Annual Health Professional Seminar Series 2027 - speakers

Dr Treasure McGuire 

PhD, BPharm, BSc, GradDipClinHospPharm, GCHEd, FACP, FPS, FANZCAP (Edu, ObsGynae), MSHP 

Treasure is a medicines information pharmacist, educator, and researcher in reproductive health. As Assistant Director of Pharmacy, she regularly presents GP credentialing with Mater Mothers’ Hospital, Brisbane and consults on complex cases assessing medication safety in pregnancy and lactation. She holds appointments as: Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, and Associate Professor, Clinical – Honorary, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Queensland.

Jennifer Ayton

PhD MMR GDM BN RN RM

Jenn is an Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University, a registered midwife and nurse with a PhD in Sociology. She has been researching breastfeeding and infant feeding, and women's health for over 15 years. Her PhD was about why women stop exclusive breastfeeding, identifying the phenomenon of breastfeeding grief. In her current role, she provides strategic leadership in women's health, midwifery research and education, advancing ‘with women, for women’ research that promotes maternal and reproductive health equity, social accountability, and improved access and outcomes across rural, regional and remote communities. 

Lucy Armitage

BASc BMid

Lucy is a midwife and PhD candidate. Lucy’s research has explored the holistic and supportive care of women affected by a pregnancy associated cancer and their contributing healthcare professionals. Lucy has published papers with Women and Birth, Journal of Cancer Survivorship and Seminars in Oncology Nursing and is a member of Australia’s clinical advisory board for Pregnancy Associated Cancer. 

Emma-Rose Biggar

BN(Hons) BHSc RN IBCLC 

Emma Biggar is a registered nurse, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), and PhD candidate at La Trobe University. She works in maternal and child health as a lactation consultant. Her published scoping review and ongoing doctoral research explore breastfeeding experiences among women with low vision or blindness and the services available to meet their needs.

Hazel Keedle

RN RM BSc(Hons) MNurs(Hons) PhD SFHEA

Associate Professor Hazel Keedle is a midwife, researcher and author at Western Sydney University. She leads the Birth Experience Study and its international collaboration, examining women’s experiences of maternity care, respectful care, birth trauma and postnatal wellbeing. Her research and public scholarship translate women’s voices into improvements in maternity policy, education and clinical practice.

Alice Greenwood

IBCLC MSpPath GradDipEd(Primary) 

Alice Greenwood is a PhD researcher, speech pathologist, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and educator. Her research explores how language shapes the understanding, recognition and experiences of people living with invisible chronic illnesses, particularly POTS and hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. She is passionate about improving healthcare communication and supporting informed, individualised care.

Dr Elise Turner

MBBS FRACGP 

Dr Elise Turner is a GP with a special interest in women’s health, including perimenopause and menopause. She combines clinical practice with medical education, clinical governance and leadership. A passionate advocate for women’s rights and equitable healthcare, Elise empowers women through evidence-based information and informed choice. Outside medicine, she’s a mum of three and amateur apiarist.

Dr Silvana Mengoni

PhD MSc BSc (Hons) 

Silvana is an Associate Professor in Research and Director of the Centre for Research in Clinical and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. She has carried out research with children with Down syndrome and their families since 2008, first on reading and language development and then moving into health, including breastfeeding and introduction to solid food.

Amanda Peek

RM, IBCLC 

Amanda Peek is a midwife, IBCLC, and Indigenous ally completing a PhD at Western Sydney University. Her research explores restorative approaches to support breastfeeding and to maintain connections between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and infants affected by child removal. Passionate about Indigenous health education, Amanda has received awards for community engagement and advocacy. 

Anna Courtwood

Katherine Carrol

Emma Meredith