Uncle Mark Brown is a proud Gunditjmara man through his mother's lineage and a Bunurong man through his father's side. Artistry has been an integral part of Uncle Mark's life since childhood, having wielded a pencil as soon as he could grasp one. Currently serving as a Senior Cultural Heritage Officer at the Bunurong Land Council, Uncle Mark has passionately contributed to the management of their ancestral lands since 2001. Prior to that, Uncle Mark worked for the Kulin Nations as a Field Rep. His journey is a fusion of artistic expression and Cultural stewardship, weaving together the threads of creativity and heritage to celebrate and preserve the stories embedded in our land. Uncle Mark's artistic journey encompasses painting, drawing, and digital art. He finds inspiration in both Traditional and modern Traditional forms, blending the old with the new. Whether creating fine art or expressing his passion for landscapes and birds, Uncle Mark's work is a canvas that reflects the rich tapestry of his Cultural heritage and connection to the land.

Professor Catriona Bradshaw [MMBS(Hons), FAChSHM, FAHMS, PhD] is a clinician scientist and Head of Research Translation and Mentorship at Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Monash University and the Alfred Hospital. Her programme focuses on translational research to improve treatment and control of STIs, including the development and implementation of resistance and point of care diagnostics, antimicrobial resistance and stewardship in STIs, and interventions to optimise the vaginal microbiome.

Cath Bateman is the Abortion, Contraception and Sexual Health Nurse Practitioner Candidate at the Latrobe Sexual and Reproductive Health Hub in Gippsland Victoria. Working across three sites Cath provides nurse-led consultations on all things SRH in the primary health environment. Working with a dedicated, if somewhat brown-beaten bunch of fabulous GPs, Cath provides early medical abortion, contraception, STI screening and treatment and much more with a community health approach - meaning that services are exclusively bulk billed because sexual and reproductive health and rights is a community concern as well as an individual need. A dedicated community health comrade, Cath has worked in nursing in community health or community organisations since 2008 when she got her first job with YWCA Victoria during the Victorian Abortion Law Reform process.

Alexis is the current ASHM CEO and has been since 2018. Alexis started working in the HIV sector in 2000 in South Africa before moving to Australia in 2008. He has remained passionate about public health and the role social enterprise plays in enabling equity, choice and access of healthcare, free of stigma and discrimination, as basic human rights.

Mark Butler has been a Labor Member of Federal Parliament since 2007 and is the Minister for Health and Ageing, and the Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Emily is the Deputy Director General of Public Health at the Australian Centre for Disease Control, which commenced operations at the beginning of 2026. She began her career as a nurse, working clinically for several years before progressing into senior leadership roles across state government, the private sector, and the Australian Public Service. Emily holds undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in nursing, forensic science, epidemiology, and public health. Prior to joining the Australian CDC, Emily was with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, where she most recently led the Market and Workforce Division within the Ageing and Aged Care Group. Her senior executive experience also includes leadership roles within the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Division, the Office of Health Protection and Response, and as Chief Budget Officer within the Department. Emily brings deep expertise in tackling complex and ‘wicked’ public health challenges. Public health has been a consistent focus throughout her career, with highlights including leading the Office of Health Protection and Response during the COVID 19 pandemic, and the development and implementation of Australia’s first music festival pill testing trial while leading the Population and Preventive Health Branch in the ACT Government.

Dawn Casey is a Tagalaka traditional owner from North Queensland. Dawn joined the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation in 2016 as Deputy CEO and was appointed CEO in 2026. Dawn is co-chair of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Protection Sub-Committee and a member of the Australian Health Protection Committee. Dawn has held full-time positions as Director of the Western Australian Museum, Powerhouse Museum and National Museum of Australia. Dawn was responsible for managing the design and construction of the National Museum of Australia and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies through a world first project delivery alliance contract. Dawn has also held part-time positions as Chair of Indigenous Land Corporation and Indigenous Business Australia and her career also includes a number of key executive positions in the Public Sector in areas including: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Indigenous Affairs, Cultural Heritage and Overseas Aid and Development. Dawn has been awarded; three Honorary Doctorates (QLD Charles Sturt, QLD and Macquarie Universities), Commonwealth Government’s Public Service Medal (PSM), Australian Government’s Centenary Medal, three Australia Day Public Service Medals, the Australian Institute of Architects’ Clem Cummings Award, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities (FAHA) and in 2021 the Sidney Sax Public Health Medal.

Scientia Professor Andrew Grulich is Head of the HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program at the Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales. He has worked in HIV/STI prevention in gay and bisexual men for more than 3 decades and sits on the Governing Council of the International AIDS Society

Alexiou’s work sits at the intersection of infectious disease epidemiology and implementation science. She focuses on how emerging evidence, guidelines, and diagnostic innovations can be integrated into STI care, with a particular interest in antimicrobial overuse. Her current research examines how targeted chlamydia testing translates into practice, using mixed methods to capture effects across the health system.

Jessica Michaels is the Deputy CEO at ASHM. Jessicas work at ASHM includes overseeing the implementation of HIV, sexual health, hepatitis C and hepatitis B workforce development, capacity building, resources, strategies and policies across Australia.