Carl is a Saibai Koedal clansman (Guda Muluilgal, Isua/Ibuai family) and early career academic with a clinical background in Physiotherapy. Throughout his career, he has sought to align his work with his passion to positively impact health, education, training and workforce outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As a researcher, he is completing the last year of a PhD investigating the epidemiology of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Queensland. Although he maintains a part-time clinical role at TPCH, his main role is as an Associate Lecturer position in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences, the University of Queensland. In this role he has established and leads the Mabuiag UQ Partnerships Project; a project exploring educational and research partnership opportunities between the University of Queensland and the Mabuiag Island community (Gumuilgal and Mabuilgal) of Mabuiag Island, in the near western cluster of the Torres Straits (Muluilgal).

Assoc/Prof Judith Katzenellenbogen, a past Heart Foundation Fellow, is based at the newly-formed Cardiovascular Epidemiology Research Centre at the University of Western Australia. She has expertise in applying linked data and mixed methods to the study of Aboriginal heart disease and stroke, building capacity in Aboriginal health, and using the research to advocate for changes that can improve Aboriginal health outcomes. She undertook a multi-jurisdictional Rheumatic Heart Disease linked data project (ERASE) that contributed to the End RHD initiative. She led the process evaluation of the Healing Right Way project which trialled an intervention to improve the cultural security of services provided to Aboriginal patients in WA with acquired brain injury. She is currently involved with a proof-of-concept translational project to utilise primary health care and laboratory data for the passive surveillance of Strep A in northern Australia as part of the Australian Strep A Vaccine Initiative.

Mr. Joseph Weddell is a clinician researcher, a clinical nurse specialist with a background in Cardiothoracic Intensive Care, an associate lecturer at the University of Sydney and a final year PhD candidate funded by SOLVE-CHD. Joseph's research focuses on overcoming barriers to discharge education and support in individuals after acute coronary syndrome presentation. He has a particular interest in coronary heart disease populations that do not always benefit from conventional secondary prevention strategies, such as spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and those experiencing mild cognitive impairment after heart attack. Joseph's research explores ways that these populations can most ideally access and benefit from support and information after heart disease diagnosis, such as through online resources and peer support interventions.

Dr Andrew Weston is a doctor in training at Auckland City Hospital. Even though Andy is only in the early stages of his medical career, but has shown a great interest in cardiovascular disease in renal disease and is passionate about looking at ways to improve cardiovascular outcomes. He is hoping to build on this work with a continued academic role.

Kristen is a senior sonographer at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba. She has an interest in Indigenous and rural and remote cardiac services, and rheumatic heart disease patients. She has a long involvement in cardiac sonographer assessment and training at QUT and ASUM.

Alicia is a Pacing Specialist (Accredited Clinical Physiologist) within the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Service at Fiona Stanley Hospital with an interest in research on cardiac implantable electronic devices.

Associate Professor Joshua Lewis is a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow level 3 (2024-2027), and leads the Disorders of Mineralisation Group and is the research program lead for the Nutrition and Health Innovation Research Institute at Edith Cowan University. His research focuses on developing convenient, reliable and safe tests for vascular calcification of the abdominal aorta and how this information can be used to prevent clinical cardiovascular events.

Speaker Zaixiao Tao, a PhD candidate in nutrition and cardiovascular disease, will share her research findings at this seminar. She currently focuses on improving cardiovascular health through dietary interventions.

Adam Livori is cardiology clinician researcher trained in nuclear medicine and clinical pharmacy. He currently leads clinical pharmacy services for internal medicine in the Grampians region of Victoria and is completing his PhD in biostatistics, pharmacoepidemiology, and health economics at Monash University.