Lindsay Pearce is a Research Fellow with the Justice Health Group, Curtin University, and the Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute. Lindsay uses data linkage and qualitative methods to generate high-quality evidence for system and policy change aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of socially excluded populations.

Professor Susan M Sawyer AM MBBS MD FRACP FAAHMS holds the chair of Adolescent Health at The University of Melbourne and is director of the Centre for Adolescent Health, a WHO collaborating centre for adolescent health at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

I am an academic who is passionate about youth health, public health advocacy, prevention, and health equity. As a Senior Lecturer at The University of Sydney, I specialise in public health and adolescent health. I am also a Senior Research Fellow in Child and Adolescent Health.

Grace McGowan is a fourth-year Occupational Therapy student and Senior Youth Ambassador for International Adolescent Health Week. As a member of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN) Youth Council, she integrates lived experience with chronic illness into research, co-design, and youth-led teaching to advance equitable, youth-centred health and education systems.

Fiona is a passionate youth advocate with a strong commitment to improving health equity and amplifying young people’s voices in decision-making spaces. With experience spanning research, health promotion, and community initiatives, Fiona works towards healthier, more inclusive communities through evidence informed solutions that are co-designed with young people. Fiona is particularly passionate about mental and digital health, preventative care, and cultural safety, and they believe that meaningful change happens when young people and decision makers work in genuine partnership to reimagine systems together. As Youth Co-Convenor, Fiona is excited to create a collaborative environment centred on peer leadership, curiosity and intergenerational dialogue.

Grace is a first-year nursing student and has been a member of the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN) Youth Council for 3 years, using her experience with chronic illness and disability to guide her work. She is passionate about youth advocacy and empowerment, equity across healthcare and involving young people in co-designing services. Grace is excited to attend the Youth Health conference to learn about a variety of current concerns in youth health and listen to discussions from diverse perspectives.

My name is Tiahn Vardalos, I am 20 years old and I have been a member of The Sydney Children’s Hospital Network Youth Advisory Council for 3.5 years. I became a member in hopes of using my lived experience with chronic illness and disability as a driving force to redefine Adolescent Healthcare and improve access to services for all. I am currently studying Medical Administration through TAFE and hope to one day become a Registered Nurse, combining my experiences and education to help young people like I was once helped. I look forward to meeting new people and learning new ways to improve the health system, and I am extremely grateful for the experiences I have had.

I am currently studying Occupational Therapy, with a strong interest in youth health, wellbeing and early intervention. My studies have strengthened my understanding of holistic, person-centred care and the role of evidence-based practice in improving outcomes for young people. My involvement with the SCHN Youth Council has provided valuable insight into youth healthcare, including barriers to access and initiatives that create meaningful impact. I am particularly interested in youth mental health, health equity, and the influence of social and environmental factors on wellbeing. I value collaboration, advocacy and the inclusion of youth voice in health decision-making. I am attending the Youth Health Conference to expand my knowledge, engage with current issues in youth health and contribute to discussions aimed at improving outcomes for young people.