CHARLOTTE DENNISTON*

I am a health professional educator, researcher and leader. A physiotherapist by training, I have been involved in health professional education (HPE) for over a decade. I have worked across the continuum of HPE in Australia and New Zealand; with roles at a binational medical college and two Australian Universities. I am currently a Senior Lecturer at the University of Melbourne, most recently leading the team and curriculum for the Melbourne Medical School’s four-year Professional Practice program. I have recently moved to the Collaborative Practice Centre in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences where I am actively involved in faculty wide curriculum initiatives, research supervision, and local, national and international projects.

My research and teaching focuses on the individual, interpersonal and collective actions to build person-centred, collaborative and reflective healthcare professionals. This has included a focus on professionalism, healthcare communication, feedback, clinical supervision and community and consumer engagement in HPE. I also have a particular interest in participatory and reflexive approaches, recognising the importance of diversity of perspectives in research, education and leadership.

I have been an ANZAHPE member since 2008, an Associate Fellow since 2020 and served on the ANZAHPE Committee of Management (CoM) since 2023. My roles on CoM have included serving as Honorary Membership Secretary 2023/24 and President 2024/25. I am most proud of the collaborative work done to launch ANZAHPE’s Strategic Plan in 2024. As current President of ANZAHPE, I am seeking re-election to the ANZAHPE CoM to serve for a second term. I look forward to continuing work with ANZAHPE colleagues to achieve ANZAHPE’s strategic objectives; particularly focusing on growth and sustainability of the association.

KIAH EVANS*

Kiah is an interprofessional health professions educator with >20 years experience1, spanning academia, research management and clinical leadership5,7. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, with a BSc(Hons) and PhD in Occupational Therapy, and Graduate Certificates in Health Professional Education (HPE) and Research Commercialisation1.

Kiah is a Board member for ANZAHPE (since June 2023) and UWA’s School of Allied Health (since January 2024)1. She teaches HPE to medical students and qualified health professionals, including supervision of 28 Master/PhD research projects (2021-present)1,5. This equips her with a strong understanding of contemporary HPE approaches and priorities across Australia and New Zealand6.

Kiah’s research focusses on leading national interprofessional collaborations3,4 in Australia and New Zealand to develop and/or evaluate clinical guidance resources and educational/learning support programs1. This involves building extensive partnerships with consumer and professional peak bodies (e.g. associations/colleges), health services and universities3,4. She is an elected member the Research Australia’s Executive Group (EMCR Working Group) and Advance HE Aurora alumni. Kiah expands awareness of ANZAHPE through these networks1,3,4,5,6.

As within all her roles, as ANZAHPE’s Honorary Secretary (2023-2024) and Treasurer (2024-2025)7, Kiah demonstrates strong organisational, communication, partnership and interpersonal skills with individuals/teams at local, national and international levels (e.g. co-authoring inaugural 2024-2030 Strategic Plan, introducing governance training, developing risk management systems and expanding marketing reach)1,6,7. She is facilitating diverse and inclusive health workforces through establishing an informal network (HTAG pending) for members interested in neurodivergent health students and professionals2,3,4,5. She builds education and research capacity of health students, educators and practitioners (especially rural/remote) through HPE teaching, research and leadership1,2,4,5,6.

Note: Alignment with ANZAHPE values (1Quality; 2Respect; 3Collaboration) and strategic priorities (4Nurture members, networks and collaborations; 5Support research, scholarship and innovation; 6Provide stewardship for the future; 7Enable growth and sustainability).

KATHRYN FITZGERALD

I am an allied health professional and rural health advocate with over 35 years of experience. I currently work at the WA Centre for Rural Health (University Department of Rural Health (UDRH)) in Geraldton, Western Australia, on the lands of the Yamatji Nations Peoples. In this UDRH role, I develop innovative, interprofessional education programs across a range of health disciplines and contribute to rural research projects focussing on health professions education.

I hold a Master of Health Professions Education, Bachelor of Applied Science (Speech and Hearing Science), Postgraduate Diploma in Rural Health and a Graduate Diploma of Business. I am currently undertaking a Doctor of Education program, researching teaching and learning clinical reasoning during student work-integrated learning placements. I am also a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

I bring extensive experience in strategic leadership and collaborative practice across regional, national, and international networks. I have completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors course and have governance experience, including as a current Board Member of Midwest Community Living Association and former national president and board member of Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health (SARRAH).

My values strongly align with ANZAHPE’s strategic priorities, particularly the role of education in enabling interprofessional collaboration and improving health outcomes. I am particularly committed to strengthening pre-professional and early career education opportunities as a foundation for collaborative practice in rural and remote communities. I am an active member of multiple health communities of practice and a strong advocate for equitable access to high-quality education for rural health professionals.

I would welcome the opportunity to contribute to ANZAHPE. Serving on the Committee of Management would allow me to develop my skills and networks further, while offering my experience, insight, and commitment to advancing health professions education across Australia and New Zealand.

SCOTT McCOOMBE*

• Health Professional Education Expertise

Scott is currently the Vice President of ANZAHPE CoM and has two decades of experience in Health Professions Education and Medical Course leadership roles spanning curriculum development, global medicine, admission and selection.

• Interpersonal skills - individuals and teams

He is experienced in executive roles, staff management, faculty development and student support. Scott is a well-regarded member on internal and external Committees at University of Western Australia and University of Arizona while maintaining a global HPE network. He was ANZAHPE Conference Convenor in 2023 and is current conference committee member.

• Partnerships (local, national, international)

Scott maintains networks through MDANZ, AMEE, IEAA and AZAHPE. He is Associate Dean (Global) at UWA medical School with responsibility for the global footprint (research, clinical, student mobility).

• Commitment to diversity

Scott acknowledges the many privileges he has as a white, heterosexual, middle-aged man and has been actively involved in diversity, equity and inclusion roles since his early 20’s. He’s an HIV researcher, educator and advocate, a mentor and peer for emerging inclusive leaders and an active and trusted ally for diverse students and staff.

• Organisational skills and leadership

Scott co-led the 2024 development of ANZAHPE’s strategic plan. He also leads a large and dispersed team between UWA and the University of Arizona. He remains an active educator, researcher, volunteer, husband and father across time zones.

• Alignment with ANZAHPE values and strategic priorities

ANZAHPE’s strategic priorities centre upon collaboration, support, advocacy and strategic growth. ‘The ANZAHPE way’ drew Scott in as a fledgling Health Professional educator in 2013. ANZAHPE has provided early career opportunities to many of Australia’s leading educators and done so in an altruistic, equitable and inclusive way. Scott appreciates the opportunities ANZAHPE provides and aims to provide stewardship of this on CoM to help grow the next generation of ANZAHPE leaders.

NALINI PATHER*

From commitment to health professionals’ education stems from witnessing its power to change communities and lives early in my learning journey. Beginning my career as a health professionals’ educator in South Africa, I continued with this focus in Australia when I immigrated in 2009. ANZAHPE's mission of promoting excellence in health professional education immediately resonated with my own values, and I found a valued professional home in the organisation. I have contributed consistently to ANZAHPE and was accepted as an ANZAHPE Fellow in 2021. I currently serve in the CoM as a Board Director, the Membership Secretary and the 2025 Conference Convenor.

My formal leadership experience includes encompasses my current role as the UQ Mayne Professor & Director, Academy for Medical Education, and my previous roles as the Associate Dean Education Innovation, and Head of Anatomy at UNSW. I have successfully led large-scale education innovation projects, and been instrumental in three medicine program and 4 allied health program designs over my career. Having worked across multiple health disciplines, I bring deep experience in program and assessment design and technology-enhanced learning.

My commitment to diversity is grounded in both lived experience, and deep professional engagement. I have a strong commitment to genuine student partnership in education. At UNSW, I served as the Faculty Chair for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion for four years and contributed significantly to a range of EDI strategies that fostered inclusive education practices and supported staff development. At UQ, I champion student partnership and curricular approaches to student wellbeing. My evidence-based approach is supported by extensive publications in health professional education and aligns directly with ANZAHPE's commitment to scholarship and excellence.

Internationally, I serve as Chair of IFAA's International Program for Anatomical Education, where I have established collaborative networks across 37 countries, and promote professional development, particularly for academics in under-resourced countries. This experience enhances my ability to advance ANZAHPE’s international presence and impact.

I am committed to supporting ANZAHPE members by focussing on our strategic plan to strengthen collaboration and networking between the annual meetings, and particularly through supporting the work of special interest groups.

STEPHEN TOBIN*

Professor Stephen Tobin is CEO & Dean of New Medical Education, a private company whose raison d’etre is to establish and deliver an innovative graduate medical program for Australia. This geographically distributed MD program has excellent faculty, creative design, sophisticated online resources for its small group model, aligned in-person teaching, dedicated First Nations curriculum, programmatic assessment and early, becoming extensive primary care clinical experience. NewMed is planning to commence in 2026, subject to regulatory approval.

Stephen, originally a general and colorectal surgeon in Ballarat, Victoria has had leadership roles in the two main Ballarat hospitals, medical schools and RACS for about 25 years, including Deakin University and the University of Notre Dame in Ballarat. He also taught for the University of Melbourne. He was RACS Dean of Education from 2012-2018.

He commenced in fulltime medical education as Associate Dean at WSU in 2019: during this time, he developed EPAs for final year medical students, led the move to non-graded pass/fail assessment, oversighted clinical medicine MD projects and aligned the longitudinal rural years outcomes with the metro program. He co-designed the Assistants-in-Medicine program with NSW Health and won two separate WSU awards, from VC and DVC).

As an ANZAHPE Board member, he has recently been the Operation Chair (Secretary), involved with risk management, review of constitution and meeting with lawyers, some OPGI discussions with the Executive Officer and general board matters. He is also Public Officer and contributes as a Fellow, including abstract reviews. He has supported NewMed faculty becoming ANZAHPE members.

Outside of all this, he is Clinical Advisor for ACHS, and member of the Progress Monitoring Sub-Committee of SEAC at AMC (related to postgraduate medical colleges).

He now lives in Sydney, is married with three adult daughters and intends to stay in the green zone (<90min) for City-to-Surf.