SPEAKERS & CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Meet Your Speakers
Dr. Robert Grenfell
Prepare to be inspired by Dr. Rob Grenfell, a dedicated advocate for enhancing the quality of life for all individuals living with diabetes. Dr. Grenfell will take us on a journey, exploring where we currently stand, where we aspire to be, and the actionable steps to bridge the gap.
With a career spanning government, not-for-profit, and private sectors, Rob brings a wealth of experience to the table. His roles at the CSIRO, the Heart Foundation, and the Department of Health Victoria, among others, have equipped him with expertise in health system analysis, strategic planning, governance, health risk management, and equity-focused care.
Ms Amanda Cattermole PSM
Amanda is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Digital Health Agency. The Agency is auspiced by all the governments of Australia to lead digital health strategy for Australians and to drive digital innovation. It also builds national health infrastructure and delivers national digital health products and services to support Australia’s progress towards a safer and more efficient health system.
Join Amanda as she leads an enlightening discussion exploring the utilisation of digital tools to deliver care and make a lasting impact now and into the future
Associate Professor Peter Van Wijngaarden
Peter is the Deputy Director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia and an Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Melbourne. He is Clinical Director of KeepSight, a national eye check reminder system for Australians with diabetes.
In the whirlwind of advancements in healthcare, have we inadvertently lost sight of the significance of eye screening? Join Associate Professor Peter Van Wijngaarden in a compelling discussion that will illuminate the role of eye screening in prevention and the critical need for systematisation.
Peter will address the role of screening, the importance of systematisation and detail the progress of KeepSight - how they are tackling some common misconceptions around privacy, data security, fear of disruption to clinical continuity. Peter will also be leading a panel discussion.
Dr Ashley Bigaran
Dr. Ashley Bigaran is an Accredited Exercise Physiologist and is the Operations Manager of the Wellness and Supportive Care Program and a Senior Accredited Exercise Physiologist at the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre, Austin Health and the Department of Surgery (Austin Health Precinct) at the University of Melbourne.
Ashley will lead us on an extraordinary journey, unveiling how the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre turned vision into reality, offering a holistic, person-centered approach to care and demonstrating how primary care can learn and create models of care to support patient outcomes and experiences
Ms Renza Scibilia
Renza has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1998. She is a diabetes advocate and activist and is Director of Community Building and Communications in the Global Access Team at JDRF. She has worked for diabetes organisations for the last twenty-one years, promoting a person-centred approach to the development, design and delivery of diabetes technologies, services, resources, research, and education programs.
Renza is well-known in the diabetes online community, and is well-versed in social media, its use and impact on people with chronic health conditions and application in peer support. Join Renza in a conversation about the global power of peer support!
Dr Amira Howari
Dr. Howari is a globally recognised senior clinical optometrist, Health Industry Keynote Speaker and media commentator, transforming health professionals in their approach to diabetes and eye care as an influential leader and futurist in this space.
She has taken up a number of roles including Diabetes Australia Ambassador, member of the Diabetes and Endocrine Network at the agency of Clinical Innovation (NSW Health), University of New South Wales guest speaker & clinical supervisor and former Optometry Australia Board Councillor (NSW/ACT).
Join Amira and colleagues as they unpack the eye health journey of a person with diabetes - and what primary care clinicians need to do when someone has been identified as having retinopathy.
Dr Ralph Audehm
Associate Professor Audehm is a general practitioner who has worked for over 30 years in general practice and has had a long-standing interest in the management of chronic conditions. He has instigated and supported many initiatives to systematically improve health outcomes for people with diabetes and heart disease and is experienced in managing all types of patients.
Dr Audehm will be leading an interactive case discussion with members of the primary care team unpacking diabetes drugs that make a real difference, discussing GLP1RAs and what is coming next in medication management.
Dr Ashley Ng
Dr Ashley Ng is a diabetes advocate and researcher with an interest in consumer and community involvement. Her lived experience has informed much of her research work and diabetes advocacy efforts around codesigning support resources and services for the diabetes community.
Ashley's session will outline the evidence and core components of what works in peer support programs – presenting an overview of the research
Dr Amy Cohn
Dr Cohn is a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists. She is a Visiting Medical Officer at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre of Eye Research Australia. Her areas of expertise include Diabetic Retinopathy, Age-Related Macula Degeneration, inherited eye disease and cataract. She has extensive experience with retinal lasers, cataract surgery and intra-vitreal injections.
Dr Cohn will discuss the basics of diabetic retinopathy, including the incidence, pathology, grading, clinical features, imaging and current treatment protocols.
Dr Rajna Ogrin
Dr Ogrin initially trained as a clinical podiatrist, and has worked across the majority of health and aged care sectors: community health, acute hospital, home, private and residential aged care settings. Early in this role, she identified gaps in the delivery of evidence-based clinical practice, particularly in people with diabetes related foot complications.
Her PhD focused on improving wound healing and nerve function in older people and people with diabetes. Since then, she has broadened her field, working and researching in community based, person-centred interprofessional care incorporating co-design, to better facilitate translating evidence into practice, focusing on improving the holistic wellbeing of older people. Rajan is the chair of the PCDSA and will be chairing the conference.
Ms Debra Thorpe
Debra is a registered nurse, credentialled diabetes educator and certified art therapist. She has extensive experience in community health settings and is passionate about leading peer support programs.
As a clinician who runs a peer support groups, she is going to share her experience convening a peer support group and outlining practical information on how to run a successful program.
Mr Jonathan Kidd
Jonathan is the Program Manager at Keep Sight - a new national diabetes eye screening program.
Jonathan will be sharing the Keep Sight Journey so far, charting progress and impact. He will also be a part of a panel discussion with the primary health care team addressing what works, what is broken in eye care screening, how can we fix it, how we canengage underserved populations/groups and the role of technology.