A/Prof Barton is a primary care scientist in the Department of General Practice. An experienced academic working across primary care and public health, his current research program is centred around quality in primary care management of complex and chronic illness and focuses specially on patient experience of care and management of respiratory illness and smoking/vaping cessation in primary care. He has a long-standing research interest in the emotional and social impact of chronic respiratory illnesses including asthma and COPD amongst primary care patients and individuals living in the community. This research is cited in Australia’s asthma management guidelines and has helped shape the current National Asthma Strategy 2018 and is cited in the Lung Foundation Australia Blue Print for Action on COPD (2022-25). He is the Convener of the Primary Care special interest group of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (TSANZ)

Professor Smita Shah OAM is a distinguished Community Physician and the Founder and Director of the Prevention Education and Research Unit (PERU) at Westmead Hospital, Sydney. With over 40 years of dedicated service, she has significantly contributed to the health and wellbeing of diverse communities through innovative, evidence-based programs.Professor Shah has been a pioneer in primary health care research, particularly in working with disadvantaged communities. She has initiated, developed, and managed numerous projects targeting immunisation, asthma, healthy lifestyles, obesity prevention, smoking cessation, and Aboriginal health. Her work has fostered significant academic and cross-departmental partnerships at both national and international levels.