Program & Speakers

Professor Charles Watson is an eminent neurobiologist and public health physician. He specialises in brain and spinal cord mapping and has over 25 years’ experience teaching anatomy to medical and science students.

During his tenure at the Health Department of Western Australia from 1982 to 1994, Charles’ achievements included setting up the Quit campaign and establishing breast cancer screening in Western Australia. He was appointed Chief Health Officer in 1993.

Charles currently holds professorial positions at Curtin, University of Queensland, University of NSW, and the University of WA. He has authored or co-authored 25 books on neuroscience and is best known for his atlas of the rat brain, which has been cited over 85,000 times. He has published over 100 journal articles, and his recent work focuses on gene expression in the developing brain.

Charles was made a member of the Order of Australia for his work in brain research and public health in 2004.

WA Health Director General Dr Shirley Bowen is a skilled physician with extensive experience across all aspects of health service delivery. Shirley is passionate about person centred care and delivering excellent health care to the people of Western Australia. Prior to her appointment as Director General in May 2024, she served as North Metropolitan Health Service Chief Executive and CEO of St John of God Subiaco Hospital.

Throughout her career, Dr Bowen has demonstrated leadership across public and private health sectors, holding notable positions, including Chief Medical Officer of the Australian Capital Territory, Executive Director of Fremantle Hospital and Dean of the School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame Australia. In these roles, she advanced healthcare standards, fostered medical education and led innovative research and community services. Dr Bowen holds dual Fellowships in Infectious Diseases (FRACP) and Sexual Health medicine (FAChSHM) underscoring her extensive clinical experience. She also holds an honorary fellowship in Medical Administration (FRACMA). Her professional journey reflects a commitment to excellence in patient care, focusing on compassionate and evidence-based medicine.

A journalist by profession, Rohan Greenland was appointed CEO of MS Australia in 2020.

He is a member of the managing committee of the International Progressive MS Alliance and Chair of the Neurological Alliance Australia.

He previously served as CEO at Palliative Care Australia and General Manager, Advocacy, at the National Heart Foundation. He was a long-serving Director of Public Affairs at the Australian Medical Association and formerly, vice president of the Public Health Association of Australia. He spent seven years working with politicians including federal ministers, the ACT chief minister and the ACT health minister.

His interests include research, consumer-centred health care, equitable access to disability services, preventive health, tobacco control, health policy reform and public health advocacy.

Rohan is a co-presenter of The Raw Nerve podcast. He delivered the Basil Hetzel Oration at the Australian Public Health Conference in 2019 and is a Fellow of the National Heart Foundation of Australia.

Georgina is the chief executive officer of the Neurological Alliance UK, a role she has held since January 2020. She has a strong track record of leading teams to secure positive, impactful changes to public policy, specifically changes to improve treatment and support for people affected by neurological conditions.

As CEO, Georgina is responsible for developing and implementing the Neurological Alliance’s communications and external affairs strategy, with a specific focus on health policy in England. She represents the voluntary sector and people affected by neurological conditions on several high-profile committees, including the NHS England Clinical Reference Group for neurology and Programme Board for the neuroscience transformation programme. She also co-chairs the patient and public voice group of the Department of Health and Social Care Acquired Brain Injury and other neurological conditions strategy. In 2021, she delivered the Neurological Alliance’s biennial ‘My Neuro Survey’, the largest pan-neurological patient experience survey across the UK.

Prior to her current role, Georgina was with the MS Society for over six years, overseeing their work to improve MS treatment, care and support. Georgina has a close connection to neurological conditions and is passionate about raising the bar of treatment, care and support across the country.

Jordon Steele-John is a Greens Senator for Western Australia and a proud disabled person. He advocates for disability rights and equitable healthcare for everyone. Jordon and his team were instrumental in establishing a Parliamentary Inquiry into access to ADHD assessment and support services - the first of its kind in Australia. Jordon’s goal is to challenge the boundaries of political norms – both in the Senate and the community and create a more accessible and inclusive society for all.

Jordon’s holds portfolios in Health, Disability Rights and Services, Foreign Affairs and Peace & Nuclear Disarmament.

Professor Merrilee Needham combines the challenging roles of leader of the Myositis Research Group and consultant neurologist at the Perron Institute, Director of Research, South Metropolitan Health Service, and Consultant Neurologist and Foundation Professor of Neurology at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Murdoch University and Notre Dame University. From 2014 - 2019, Professor Needham was the Head of Neurology Department at the Fiona Stanley Hospital (FSH).

As a clinical neurologist, Professor Needham is passionate about helping people with neuromuscular conditions, with a particular interest in Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM). Integral to Professor Needham’s myositis research has been the development of both a myositis biobank and the Australasian Myositis Registry. Assisted by Myositis Association Australia, Professor Needham has been instrumental in establishing a growing biobank of blood, muscle, DNA and other samples from myositis patients and healthy controls. The registry continues to grow and is moving towards national roll-out.

Professor Needham has extensive experience with leadership of clinical trials, within the last 5 years I’ve led over 8 clinical trials within Western Australia, supporting both industry-sponsored trials as well as leading investigator-initiated studies (e.g including Bimagrumab in IBM, Abatacept in Myositis, Tecfidera in ALS, Testosterone in IBM).

Professor John Mamo is Head of Neurovascular and Metabolic Diseases at the Perron Institute. Until October 2023, Professor Mamo served as Director of the Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute building significant research capacity in chronic diseases with ageing. His leadership role at the Perron Institute is in partnership with Curtin University’s School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, where he holds the title of John Curtin Distinguished Professor in Health Sciences.

With over 30 years of medical research experience, Professor Mamo is a physiologist specialising in brain microscopic capillary blood-vessel function—pivotal for brain health and a key risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and MS; neurological disorders such as migraine and epilepsy as well as mood and behavioural conditions including foggy brain syndromes or depression. His research spans genetic studies and cell studies, disease models, providing insights that inform clinical trials and broader population studies he leads. As a ‘translational physiologist,’ he is dedicated to uncovering new ways to prevent disease or alter the trajectory of progression positively.

Professor Jennifer (Jenny) Rodger (BSc (Hons), PhD), is the Head of Brain Plasticity Research and co-leads the Neuropharmacogenetics project at the Perron Institute and the MSWA Senior Research Fellow in Brain Plasticity. Professor Rodger has studied all around the globe, obtaining her BSc Hons. in Biochemistry at the University of Bath, UK, undertaking undergraduate research placements at the Weizmann Institute (Israel) and the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). She continued this path obtaining a PhD in Molecular Neuroscience at the University of Paris VI, now Sorbonne University, receiving the Tres honourable avec les felicitations du jury; Distinction.

After her PhD, Professor Rodger moved to UWA to work with Professors Lyn Beazley and Sarah Dunlop in the field of neural regeneration. She was awarded a Raine Priming Grant in 2009 and a NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship (SRFA) in 2011. She then took up a teaching and research position at the University of Western Australia where she co-coordinates the Neuroscience Undergraduate and Masters programs. Her most recent work focuses on the use of non-invasive brain stimulation to promote the repair of injured and abnormal brain circuits and restore normal functioning.

Prof. David Blacker is a leading neurologist and researcher, dedicated to improving the lives of people living with Parkinson’s. With a wealth of experience in clinical neurology and a passion for advocacy, Prof. Blacker was awarded a Membership of the Oder of Australia (AM) in recognition of service to neurology and medical research

He is currently the medical director of the Perron Institute for neurological and translation science, clinical professor of Neurology at the University of Western Australia and a board member of Parkinson’s WA. For most of his career he was a stroke neurologist and researcher, including working closely with the Perron Institute scientists on developing neuroprotective therapies. In 2018, he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, which contributed to him retiring from clinical practice in 2023. He writes and speaks widely about his personal experience with PD, and hopes to assist others by sharing this. He aims to help his medical colleagues gain a greater insight into living with PD and to improve their communication and interactions with people with PD. He has written a book, “My FIGHT with PD” which covers these issues. He led the FIGHT-PD study of boxing exercise and continues to train 2 or 3 times per week. He recently assisted a review of the 2021 Parkinson’s exercise recommendations for the Parkinson’s Foundation and American College of Sports Medicine.

Bruce has been Chairperson of Meningitis Centre Australia since its inception in 1992. He was invited along with a number of other parents by our Patron Professor Fiona Stanley to assist with starting an awareness group in WA. . Bruce’s daughter Ashleigh contracted Pneumococcal Meningitis at the age of six months in 1989. Now 32 years later he and his family have successfully lobbied for the introduction of several meningitis vaccines on to the National Immunisation Plan including Hib, Meningococcal C and Pneumococcal.

Bruce received an Order of Australia Medal in 2019 for services to the community, health and meningitis awareness and prevention. Bruce is a former Chair of the Disability Services Commission 2007-2022 and was the founding President of the international Confederation of Meningitis Organisations Inc. 2009-2015. He is also a founding director of Disability Assembly WA Ltd.

Kateryna is an Emeritus Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Murdoch University, where she was also a Pro Vice Chancellor for Research and for Regional Development. Having served on numerous boards, including as Chair and Non-Executive Director of the Australian Data and Cyber Institute and Chair of the Cockburn Sound Management Council, Kateryna is currently the Independent Chair of the board of governance for the North West Shelf Flatback Turtle Conservation Research Program.

Dr Ghia is a consultant neurologist whose speciality interests include stroke and cerebrovascular diseases.

Dr Ghia undertook his specialist neurology training in Melbourne at Monash Medical Centre and Box Hill Hospital. Further fellowship and sub-specialty training in stroke and interventional neuroradiology in Sydney at Liverpool and Royal North Shore Hospitals followed before he moved to Perth.

Dr Ghia works at Fiona Stanley Hospital. He is the inaugural head of the stroke unit and is principal investigator for a number of research trials. He sits on various statewide and national committees like Stroke Society of Australasia, Australasian Stroke Trials Network, Australian Stroke Clinical Registry and Stroke Council Advisory Group. He is actively involved with WA Telestroke Network.

Dr Ghia consults privately at Karrinyup (Clinical Neurology Services). Dr Ghia also provides consultation service for inpatients at SJOG Subiaco Hospital and Mount Hospital. Dr Ghia is also fluent in Gujarati and Hindi.

Professor Harvey is one of Western Australia’s leading neuroscience researchers focusing on cell/tissue transplantation, gene therapy and pharmacotherapy in repairing the central nervous system. He is a Senior Honorary Research Fellow at UWA (Human Sciences and the Conservatorium of Music), the Lions Eye Institute and the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, and is WA Ambassador for the Meeting for Minds. Professor Harvey has also been a Board member of the Perron Institute, the Brain Foundation, Neurological Council of WA and was a member of the International Neural Transplantation Council and WA Reproductive Technology Council. Since retirement, his interests in neuroscience and music led to the publication by Oxford University Press of his book Music, Evolution and the Harmony of Souls in 2017. In addition to a popular Ted talk, he continues to give many invited professional and public lectures on the beneficial effects of music on human mind and body. Recently, Professor Harvey was asked to chair the 2023 Presidential Symposium of the American Neuropsychiatric Association in Boston.

Professor Stephan (PhD) is the inaugural Chair of Dementia (for Curtin University and Dementia Australia) and Director of the Dementia Centre of Excellence. She is a Dementia Australia Honorary Medical Advisor. She is an internationally renowned neuroepidemiologist leading a research program on dementia risk in high, low and middle-income countries.

Catherine is the CEO of Brightwater since April 2022 focused on aged and disability care and support. She is proud of Brightwater’s commitment building research capability across those sectors who support vulnerable groups.

Catherine’s previous roles include CEO, NT Health, Chief Nurse and Deputy Chief Executive of Oxford University Hospital’s NHS Trust and Chief Nurse for WA. Current Board roles include WACHS and NMBA, and Associate Editor of the BMJ Leader. In 2011 she received the Telstra WA Businesswoman of the Year, 2013 Australian Public Service Medal, Churchill Fellowships (2006), recently, the 2024 Curtin Alumni Award (Health Sciences).

Trained as an Occupational Therapist, Janet Wagland has worked for over 30 years at Brightwater Care Group in a number of roles predominantly related to the care and support of people with complex neurological disability. She has been instrumental in the development of Brightwater’s disability services including rehabilitation, transition, supported independent living and community-based therapy, behaviour support and support coordination services. Within her role, Janet has driven the development of service models for people with neurological disability and the design and construct of environments informed by both the model of service and the specific needs of the individual diagnostic groups.

She has been the chief executive of Volunteering WA since April 2016 bringing management and leadership experience in the not for profit sector, in both health and community organisations. Prior to joining Volunteering WA, Ms Williams was the marketing & development manager of Women and Infants Research Foundation, and manager of community relations at Carers WA. She is a Trustee of WA Charity Direct. Tina led the state election ask to convene the Volunteer Community Reference Group in 2017 and ardently drives partnerships and collaborations to strengthen and grow support for volunteering and the sector.

Dr Bruce Powell was the Head of ICU at Rockingham Hospital, and the former State Medical Director of Organ Donation for Western Australia. After a near-fatal cycling accident and brain injury, Bruce became a writer and speaker. A regular contributor to radio and newspapers, he advocates for the brain injury community and challenges traditional healthcare narratives, exploring what patients truly need—beyond treatment—to reclaim identity and agency.

Mrs Katie Krysteen Martin, Senior Clinical Psychologist Coordinator, Royal Perth Hospital. My research interest has focused on functional neurological disorders (FND), resulting in engaging and coordinating various stakeholders to facilitate and evaluate a WA-first interdisciplinary virtual group for consumers (and their carer/support person) with a diagnosis of FND.

Hayley Lethlean is the CEO of Neuromuscular WA, a passionate advocate for the rare disease community, and a leader in community-based health initiatives. With over 20 years in the not-for-profit sector, Hayley is dedicated to driving a patient-centred approach, ensuring that individuals with rare conditions and their families have a voice in decision-making about their care and future. With extensive experience in innovative co-design and stakeholder engagement, Hayley aims to work collaboratively to improve health outcomes across Western Australia.

Katie has over 20 years of experience as an Exercise Physiologist and exercise specialist. Over that time she has created two successful and innovative exercise and lifestyle businesses in Sydney at Fox Studios and The Beach Lifestyle Club in Perth. She has worked with high performing individuals delivering mental and physical performance optimisation. Katie was also managing director for the Perth Crown Metropol 20-million-dollar spa and wellbeing development ISIKA. Katie is a sessional academic at Curtin University and sits on the Advisory board of the Heart Foundation WA.

Katie is a passionate and dedicated advocate for combined mental & physical primary health services for chronic disease directing her focus towards chronic mental and physical illness and injury prevention research and services. She is determined to drive real change in healthcare delivery by partnering with large corporations and state and federal health to introduce reform and effective strategies for chronic disease management, treatment and prevention using Exercise as Medicine.

Sabena delivers community education with Palliative Care WA. She has a Master of Psychology (Counselling) and is passionate about helping people to live fully in the last stage of their lives. She has worked in the community, health, adult education and aged care sectors.

Sarah has 22 years of experience in aged, dementia, palliative, and primary care, specialising in service management, quality improvement, and stakeholder engagement. She currently leads a national carer support program within Dementia Support Australia. Holding a Master of Gerontology (with distinction), she brings a holistic approach to enhancing care services.

Dr. Min-Yin Yap is FightMND's Care Grants Manager - FightMND is the home of 2025 Australian of the year, Neale Daniher. FightMND was established in 2014 with the purpose of finding effective treatments and ultimately a cure for motor neurone disease, and since 2017 has been supporting people living with MND.

Min-Yin has a background in biomedical research and has brought her experience in grant and research project management to FightMND, where she manages FightMND's Care program, investing in research and other activities to improve the quality of life of people living with, and affected by MND.

Dr Tang is the inaugural Sarich Family Research Fellow leads the Healthy Brain Ageing and Repair Lab at UWA and the Perron Institute. His lab aims to understand the role of ageing on essential neurological functions such as learning and memory, as well as the cellular mechanisms underlying age-related neurological disorders (e.g., stroke). Using this knowledge, the lab hopes to develop novel interventions that can promote healthy brain ageing or treat age-related neurological disorders to ensure a high quality of living throughout life.

Dr. Kristina Elvidge is Head of Research at the Childhood Dementia Initiative, driving systemic change to transform outcomes for children with dementia. She has been working with rare disease patient organisations since 2008 to accelerate the development of much needed treatments through evidence gathering and stakeholder collaboration. Kristina holds a PhD in molecular biology from UWA and completed postdoctoral research at Oxford University.

Carol Ireland, CEO and Managing Director of Epilepsy Action Australia, brings over 35 years of experience in the not-for-profit human services sector. In her current role, she regularly engages with individuals and families managing challenging, drug-resistant epilepsy, advocating strongly for those living with the condition. Today, Carol will discuss the role of the Epilepsy and Other Neurological Disorder Alliance (ENDA) in Australia.