Affiliate Organisation Session: Melbourne HIV Consensus Statement 2026 Launch - Toward Virtual Elimination supported by Thorne Harbour Health
Tracks
| Wednesday, September 16, 2026 |
| 12:55 PM - 1:55 PM |
| Element |
Details
Ahead of the 2026 Victorian election, Victoria's HIV community-controlled organisations, researchers and clinicians are launching the Melbourne HIV Consensus Statement 2026, calling on all political parties and candidates to commit to a sustained, well-funded HIV response in the next term of government—one that virtually eliminates new HIV transmissions and ensures every Victorian living with HIV can live well, free from stigma and discrimination.
This session will launch the statement and host a panel to discuss the current HIV response, and where we need to go from here.
Speaker
Mr Chad Hughes
Chief Executive Officer
Thorne Harbour Health
Launch of the 2026 HIV Accord
Biography
Mr Richard Keane
CEO
Living Positive Victoria
Community leadership in the HIV response
Biography
Richard has been involved with the HIV response in Victoria since 1992. He is currently the CEO of Living Positive Victoria has been in the role for 8 years.
Ms Kirsten Machon
Executive Officer
Positive Women (Victoria)
Women living with HIV
Biography
Prof Jennifer Hoy
Director Hiv Medicine
Alfred Hospital And Monash University
Panel Member
Biography
Professor Jenny Hoy has over 30 years’ experience in HIV clinical research and patient care, and established the Clinical Research Unit at The Alfred. Prior to this, she established and directed the Infectious Diseases Clinical Research Unit from 1988-2008, building it into an internationally recognised research program. She has been Principal Investigator for over 175 clinical studies at The Alfred and has collaborated widely on investigator-initiated pathogenesis studies.
Ms Christabel Millar
Board Member
Thorne Harbour Health
Panel Member
Biography
Christabel Millar is a community advocate and activist for all people living with and affected by HIV, and Board Member of Thorne Harbour Health. She is a cis queer woman who has lived and loved with HIV for over 15 years. She is a community engagement and health promotion professional who models all her participation on MIPA principles and advocates for recognition of the impact that different identities and intersections have on living well with HIV.
Mr Mohamed Al Abri
Board Member
Thorne Harbour Health
Panel Member
Biography
Mohamed is a community leader with more than 15 years of experience in governance, capability, and advocacy for LGBTIQA+ communities, especially those from diverse cultural and refugee backgrounds. Living with HIV for 16 years, he has been a long-standing volunteer with Thorne Harbour Health since 2009, providing outreach in sex-on-premises venues, online spaces, community events and promotional campaigns, and Board Member since 2025.
Session Chair
Chad Hughes
Chief Executive Officer
Thorne Harbour Health
