This Years Presenters

INTERNATIONAL

Dr David Persing - Cepheid

Dr David Persing, MD, Ph.D., is EVP/Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Cepheid, where he drives advancements in molecular diagnostics for infectious diseases and oncology. With a career spanning over 30 years, Dave has been a key player in biomarker discovery and diagnostic innovation. He began with pioneering PCR technology at the Mayo Clinic and has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles. His work includes five influential textbooks on PCR protocols. Recognized for his impact on COVID-19 diagnostics, Dave was named one of the top 22 scientists by Fierce Pharma in 2020. He obtained his MD and Ph.D. from UCSF, where he trained with Don Ganem and Harold Varmus, and currently serves as a Consulting Professor of Pathology at Stanford University.

Dr Gauri Misra - National Institute of Biologicals

Prof Goedele N. Maertens - Imperial College London

Goedele Maertens is a Professor in Retrovirology at Imperial College London, UK. She received her BSc in Chemistry and MSc in Biochemistry from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KUL, Belgium). During her PhD in Biochemistry at the KUL, with two years training in the Engelman lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School (Boston, MA), she investigated the interactions between HIV-1 integrase and its host factor LEDGF/p75. Following a four-year postdoctoral fellowship in Molecular Oncology at Cancer Research UK (London, UK) she joined the Cherepanov lab at Imperial College London where she trained in structural virology. Since 2011, Maertens runs her laboratory at Imperial College London. Her research interests include mechanisms and inhibition of retroviral integration with a particular focus on human T-cell lymphotropic virus. Since 2020 she is the Deputy Head of Section of Virology within the Department of Infectious Disease.

Nguyen Huy - University Medical Center

Dr Jessica Markaby - Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND)

Dr Jessica Markby currently holds the position of Manager of Regional Programs (Asia Pacific) with FIND, the global alliance for Diagnostics, overseeing a portfolio of projects in the Asia Pacific region. Her areas of interest include development and capacity building of diagnostic programs in resource constrained countries and translational research and access of appropriate diagnostics technologies. Dr Markby finished her PhD in Immunology and Pathology at Monash University, Australia in 2005, and subsequently obtained her Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. Dr Markby has 18 years of post-doctoral work experience most of which has been largely spent living in the field in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Cambodia, with extensive experience in the African and Asia Pacific region working with various NGOs and UN organizations in country, regional and global roles.

Prof Jhunel Vinarao - Research Institute For Tropical Medicine

Jhunel G. Vinarao is a cum laude graduate of Bachelor of Science in Biology specializing in Zoology at Isabela State University. He finished a Master of Science in Genetics cognate in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, and currently taking Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Biology & Biotechnology at the same university. He is currently working as Science Research Specialist II at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine and an Associate Professorial Lecturer IV at the Graduate School, Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He was a former University Research Associate II at the Philippine Genome Center where his work was on the development of Point of Care Testing using Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification.

Dr Jose Arnulfo Perez-Carrillo - Clínica Colsanitas

Master Chi Mai - University Medical Centre

Rubby Leiwia Dick - Ministry Of Health

Yan Chin Tai - Abbott Laboratories

LOCAL

Darren Hewson - Melbourne Pathology

Darren Hewson is Senior Scientist and Department Manager of the Molecular Biology/Immunoserology Department at Melbourne Pathology.  Since graduating with a Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science at Otago University in New Zealand he has worked at a variety of Public Hospital and Community Pathology labs in NZ, the UK, and Australia as a Microbiology Scientist, before shifting to Molecular Biology just in time to do some COVID 19 testing.

A/Prof Dave Hawkes - Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer

A/Prof Hawkes is the Director of Medical Microbiology at the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer. He has extensive knowledge of clinical and scientific research techniques, specifically HPV NAAT and cervical screening, and has led the Australian validation studies of self-collection for cervical screening. A/Prof Hawkes has substantial experience in supporting clinicians and health services in delivering cervical screening in low- and middle-income countries in our region. A/Prof Hawkes has over 60 scientific publications. A/Prof Hawkes is a member of the NCSP Clinical Advisory Group and of the HPV Surveillance Working Group of the Communicable Diseases Network Australia.

Dr Diana Wong - National Measurement Institute

Dr Diana Wong is a molecular virologist at the National Measurement Institute (NMI). She was awarded a PhD in 2022 at the University of New South Wales where she studied clinical pharmacokinetics and drug resistance during antiviral therapy for cytomegalovirus infection in transplant recipients. Diana has 18 years of professional experience in microbiology research in academic and diagnostic laboratories, including several years overseas in Hong Kong for influenza virus research. Since joining NMI, Diana’s work has focused on building capabilities in digital PCR assay development for pandemic preparedness, including participating in an international pilot study for influenza RNA quantification, and representing the bioanalysis section for a metrology initiative organised by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.

Diane Price - Pathwest Laboratory Medicine

Dimi Marinakis - Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

Dr Eloise Williams is a clinical microbiologist, infectious diseases physician and clinician researcher from the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory and University of Melbourne, with a special interest in sexually transmitted infections, blood borne viruses and public health. 

Dr Elizabeth Dax - Former NRL Director

Before retiring from NRL in 2009, Elizabeth Dax served as a Physician and Scientist. As Director of NRL (1990-2009), she led national and international programs to evaluate and ensure the quality of HIV and hepatitis test kits in Australia and abroad. Under her leadership, NRL pioneered laboratory accreditation and quality monitoring systems for bloodborne virus detection. She has held leadership roles in HIV and AIDS societies and advised governments in developing countries. In retirement, Elizabeth chairs several arts-based boards, focusing on governance, finance, and risk management for not-for-profit organizations.

Dr Emma Wilson - NRL

 Following a nearly 20-year career in hospitality as a chef, Emma studied a Bachelor of Science, followed by a PhD in Nano BioPhotonics at RMIT University. Emma first joined NRL in 2014 on a summer studentship and returned in 2020 to help support NRL's work during COVID. In 2023, Emma became the NRL Sample Bank Scientist, helping the infectious disease community towards better health outcomes.

Farema Poyan  - Australian Red Cross Lifeblood

 Farema Ponya is a Project Manager in the Manufacturing Transformation team at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Graduating from Curtin University of Technology in 2006 with a Bachelor of Medical Science, majoring in Haematology/Transfusion Science, Microbiology, Medical Biotechnology, and Immunology, Farema has built a diverse career at Lifeblood. She has held roles such as Laboratory Scientist, Senior Scientist, Testing Supervisor, Scientific and Technical Services Scientist, and Project Coordinator for the largest Testing Enhancement Project, focusing on Infectious Disease Screening and Laboratory Automation. She possesses extensive knowledge of Lifeblood’s testing processes, change management, validation frameworks, and quality systems, with a strong commitment to safety and customer service.

Dr Harsha Sheorey - St. Vincents Hospital

Helen Wei - Burnet Institute

Imasha Amarasuriya  - NRL

Imasha Amarasuriya joined NRL in mid-2022. She completed her bachelor’s in biotechnology, majoring physiology, and additionally holds a master’s in science (Biotechnology) from Swinburne University of Technology. Prior coming to NRL, she worked in CSL and in Australian Clinical Labs. Imasha is a R & D scientist at NRL, working on Quality Assurance to develop and manufacture quality materials for various Community Point of Care Testing projects.

Jacqueline Prestedge - Doherty Institute

Jacqueline Prestedge is a Research Program Manager at the Doherty Institute, with experience managing multiple public health projects and clinical trials, predominantly in diagnostics and genomics for infectious diseases. With motivations to reduce health inequity in society, Jacqueline commenced a PhD in 2022 which focuses on the ways we can embrace new approaches to diagnostics such as rapid testing, self-collection and self-testing to increase access to infectious disease diagnostic testing. 

Dr Jane Goller - University of Melbourne

Dr Jane Goller is a Senior Research Fellow from the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, at the University of Melbourne.  Following her PhD focusing on the epidemiology of pelvic inflammatory disease in Australia her research focuses on strengthening STI care in general practice. 

A/Prof Janine Trevillyan - Austin Health

Dr Kim Blasdell - CSIRO

Kim Blasdell is Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness in Geelong. She is an infectious disease scientist with a love for fieldwork. She started her career at the University of Liverpool (UK) studying rodent-borne zoonotic viruses. This expertise led her to Cambodia where she worked on rodent-borne pathogens in rapidly changing environments, based at the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge. Kim moved to CSIRO where she started working on arboviruses. Her current research focus is on (i) understanding the transmission routes and role of possums on the ecology of Mycobacterium ulcerans, the agent of Buruli ulcer, (ii) determining the ecology of several vector-borne diseases including a novel Borrelia sp. and (iii) investigating novel technologies for the automation of pathogen surveillance in wildlife and vectors.

Dr Kwee Chin Liew - Australian Clinical Laboratories Geelong

Dr Kwee Chin Liew is a Clinical Microbiologist and Infectious Diseases Physician at Australian Clinical Labs, Geelong with special interest in molecular testing implementation and evaluation. 

Leandra Elieh - Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Madeline O'Donoghue - Pathology Technology

Madeline leads Communications and Government Affairs for Pathology Technology Australia – the peak industry body representing manufacturers and importers of the diagnostic tests and technology used in Australia’s health system. A trained molecular biologist, she has spent the bulk of her career in a range of technical training, product development, marketing, and communication positions for a mixture of multinational corporations and start-up innovators in clinical diagnostics and life science, in Australia and the US. Madeline applies her knowledge of research and clinical pathology laboratory environments, communication and education skills, and her passion for solving puzzles to champion innovative technology-driven solutions in health.

Prof Maxine Whittaker - James Cook University

Maxine Whittaker, a public health physician, academic, advocate and health systems researcher, focuses on improving health systems and services to increase accessibility and acceptability of quality services and implementation of One Health. She is a Professor at James Cook University, a member of the One Health High Level Expert Panel of the Quadripartite (FAO< WHO< WOAH and UNEP) on several national and international committees including a Temporary advisor on reaching the Unreached for the Western Pacific Region of WHO, and editorial roles for several One Health/public health journals. Maxine has lived/worked in several Asian, African and Pacific countries, published 110+ papers and awarded the Royal Australasian College of Physicians International Medal in recognition of outstanding service in developing countries (2017).

Dr Melissa John - NRL 

Michelle Frazer - X Lab Systems

Michelle Frazer has spent her career facilitating large scale improvements to health sectors in Australia and overseas, through the delivery of digital health solutions and services. Michelle is currently the Director of the APAC region for X-Lab Systems, where she is on a mission to solve the delays and errors caused by our disconnected and disparate pathology services, to improve health outcomes and ensure Australia’s healthcare system remains sustainable for future generations. Michelle has a strong understanding of the important role pathology plays in diagnosis and treatment of health issues, having led the introduction of multi-site, single patient record Laboratory Information Management systems into the UK. She is the author of the health chapter of the Australian Information Industry Association’s 2021 Whitepaper, which lead to the federal government committing to transitioning My Health Record from a clinical document (PDF) repository to a data-rich platform.

Dr Mitch Batty - Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory

Mitch is a senior Medical Scientist and Scientific Project Manager at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) at the Peter Doherty Institute in Melbourne. Primarily focused on developing and implementing translational public health programs in conjunction with the Victorian Department of Health, his interests in infectious diseases diagnostics stem from a background in academic research and assay development. With an initial focus on SARS-CoV-2, his work also concentrates on flavivirus surveillance and testing, public health genomics, as well as interests in viral vesicular diseases.

Dr Nicola Fitzgerald - Empower Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Nina Clifford - Roche

Nina Clifford is Product Manager for the molecular assays on the cobas® x800 family of instruments at Roche Diagnostics Australia. She has a Bachelor of Science (with Honours) and more than 20 years marketing, sales and business development experience in the molecular diagnostics, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries across multiple countries.

Peter Santosa - RCPAQAP

Peter Santosa is a microbiologist who graduated with a University Medal in Microbiology from the University of New South Wales in 2018. Since then, he has been with the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia Quality Assurance Programs, where he has honed expertise in both scientific methodologies and quality assurance processes. His work focuses on advancing standards in pathogen proficiency testing and ensuring high-quality outcomes across the industry.

Rebecca Wigan - Melbourne Sexual Health Centre

Theo Karapanagiotidis - VIDRL