Gordon Bunyan has lived with T1D for over 50 year and for all of that time has been active in diabetes member and research organisations in Australia, and internationally as Chair of the IDF Western Pacific Region, Vice President of International Diabetes Federation and as an initial director of Life For A Child (USA). Today he is a director of Diabetes Australia, Deputy Chair, Programme Committee for the IDF-WPR Australasian Diabetes Congress 2026 and the Kellion Victory Medal Ambassador in Australia. He is a strong advocate for people with diabetes, working to ensure organisations put people with diabetes first. And, by racing classic sports cars in his spare time, demonstrates that the things other people think we should NOT do are always possible.

Renza Scibilia has lived with type 1 diabetes since 1998. She is a diabetes advocate and activist, and is Senior Director of Global Responsibility at Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF). She has worked for diabetes organisations for the last twenty-five years, promoting a person-centred approach to the development, design and delivery of diabetes technologies, services, resources, research and education programs. Renza is also the Global Head of Advocacy for #dedoc°, a European-based organisation which provides opportunities for diabetes advocates from across the world to become part of a peer network and attend professional conferences under the banner #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs. Renza has extensive experience as a consultant, facilitator, presenter, and media spokesperson and is frequently invited to speak at conferences where she speaks about topics including the role of peer support in healthcare, diabetes technology and digital solutions, why language and communication matters in healthcare and how to reduce diabetes-related stigma. Renza is the author of Diabetogenic, (www.diabetogenic.wordpress.com) and a regular contributor to many online and print health publications.

Alicia Jenkins is adult endocrinologist and researcher. Her interests include the prediction and prevention of diabetes complications, lipids, and technology use in diabetes care. She is the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Chair (2025-27), on various IDF committees and President of the Diabetes NGO Insulin For Life.

Anita is a patient advocate with over 10 years of experience, driven by 28 years of living with Type 1 Diabetes, later diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and chronic kidney disease. She works to improve access to care, reduce stigma, and amplify patient voices. Through collaboration with advocacy groups, health professionals, and policymakers, she pushes for systemic change and support inclusive diabetes care, especially for women and young adults.

Justine Cain has led Diabetes Australia as Group Chief Executive Officer since 2021. Ms Cain has held senior executive and Board roles with listed, privately owned, private equity-backed and not-for-profit organisations in the health, human services and general insurance sectors. Justine is currently on the Board of UnitingCare Queensland. Justine’s expertise spans transformational leadership roles, strategy development and execution, customer-centric leadership, large-scale operational delivery, government relations, advocacy and complex stakeholder management. Justine is committed to achieving equity in access to health services, population health improvement and judicious use of funding. Justine holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Science from the Australian National University. Justine has undertaken executive education at both Harvard and Insead and is a member of Chief Executive Women and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In June 2025, Justine’s leadership in the health sector was recognised by the Australian Financial Review Women in Leadership Awards with Justine being a finalist in the health services category.

Professor Josephine Forbes from Mater Research-UQ in Queensland, is the current President of the Australian Diabetes Society advocating and supporting better and more equitable health care and research funding for people with diabetes. Her translational research extends from bench to bedside for novel therapies to prevent type 1 diabetes and kidney disease in vulnerable groups including youth and those who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Ann has 20 years of experience as a registered nurse. She is a CDE working in metropolitan acute care, rural community health and private practice. Ann has been a member of the ADEA-VIC Branch Executive for six years and is a member of the ADEA Victoria Branch Conference Organising Committee. She has represented the ADEA as a member of a health advisory panel working with the Victorian Department of Education and Training and is passionate about diabetes education. Ann believes in the sustainability of private practice. Her focus is ensuring the CDE role is evidence-based best practice and continues to support the lobbying and support for ADEA members.

Professor Christopher (Chris) Nolan is a clinician-scientist working in the field of diabetes, including diabetes in pregnancy. He is Professor of Endocrinology at the Australian National University and a Senior Staff Specialist in Diabetes and Endocrinology at The Canberra Hospital. Under his leadership as Director of Diabetes Services (2011-2018), the ACT Health Diabetes Service was recognised as a National Centre of Excellence by the National Association of Diabetes Centres. His research activities traverse basic science, clinical science and public health. A few of his key discoveries include the feto-placental glucose steal phenomenon, the glycerolipid fatty acid cycle in islet beta-cells, major pre-analytical issues with laboratory measurement of glucose impacting gestational diabetes (GDM) diagnosis, and the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment of GDM in at risk women. Current projects include the investigation of insulin hypersecretion and how to reverse it in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, the utility of the Objective FieldAnalyszer for diabetic eye disease, and the development of a novel breath ketone monitor. He is currently a Board Member of the Australian Diabetes Society, Chair of the National Association of Diabetes Centres Steering Committee, and Co-Chair of the Program Organizing Committee for the IDF-WPR/ ADC/ Metabolic Diseases 2026 Congress.

Professor Jonathan Shaw is Deputy Director (Clinical and Population Health) at Melbourne’s Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, where his research focuses on epidemiology and clinical research in diabetes, and he is also a consultant physician in the diabetes services. He has authored over 600 peer-reviewed scientific papers, is the Chair of the Diabetes Advisory Group to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, President-Elect of the Australian Diabetes Society, and a Past-President of the International Diabetes Epidemiology Group. He has appeared on a number of the lists of the world’s most highly-cited researchers.

Dr Ashley Ng is a diabetes advocate, a diabetes researcher and accredited practising dietitian. Her lived experience has led to her passion in consumer and community involvement in research. Ashley's research interests include supporting young adults with diabetes during life transitions, digital health solutions in diabetes care and peer support.