ORGANISING COMMITTEE  

Anita Dessaix  

Conference Co-Chair 

Anita Dessaix is the Director for Cancer Prevention and Advocacy at Cancer Council NSW and is responsible for leading strategy to reduce the burden of cancer and reduce cancer risk across through targeted programs, policy, advocacy and retail stores. Anita is currently Chair of the Cancer Council Public Health Committee and has more than 15 years’ experience within the NSW public health sector, with 12 years in cancer prevention specifically. Anita has held a number of senior management positions in public health having previously worked in organisations such as the Cancer Institute NSW, the NSW Ministry of Health as well as private consulting.

Melissa Ledger  

Conference Co-Chair 

Melissa Ledger has worked in cancer prevention at Cancer Council WA for over 20 years and has been the Director of our Cancer Prevention and Research programs for almost 6 years. As Director Melissa is responsible for the development and delivery of several high profile public education campaigns in WA including Make Smoking History, and Clear the Air (vaping prevention campaign), SunSmart, LiveLighter®, Find Cancer Early and Alcohol Think Again (in partnership with Mental Health Commission). As the Director she also provides leadership, and strategic direction for our cancer prevention policy and advocacy agenda, as well as oversight of our wide variety of cancer prevention programs that aim to reduce the incidence of cancer through education, creating supportive environments and challenging social norms. Melissa holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Science from Curtin University. Melissa is the Deputy Chair of Cancer Council Australia’s Public Health Committee and a Cancer Council media spokesperson on a broad range of cancer prevention topics.

Alecia Brooks  

Alecia Brooks is the Manager of the Tobacco Control Unit for Cancer Council NSW and Chair of Cancer Council Australia's Tobacco Issues Committee. The Tobacco Control Unit works collaboratively to reduce the impact of tobacco use through evidence-based policy and programs in NSW. Alecia has been working in cancer prevention for almost 15 years and with two young children is passionate in creating and advocating for supportive environments and policy to create healthy lifestyles particularly for our younger generations!

Sharyn Chin Fat 

Sharyn is the Senior Manager, Prevention and Early Detection at Cancer Council Queensland. She plays a pivotal role in developing and delivering information and programmes aimed at reducing cancer risk and early detection of cancer. Sharyn Chin Fat has over 17 years of professional experience working with people affected by work-related injuries, including occupational related cancers, and in the health charities sector, with her most recent experience in cancer information and prevention. Her experience extends to various sectors, having worked in Government Owned Corporations, private industry and the Not for Profit and Charity sector. Educationally, Sharyn holds a Bachelor of Behavioural Science, with majors in Psychology and Occupational Health and Safety management. Additionally, she has earned a Diploma in Frontline Management, and completed a mini-MBA. Cancer Council Queensland’s mission is to lead Queenslanders in a partnership against cancer and is here to support all Queenslanders impacted by cancer. by reducing cancer risk, improving early detection, and improving the quality of life for Queenslanders impacted by a cancer diagnosis.

Laura Hunter  

Laura is the Co-Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Council on Smoking and Health (ACOSH). ACOSH drives strategic tobacco control advocacy to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians. Laura leads and delivers a comprehensive program of tobacco control advocacy that aims to influence policy and legislation and inform public debate.

Libby Jardine 

Libby Jardine is the Manager of the Make Smoking History program based at Cancer Council WA. Libby has been in this role for over 12 years and leads a team that implements an evidence-based comprehensive program to drive down smoking rates in WA. Libby previously worked in New South Wales and Queensland in cancer prevention roles, and her background is in behavioural science, health science and community development.

Hayley Jones

Hayley Jones is Director of the McCabe Centre for Law & Cancer, a joint initiative of Cancer Council Victoria, the Union for International Cancer Control and Cancer Council Australia. Hayley leads the McCabe Centre team based in Australia, Fiji, Kenya, New Zealand and the Philippines. Through world-leading research and training programs, the McCabe Centre empowers individuals, organisations and governments to use law to prevent cancer and other noncommunicable diseases, and to advance equitable health care for all people. Hayley is Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre of Law and Noncommunicable Disease and leads the McCabe Centre’s work as the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Knowledge Hub on Legal Challenges. Hayley is Co-Chair of the Executive Board for the Australian Network of WHO Collaborating Centres. Dual-qualified as a lawyer in Australia and England, and with a Master of Laws from the University of Melbourne, Hayley’s background includes legal initiatives supporting access to justice.

A/Prof Michelle Kennedy

A/Prof Michelle Kennedy is a Wiradjuri woman and a mid-career researcher, partnering with Aboriginal communities to address priority areas to improve Aboriginal health. Michelle brings 16 year’s experience working with Aboriginal communities and Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing to the health research space to deliver health research that is appropriate, engaging and meaningful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Michelle is leading several community-led smoking cessation interventions under the Which Way program. Michelle is the Assistant Dean Indigenous Strategy and Leadership for the College of Health Medicine and Wellbeing at the University of Newcastle, a Research Advisor at the Lowitja Institute and outgoing Vice President Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander for the Public Health Association.

Sam Pope

Paige Preston

Paige is the General Manager of Policy, Advocacy and Prevention at Lung Foundation Australia. She holds a Master of Public Health and Bachelor of Health Sciences from the University of Queensland, where she is also an Adjunct Lecturer. Paige has strong experience in public health policy, government relations, health promotion programs and projects. Her roles have primarily focussed on chronic disease prevention, environmental health, health system improvements and equitable access to support and services.

Andrew Schultz

Andrew is a health promotion professional who has worked across a variety of disciplines. He is currently Tobacco Lead at the Cancer Council of SA. This role leads Cancer Council SA tobacco strategy, supports programs addressing tobacco use within Community Service Organisations, provides cessation advice across SA organisations, tobacco control advocacy and communications. Andrew holds a Masters in Business Administration specialising in Health and Human Services and a previous Exercise Physiologist. He has worked in areas of water safety, corporate health, injury prevention, and tackling smoking programs. Andrew’s passion lies in programs addressing tobacco use particularly within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Lani Teddy

Lani (Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi) is a Research Fellow based at Te Rōpū Rangahau Hauora a Eru Pōmare (Eru Pōmare Māori Health Research Centre), and ASPIRE Aotearoa at the University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. Lani is working on research projects that focus on Indigenous perspectives of tobacco and has a strong interest in how youth perceive vaping, and policies related to nicotine products.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE  

A/Prof Becky Freeman  

Conference Co-Chair 

Associate Professor Becky Freeman is an established global authority on the potential of the Internet to circumvent tobacco-advertising bans and enhance tobacco control efforts. As part of the Prevention Research Collaboration, she leads a program of research focused on countering the commercial determinants of health. She is a frequent commentator in the news media on tobacco control topics and the health impacts of advertising. She is the Chief Investigator of the Generation Vape research study.

A/Prof Raglan Maddox  

Conference Co-Chair 

Associate Professor Raglan Maddox’s (Bagumani (Modewa) Clans, Papua New Guinea) program of research has focused on developing and analysing population based Indigenous heath info-systems using community driven processes, focusing on commercial tobacco and nicotine use. This research has been generating primary data platforms and returning data to Indigenous communities to help better understand and improve Indigenous health and wellbeing.

Danny Allende  

Danny Allende is a proud Aboriginal man from La Perouse who is currently leading Na Joomelah, a successful Tackling Indigenous Smoking team which services the Sydney and Illawarra Region. Working in community for over 10 years, Danny is passionate about improving health outcomes through education and physical activity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Lorena Chapman  

Janet Clarke  

Janet is a Senior Advisor, Prevention and Early Detection at Cancer Council Queensland, where she is a subject matter expert on cancer prevention and early detection. With a Master's degree in Public Health and a Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Nutrition Sciences from The University of Queensland, her career has spanned across not-for-profit organisations, hospital nutrition and corporate health. She sits on the Cancer Council Federation’s Tobacco Issues Committee and the Cancer Screening and Immunisation’s Lung Portfolio Group.

Michelle Daley  

Michelle is currently the Program Lead, Tobacco Control Policy for Cancer Council NSW. Michelle has worked in public health for over 25 years in both government and NGO sectors. Her work has spanned policy, advocacy, intervention research and health promotion program management.

Dr Lucy Hardie  

Dr Lucy Hardie is a Research Fellow at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. Her PhD (Public Health) examined e-cigarette marketing and policy in New Zealand, focusing on implications for youth. Her current work focuses on e-cigarette policy in the Western Pacific Region, tobacco and vape industry marketing through digital platforms and policy evaluation. Lucy is a Health Coalition Aotearoa (HCA) Smokefree Expert Advisory Group member. She has contributed to vape-related public interest media, policy statements, and submissions for the New Zealand Public Health Association and Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand.

Emily Jenkinson  

Emily Jenkinson is a Project Lead in the Tobacco Control Unit at Cancer Council NSW. Emily is the project manager for Generation Vape, a national research project exploring vaping among young people in Australia and leads on e-cigarette policy and advocacy initiatives at both a state and federal level for CCNSW. Emily has been involved in numerous state and federal policy submissions to improve tobacco and e-cigarette legislation and is experienced in delivering and evaluation health promotion programs. Emily’s skills include project management, grant writing, stakeholder engagement and health communication with a particular interest in improving the translation of research findings into public health policy to improve health outcomes.

A/Prof Michelle Jongenelis   

Associate Professor Michelle Jongenelis has expertise in health promotion, intervention development and evaluation, behavioural psychology, and clinical psychology. She works across multiple and diverse health-related behaviours including alcohol and tobacco control (including use of e-cigarettes), nutrition, physical activity, and sun protection. Michelle works as a researcher and consultant for a broad range of organisations covering the not-for-profit and government sectors. She sits on the Australian Council of Smoking and Health, and the World Federation of Public Health Associations’ Tobacco Control Working Group.

Alicia King   

A proud Yamatji woman from Meekatharra, WA, with a background in health promotion Alicia has worked in tobacco control for the past six years. Alicia previously worked with Make Smoking History to deliver the Community Services program, which focused on supporting people experiencing disadvantage to access best practice smoking cessation support. Alicia currently coordinates the Yarning It Up, Don’t Smoke It Up program at East Metropolitan Health Service, the program is designed to support Aboriginal community members to stop smoking through health education sessions.

Andy Mark   

Andy has worked in smoking cessation and tobacco control for almost 25 years. In his role with the Heart Foundation, he worked with staff from Aboriginal Medical Services and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District between 20001 and 2005 to develop a smoking cessation program for local Aboriginal community members. He also worked with a number of other organisations to advocate for local councils and the NSW government to introduce smoke-free outdoor areas, including children's playgrounds and alfresco dining areas. This work formed the basis of his Masters of Public Health by Research. In his Heart Foundation role, Andy advocated for tighter regulations on e-cigarettes, including banning their sale to U18s, and product restrictions under federal laws. Andy currently works for Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District as a team leader of their Smoking and Vaping Prevention Team.

Amanda McAtamney  

Amanda McAtamney is a health policy professional working as Manager of Public Health Policy at Cancer Council Australia. She has a Masters in Policy and Applied Social Research and a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology). Amanda's current portfolio of work focuses on the development and promotion of evidence-based cancer prevention, screening and early detection policy to the Australian Government and the wider community, and influencing the delivery of cancer control policy, research, treatment and care to reduce the impact of cancer in Australia. Amanda has significant experience working across a range of multi-disciplinary healthcare environments, undertaking policy development, health promotion, program development, evaluation, knowledge translation, and communications research. Amanda has worked extensively with priority population group across a range of health areas. She is highly experienced in stakeholder engagement, collaboration and delivering training.

A/Prof Henry Marshall  

Associate Professor Henry Marshall, FRACP PhD, is a senior staff Thoracic Physician at The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane and Visiting Medical Officer at St Vincent’s Private Hospital Northside, Brisbane. His research, at the University of Queensland Thoracic Research Centre, aims to reduce the burden of disease caused by lung cancer by focusing on lung cancer early detection, screening and smoking cessation.

Dr Michelle Scollo AM 

Dr Michelle Scollo has worked exclusively in tobacco control for 35 years and is internationally recognized for expertise in tobacco economics and tax policy. Dr Scollo is Senior Editor of Australia’s encyclopaedic on-line Tobacco in Australia: Facts and Issues which gives her uniquely up-to-date and comprehensive understanding of tobacco control and e-cigarette research, policy and regulation at state, national and international levels. Her work has contributed to many achievements in tobacco control including: professionalization of Quit campaign planning, marketing and evaluation; establishment of Australia’s world-first fully staffed Quitline service; enhanced consumer health warnings on tobacco products in 1996, 2006 and 2012, several major increases in excise /customs duty on tobacco and—in 1999 and 2017—major reforms in the way that tobacco is taxed; the evaluation and defence of plain packaging; and development of policy proposals to restrict price related promotion and mandate reporting of marketing expenditures and sales.

Abby Smith

Abby has been the Director of Quit Tasmania for 9 years, leading Tasmania's tobacco control mass media campaigns, Quitline 13 7848 and other national and state-based tobacco control work. She also serves as Deputy Chair of Cancer Council’s National Tobacco Issues Committee and is a PhD candidate with the Prevention Research Collaboration, The University of Sydney. Abby’s research focuses on reducing tobacco retail availability, social marketing and promoting healthy retail environments.

A/Prof Marianne Weber

Associate Professor Weber is a cancer epidemiologist who leads the Lung Cancer Evaluation and Policy stream at the Daffodil Centre, a joint venture between the University of Sydney and Cancer Council NSW. Her research combines population-wide simulation modelling with epidemiology and behavioural research, with the objective of generating evidence to maximise effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of tobacco control policy and optimise implementation of lung cancer screening. Outputs, such as 50-year forecasts of smoking prevalence, have directly supported the national tobacco control agenda and lung cancer screening policy recommendations in Australia.