eyecare, and myopia prevalence in Indian children. Awarded the American Academy of Optometry's Garland W. Clay Award and University of Melbourne's Deans Award for Teaching , he mentors PhD/Masters students and chairs the Prescribing Practices Advisory Committee (Optometry Board of Australia). Grants include a $811,344 Alcon-funded study on ocular lubricants.
Dr Samantha Lee is a Senior Research Fellow at the Lions Eye Institute and an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia (UWA Medical School). Her roles include leading research in ocular epidemiology and genetics, with a focus on glaucoma and myopia. She holds editorial roles at BMC Ophthalmology and Scientific Reports, and serves on committees for Australia Vision Research and the Association for Research in Vision & Ophthalmology. Dr Lee earned a BSc (Hons) in Optometry from the University of Manchester (2011) and a PhD in Optometry and Vision Science from Queensland University of Technology (2017). Her research bridges clinical and genetic studies, addressing public health challenges in eye diseases. Her work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Key research areas include genetic risk profiling for glaucoma, myopia progression mechanisms, and choroidal dynamics. Recent publications explore longitudinal retinal changes, polygenic risk scores, and the impact of lifestyle factors on eye health. Dr Lee has secured over AU$4 million in research funding and received awards including the 2024 Highly Commended Early Career Researcher and the 2020 UWA Research Collaboration Award. She leads major grants investigating glaucoma risk in aging populations and choroidal contributions to myopia. Her research teams collaborate internationally, with studies published in high-impact journals like JAMA Ophthalmology and Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. Media coverage highlights her findings on myopia’s association with computer screen use versus mobile devices.
Hamed Niyazmand is a Lecturer in the Department of Optometry and Vision Science at the University of Western Australia (UWA), within the School of Allied Health. His research focuses on ocular biometrics, myopia progression mechanisms, and anterior segment anatomy. He actively contributes to improving eye health literacy and clinical training standards in optometry practices. Research Interests: Myopia Development and Environmental Factors Ocular Biometry Techniques (OCT/Scheimpflug imaging) Anterior Segment Adaptations to Near Work Choroidal Thickness Dynamics and Pathophysiology Optometry Education and Clinical Practice Guidelines Grant Activities: Leading the 'Improving Eye Health Literacy in Western Australian Disadvantaged Communities' project (2024-2027) Co-investigator for 'Falls Prevention – Developing the Role of Optometrists' initiative (2023-2026) Labs/Teams: Collaborates within UWA's Optometry and Vision Science research group, focusing on translational research linking clinical practice innovations with population health outcomes.
Dr. Loretta Vocale is a Lecturer in Psychology at RMIT University's Department of Health and Biomedical Sciences. Based at the City Campus in Australia, her research focuses on interdisciplinary topics spanning neurosciences, ophthalmology, genetics, and clinical psychology. She has contributed to studies on myopia pathophysiology, stress-related ocular adaptations, and cross-cultural behavioral genetics through advanced omics techniques and animal models. Key research areas include retinal gene expression profiling, mitochondrial dysfunction in eye diseases, and the role of physiological stress in refractive errors. Notable work includes RNA-seq analysis of form deprivation myopia pathways and proteomic studies of ischemic stroke survivors' neuroimmune responses. Her publications span journals like BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Scientific Reports, and Frontiers in Neuroscience. Dr. Vocale is available to supervise PhD/Masters students in topics like retinal microglia-brain health links and dynamic face processing in autism. She holds an ORCID identifier (0000-0003-1382-1644) and has collaborated with institutions globally on projects combining genomics, proteomics, and clinical psychology insights.
Derecke Palmer is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), affiliated with the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences. He is a leading international authority on near-surface seismic refraction methods, notably pioneering the Generalized Reciprocal Method (GRM) and the Refraction Convolution Section (RCS), for which he has received awards from Australian and international geophysics societies. His research focuses on advancing full waveform seismic refraction data processing using tools like Seismic Unix, aiming to generate detailed compressional and shear wave models of near-surface structures. Applications include statics corrections for seismic reflection data, geotechnical analysis, and natural resource management. His work addresses complex environments such as sand dunes and infrastructure-adjacent areas with low signal-to-noise ratios. Palmer’s publications span over three decades, emphasizing methodological advancements in refraction tomography, amplitude analysis, and inversion strategies. His articles highlight challenges like non-uniqueness in inversion, uncertainty quantification, and the integration of multi-fold data. He has contributed to both theoretical frameworks and practical field applications, including case studies like the Mt Bulga Shear Zone and syncline models. Scientific Awards: Awards from Australian Exploration Geophysics Societies International Exploration Geophysics Society Recognition Advising & Grants: While specific student advisees are not listed, his extensive publications indicate collaborative research efforts in geophysical exploration and environmental geoscience. Labs/Teams: His work is closely tied to the development and application of Seismic Unix tools for near-surface analysis.
Professor Alexander Black is an academic at Queensland University of Technology, specializing in vision science and its impact on daily life, particularly in aging populations and transportation safety. His research focuses on how visual impairments affect driving, mobility, and quality of life, with a strong emphasis on older adults and children. He has collaborated extensively with Joanne Wood and other researchers, producing over 80 peer-reviewed publications since 2005. Key areas include vision-related falls prevention, pedestrian and cyclist safety, and the design of interventions to enhance road safety. Education: PhD in Optometry (Queensland University of Technology, 2010) Affiliations: Queensland University of Technology School of Optometry and Vision Science His work bridges clinical optometry with public health, addressing real-world challenges such as age-related macular degeneration's impact on driving ability and the effectiveness of vision screening tools. Recent projects include evaluating night-time pedestrian visibility aids and assessing the prevalence of vision conditions in remote communities. Research Highlights: Development of novel hazard visibility tests for drivers Investigation of color misperception risks for train signals Systematic reviews on vision impairment and crash risk His interdisciplinary approach combines behavioral optics, epidemiology, and engineering to create solutions for vision-related safety issues. Current interests include advancing ADAS technologies for older drivers and optimizing vision standards for licensing regulations.
Professor Joanne Wood is a leading academic in optometry and vision science at QUT, with over 25 years of research experience focusing on vision and driving performance, age-related vision decline, children's vision, and clinical psychophysics. She holds a PhD from Aston University and has held roles including Director of Research in Optometry and leader of the Vision Improvement Domain at IHBI. Education: PhD in Visual Sciences, Aston University, UK Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Psychophysics, Oxford University Research Interests: Her work spans vision impairment's impact on driving, night-time visibility, falls prevention in older adults, and children's functional vision. She pioneered a vision-driving lab using closed-road experiments to assess driving performance. Awards: 2022 Oberdorfer Award (ARVO) 2021 H Barry Collin Research Medal 2019 International Optometrist of the Year 2017 Honorary Doctorate (Aston University) Grants & Collaboration: Secured ARC, NHMRC, and industry funding. Oversees international collaborations in vision science, particularly in aging and driving research. Labs & Teams: Leads the Vision & Everyday Function Lab, focusing on translational research to address real-world vision challenges.
Professor Mark Duncan Willcox is a distinguished researcher and academic at the University of New South Wales, serving as Director of Research at the School of Optometry and Vision Science. With a career spanning over three decades, he has established himself as a leading expert in ocular microbiology, antimicrobial development, and contact lens research. His work bridges the gap between fundamental microbiological research and clinical applications, with significant contributions to understanding ocular surface health and disease. Willcox earned his BSc Hons in Applied Biology from the University of the West of England (1983), followed by a PhD in Medical Microbiology/Dentistry from the University of Manchester (1987), and later a DSc in ocular surface research from UNSW (2015). His educational background laid the foundation for his interdisciplinary approach to ocular research. His research interests focus on the development of novel antimicrobials for use as antibiotics and disinfectants, particularly for medical devices like contact lenses. He has pioneered research on antimicrobial surfaces for medical devices, ocular microbiome studies, biomarker discovery from tears, and understanding tear film changes during contact lens wear. His laboratory has established robust protocols for examining the low biomass microbiome of the ocular surface, which can be translated for analysis of other low biomass microbiomes. An analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on antimicrobial resistance, novel antimicrobial compounds (particularly peptide mimics and peptoids), contact lens-related infections, and ocular surface disease. His work spans from fundamental microbiological studies to clinical applications, with particular emphasis on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Acanthamoeba keratitis. The TFOS DEWS III publications demonstrate his leadership in establishing international consensus on dry eye disease diagnosis and management. Honorary Research Fellow, Institute of Dental Research (1993) British Contact Lens Association Medal recipient (2011) Max Schapero Award recipient, American Academy of Optometry (2011) Elected ARVO Silver Fellow (2015) and Gold Fellow (2020) NHMRC Marshall and Warren Ideas Grant Award (2020) Korb Award for Excellence (2020) Willcox supervises a substantial research group consisting of seven post-doctoral researchers and ten graduate students, working on diverse projects from antimicrobial surface development to ocular microbiome studies. His research is supported by significant government grants including NHMRC and ARC funding, and he maintains strong industry collaborations for translating research into clinical applications. His laboratory has taken several antimicrobial technologies through to pre-clinical testing and antimicrobial contact lenses through to Phase III clinical trials.
Professor Esa Jaatinen is a Professor at the School of Chemistry & Physics, Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He holds academic leadership roles including Director of Graduate Research Education and Development and Chair of the Research Degrees Committee. His research focuses on nonlinear optics, laser physics, and plasmonic photocatalysts, with applications in sensor technology and environmental protection. Education: PhD in Laser Physics (Australian National University) GradCert(TechManag) (Deakin University) BSc(Hons) in Physics (University of Queensland) Research Interests: Jaatinen's work spans Stand-off Raman sensors, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), plasmonic photocatalysts, and nonlinear optical phenomena. He emphasizes practical applications such as explosive detection and environmental monitoring. His contributions include developing UV stand-off Raman systems and advancing photocatalytic materials for visible-light reactions. Publications & Awards: With over 50 publications, his recent work includes studies on laser-induced fluorescence, UV-C disinfection, and nonlinear optical materials. Notable awards include the 2001 Iizuka Prize and Senior Membership in the Optical Society of America. Grants & Roles: He leads projects funded by Australian Competitive Grants, including portable Raman sensor development. His administrative roles focus on HDR student development and research training. Labs & Teams: Jaatinen collaborates with QUT's Centre of Materials Science and leads interdisciplinary teams in nanosensors and environmental analytics.
