Anthony is the Program Manager for the DIABETES across the LIFECOURSE: Northern Australia Partnership at Menzies School of Health Research, bringing a wealth of experience and dedication to his role. Since 2012, he has served as a Project Manager, playing a key role in numerous groundbreaking and impactful projects. Throughout his career, Anthony has been instrumental in the successful execution of innovative projects, including the co-design of enhanced care models for youth with Type 2 Diabetes and the implementation of community health initiatives such as the Healthy Stores 2020 project.

His portfolio also includes initiatives like SHOP@RIC, the BREAD Study, and FoodFox. Anthony is driven by a commitment to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through strategic planning, effective team leadership, and collaborative stakeholder engagement.

Based in Darwin, Anthony dedicates a significant portion of his time to travelling across Northern Australia, engaging with service providers, health professionals, and community members. His deep commitment to fostering these relationships highlights the importance of collaboration and community engagement in his work.

Diabetes in Pregnancy Co-Design and DIP Clinical Register

Diana MacKay is a clinician-researcher within the Diabetes Across the Lifecourse: Northern Australia Partnership, and is an endocrinologist at Royal Darwin Hospital where she is the Clinical Lead of Diabetes. Diana has research expertise in mixed-methods and program evaluation, in the areas of diabetes and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Diana is currently completing her PhD, leading the evaluation of the Partnership’s work to improve models of care for diabetes in pregnancy in the NT and Far North Queensland. Diana’s other current research includes a co-design program with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to reduce the diabetes-related risks before, during and after a pregnancy complicated by diabetes, funded by the Medical Research Future Fund.

Originally from South-East Queensland, Diana moved to the NT in 2017. She has developed and contributed to numerous guidelines relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, including the CARPA Remote Primary Healthcare Manuals. She sits on the Clinical Advisory Committee of the Australian Diabetes Society and the NT Maternal and Neonatal Network, and co-chairs the NT Gender Affirming Care Network.

Intergenerational Health in the Northern Territory, IMPACT Diabetes NT, and the Screening for diabetes in pregnancy among Aboriginal women in remote NT communities, and the DIP Clinical Register

Matt is a clinician-researcher whose work focuses on addressing the intergenerational impacts of diabetes and related conditions among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. He is a Staff Specialist and Clinical Lead for Remote Services within the Endocrinology Department at Royal Darwin Hospital. Matt is also currently a Board Director of the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society and serves on the Research Advisory Committee of the Australian Diabetes Society.  

After completing his undergraduate medical training, Matt undertook specialist physician training at The Alfred Hospital and later Monash Health in Melbourne. He moved to Darwin in 2019 to complete a PhD under the supervision of Professor Louise Maple-Brown looking at intergenerational trends in diabetes and cardiometabolic health in a large data-linkage study.

Matt has a longstanding interest in the epidemiology, determinants, and prevention of non-communicable diseases. Through both clinical and academic work, he is committed to working collaboratively to reduce health inequalities. He has previous experience working with the Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne and the MRC Epidemiology Unit at the University of Cambridge. His work has been recognised with awards and scholarships from the Australian Diabetes Society, National Health and Medical Research Council, International Diabetes Epidemiology Group, Australian Academy of Science, Diabetes Australia, and the US Centers for Disease Control.

Matt is currently the lead investigator on multiple epidemiology and translational projects, with competitive funding from the Diabetes Australia Research Program and the Commonwealth Department of Health.
 

Intergenerational Health in the Northern Territory (I-HiNT), IMPACT Diabetes NT, and the Screening for diabetes in pregnancy among Aboriginal women in remote NT communities study

Dr Hannah Barbour is an early career researcher with research and teaching experience in geography and demography. She is currently Research Fellow in Education and Training Evaluation in Regional and Remote Australia at Poche SA + NT, and Senior Research Officer at Menzies School of Health Research.

Cardiovascular Risk in Indigenous People (CRISP), Intergenerational Health in the Northern Territory (I-HiNT), IMPACT Diabetes NT, and the Screening for diabetes in pregnancy among Aboriginal women in remote NT communities study

Isabella Marovich is based in Melbourne, Victoria. She has a background in public health and epidemiology, and has worked in research and government roles relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health since 2019. She is passionate about knowledge translation and data-driven policy-making.

Isabella is the Project Manager for Epidemiology and Clinical Diabetes projects and has previously worked in the Diabetes and Pregnancy team in the Partnership. She is currently studying for her Master of Public Health at Charles Darwin University.

Diabetes in Pregnancy Co-Design

Kim has a professional background in physiotherapy, with clinical experience across a variety of acute hospital and community settings. Her passion for maternal health and chronic disease management and prevention has led her to pursue a career in public health. She is currently studying for her Master of Public Health at Charles Darwin University.

Based in Mparntwe (Alice Springs), Kim joined the Partnership in 2021. Kim is the Project Coordinator for the Diabetes in Pregnancy Co-design study and will co-lead the evaluation for this work. Kim has previously worked as part of the Youth Type 2 Diabetes Co-design team. 

Diabetes in Pregnancy Co-Design

Norlisha is a Bardi and Jabirr-Jabirr woman from the Kimberley. Norlisha has nine years of experience working in remote communities in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, including work in the Diabetes Partnership.

Norlisha has been with the Diabetes Partnership for four years and is now a Project Officer in the Diabetes in Pregnancy team and Stakeholder Engagement. 

Norlisha is passionate and committed to working with communities to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, families, and communities. 

Diabetes in Pregnancy Co-Design

Sherrelle is an Adnyamathanha, Arabana and Afghan woman, originally from South Australia. Sherrelle moved to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) in 2015 and currently works as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner in the maternity ward at Alice Springs Hospital. With 13 years’ experience in maternal health, Sherrelle has previously worked as a first contact for Midwifery Group Practice patients and as an Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care worker at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide.

Sherrelle is passionate about working with pregnant and postnatal women to support them and their families, and joins the Diabetes in Pregnancy Codesign team in Central Australia in the role of Project Officer – Community and Stakeholder Engagement.

Diabetes in Pregnancy Co-Design

Tara coordinates the Diabetes in Pregnancy co-design study and is based in Darwin. She joined the team in late 2019, bringing experience in community and organisational development, health policy and consumer/systemic advocacy.

Intergenerational Health in the Northern Territory (I-HiNT), IMPACT Diabetes NT, and the Screening for diabetes in pregnancy among Aboriginal women in remote NT communities study

Dr Winnie Chen is a clinician with research interests in health economics and health informatics. Winnie recently completed her PhD with the Territory Kidney Care team at Menzies. She is developing skill sets in health economics (modelled economic evaluations), health informatics (EHR/clinical decision support), and data analysis (Python/R).

Winnie works clinically as a GP and is a lecturer at Flinders NT. Previously, she worked as a medical editor (Medical Journal of Australia) and clinical guidelines editor (Northern Territory Primary Health Network).

Diabetes in Pregnancy Co-Design

Yirgjhilya is a proud Wuthathi Woman from Shelburne Bay, Cape York, Far North Queensland and a proud Mirning Woman from the Far West Coast of South Australia raised in Cairns, Far North Queensland. Yirgjhilya is a skilled and highly qualified Administrator who studied business and gained valuable experience over the past seven years working throughout Australia. Yirgjhilya is passionate and committed to health equity for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and, through this passion, is a Director on the Board of Wuchopperen Health Service in Cairns, Far North Queensland. 

Senior Research Fellow & PANDORA Wave 2 and Coronary Artery Calcium (CAC) Lead 

Dr Anna Wood is Head of Department of Endocrinology at Royal Darwin Hospital and a Senior Research Fellow with Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin. She works within the Diabetes Across the Lifecourse Partnership at Menzies, and leads the PANDORA study. Dr Wood  also leads the weight management service in the NT with expertise in cardiometabolic health. Dr Wood is a Director of the Australian Diabetes Society and serves on the steering committees for the National Association of Diabetes Centres and the Obesity Collective.

After spending 2 years working on the Aboriginal Birth Cohort study and the Top End Cohort study as Project Officer, Ally has now taken on the Project Co-Ordinator position on the Pregnancy and Neonatal Diabetes Outcomes in Remote Australia (PANDORA) study.

Ally has over 10 years’ experience as a Physiotherapist, and over 5 years’ experience working as a health professional in Indigenous remote health.

Her passion for working with and helping to contribute and improve health outcomes for First Nations peoples, led her to taking on a research-based role here at Menzies. 

Trained as a Physiotherapist, Alison has enjoyed the transition to project work and has worked on quite a few studies at Menzies in her more than 10 years with the organisation.

She has worked on all stages of the PANDORA study excluding the initial recruitment of participants.

Ellie is based in Larrakia Country (Darwin) and her background is in Exercise Physiology. Her keen interest in remote health and commitment to improving health outcomes for those living with chronic disease led her to join the Diabetes Partnership in January 2023.

Leonie is a Noongar woman from her mother’s side and part Yamatji from her father’s side, originally from Western Australia. She is a saltwater woman, who loves the outdoors and the Darwin Culture. 

Leonie is a Senior Aboriginal Health Practitioner and has been in that role for over 17 years. She completed a Graduate Diploma in Nursing at Flinders University in Diabetes Education and Management. Through this, she has gained extensive experience and knowledge in primary health care (PHC). She has delivered PHC to various town camps in the NT and has extensive experience working in remote Aboriginal communities. She has also worked in all aspects of health settings, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Angela Titmuss is a paediatric endocrinologist and paediatrician at Royal Darwin Hospital and Senior Research Fellow at Menzies School of Health Research, working within the youth type 2 diabetes team of the diabetes across the Lifecourse: Northern Australian Partnership. Her PhD explored the prevalence and characteristics of youth-onset type 2 diabetes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in northern Australia. It also explored the impact of maternal hyperglycaemia in pregnancy on the growth, cardiometabolic profile and developmental risk of children, part of the Pregnancy and Neonatal Diabetes Outcomes in Remote Australia (PANDORA) study. Her PhD work was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Postgraduate Scholarship, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians NHMRC Woolcock Award, the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation, the Diabetes Australia Research Program, and an NHMRC Hot North PhD Completion Scholarship. 

She is an Investigator on several studies exploring prevention strategies for obesity and type 2 diabetes in childhood, as well as the development of new models of care for management of youth-onset type 2 diabetes, and youth engagement. She is the only paediatric endocrinologist in the Northern Territory and also provides outreach and clinical support across the region. She sits on multiple regional and national representative bodies regarding youth-onset type 2 diabetes and has been heavily involved in clinical guideline development and workforce education.

Aiden is based in Katherine working as a Project Coordinator for two Youth Type 2 Diabetes projects focused on the Big Rivers region of the NT. His background is in Public Health spending time working for an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation servicing remote communities in the Kimberley of WA. He also has experience working in the charity and government sectors in WA. Aiden spent time in Europe completing his Master of Public Health in Hamburg, Germany and an internship at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Aiden is passionate about preventing chronic diseases and improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.  

Damian is a Dietitian with a strong interest in research and population health, specifically in chronic disease management and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.  He has worked as a clinical dietitian with remote communities in Cape York to achieve better health outcomes through improvements in food security and store environments.

Damian is a team member of the Diabetes Across the Lifecourse Northern Australia Partnership. He works in the Youth Type 2 Diabetes Team, which is focused on improving the support and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with type 2 diabetes aged 10-25.

Emma is an evaluator in the youth diabetes team based in Mparntwe, Alice Springs. She has a particular interest in the social determinants of health and how these intersect with youth-onset type 2 diabetes prevention and management.

Since joining the Partnership in 2019 she has supported the use of participatory evaluation approaches to strengthen project outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Jo is based in Mparntwe, Alice Springs. Jo has extensive experience working in Central Australia as a Nurse in a variety of clinical settings. She is committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities to improve health outcomes for those living with chronic disease.

Jo joined the Partnership in 2016 and is currently the Project Manager for the Merne Mwerre Artweye Areye-ke program. A family-based prevention program for obesity and diabetes in childhood.

Marylin is working with the youth diabetes team as a Project Coordinator for the Top End region and has been with the Partnership since 2022. Previously based on Treaty 1 Territory, the ancestral lands of the Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene, and Métis Peoples, she is now based in Larrakia Country. She has over 10 years of experience in coordinating projects in North America, Europe and Africa. She is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®).

Natasha has worked within the Diabetes Across the Lifecourse Northern Australia Partnership as a qualitative researcher and evaluator since 2018. She currently works as an evaluator for the Youth Type 2 Diabetes Team, which focuses on co-designing youth-friendly, culturally appropriate models of care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people with type 2 diabetes aged 10-25. Natasha has both led and contributed to several evaluations for various teams, since commencing with Menzies in 2016. Before working at Menzies, Natasha worked in rural and regional centres in Western Australia and Far North Queensland focusing on health promotion and building workforce capacity.

Shiree is an Arrernte woman employed during the formative work of this project (community consultation and adaptation of TTP). She has prior research experience with the formative work for the Youth Type 2 Diabetes project and continued to develop her capacity significantly during her time on this work in Central Australia. She completed a range of capacity-building activities during the community consultation and adaptation of TTP and is formally involved as a co-researcher on the team and will continue to develop her research capacity. She mentors and supports new Aboriginal community-based members of the team who are employed on projects. Shiree is also a member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Group.