ENHANCING PROGRAM DELIVERY session - author bios
Maddi Whittle (Sexual Health Quarters)
Maddi is the Health Promotion Coordinator at Sexual Health Quarters. Maddi graduated from a Bachelor of Psychology in 2014, and completed a Master of Sexology in 2017. She was the Coordinator of the FIFO Sexual Health Project at Sexual Health Quarters (SHQ), a non-profit organisation that works to educate, inform, and empower people to enjoy sexual health and relationship wellbeing.
Marcus Shaw (WAAC)
Marcus is currently the Specialist of Advocacy and Strategic Projects at WAAC, a non-government organisation that works towards improving access to services and reducing transmission of HIV, sexually transmissible infections, and blood-borne viruses. He is a registered Counsellor with the Australian Counselling Association, and holds a Master of Counselling, Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) and Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation.
Graham Brown (Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society [ARCSHS])
Graham Brown is a Professor at the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society. Graham has been working with communities affected by HIV and Hepatitis C for over 25 years. He has built a research portfolio in community-based health promotion research, with a focus on the interaction between research, policy and practice, and the role of peer and community led programs. Originally from WA he maintains collaborations with WA community, policy and research sectors. Graham also identifies as a HIV peer researcher and has been living with HIV since 1996.
Peta Gava (Peer Based Harm Reduction WA [PBHRWA])
Peta Gava is a peer worker at Peer Based Harm Reduction WA. Peta has worked in a variety of roles within the organisation for more than seven years. She is passionate about supporting peers to empower peers and the ‘Nothing About Us, Without Us’ movement, which speaks to the need for the meaningful involvement of people who use drugs in policy and service development.
Rochelle Tobin (SiREN)
Rochelle Tobin completed her PhD utlising systems thinking methods to investigate the role the WA Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Applied Research and Evaluation Network (SiREN) played in influencing policy and practice within its member network. Rochelle has a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science (Health Promotion and Nutrition). Rochelle has worked within the Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health (CERIPH) since 2012 across a range of issues including: health promotion sector workforce development, LGBTIQA+ wellbeing, youth suicide, diabetes and sedentary behaviour, sexual health and blood-borne viruses. Rochelle is skilled at supporting evaluation capacity building within non-government organisations. She is currently co-located at WAAC and Freedom supporting research and evaluation capacity development and evidence informed decision making.
Máiréad Grant (WAAC)
Máiréad Grant is the Manager –of Community Health and Wellbeing at WAAC. Máiréad received a B.A, (Hons) Social Care from MTU, Ireland and has worked across the disability, mental health, aged care and sexual health sectors. Máiréad is passionate about utilising evidence-based research and evaluation to inform service planning and delivery. Engagement with the community WAAC serves, alongside high-quality research and evaluation supports the development of targeted, community specific, best practice guidelines to support the improvement of the wellbeing of the people WAAC serve.
Anthony K.J. Smith (Centre for Social Research in Health [CSRH])
Dr Anthony K J Smith (he/him) is a sociologist of health, gender, and sexuality specialising in HIV, sexual health, and LGBTQ+ communities. He is employed as a postdoctoral researcher at the Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, and is an Adjunct Research Fellow in the Curtin School of Population Health, and an associate of the Australian Human Rights Institute (UNSW). Anthony’s research draws on qualitative methodologies, sociological theory, data justice, critical public health, and science and technologies studies. He is Editorial Advisory Board member of Health Sociology Review and Associate Editor of Sexual Health.
Ali Lori (HepatitisWA)
Ali Lori started her career with HepatitisWA as a volunteer on the NSP in 2015. Since then, Ali has worked on several projects over the years including facilitating the Hip Hop program in the WA government prisons, working with CaLD communities on the Hepatitis B community project, Coordinator of the NSP/Volunteer programs and now working as the Clinic Care Coordinator/Phlebotomist for HepatitisWA’s Deen Clinic.
Ali shares her passion for harm reduction and is dedicated to working with vulnerable communities. “Helping patients make better choices when it comes to their health and being able to help provide quality healthcare that everybody deserves, is the whole package for me”.
Jess McNabb (HepatitisWA)
Jess McNabb is a Registered Nurse with 10 years clinical experience. Her roles have included Aged Care, School, and General Practice Nursing. Jess is currently Clinic Nurse with The Deen Clinic. Jess’s role involves screening patients for hepatitis and other blood borne viruses, immunisations, sexual health care and general practice nursing. Jess seeks to identify unmet needs in individuals and engages with them while encouraging health seeking behaviour in an environment that is without prejudice or judgement.
Rhys Ross (WAAC)
Rhys Ross has been working as a dedicated HIV Peer Educator at WAAC since 2022, with a background as a qualified mental health support worker. Rhys is committed to breaking down stigma and improving the quality of life for individuals living with HIV. Rhys is passionate about advocacy and education in the field of HIV care with a strong focus on promoting awareness and providing support. Rhys actively works towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for individuals living with HIV so they feel empowered and uplifted. Rhys strives to make a positive impact in the lives of those facing HIV-related challenges.
