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ADS National Council

ADS National Council

The National Council is responsible for the strategic, financial and operational performance of the Australian Diabetes Society Limited including its divisions (National Association of Diabetes Centres & Diabetes Feet Australia) on behalf of its members. The ADS National Council positions are an honorary appointment and every two years nominations are called.
 

Meet the ADS National Council for 2024-26

Josephine Forbes

President

Member Bio

Josephine Forbes – President

Professor Josephine Forbes is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow, Head of the Glycation and Diabetes Group and Cardiometabolic Programs at Mater Research Institute – The University of Queensland. Josephine conducts both basic and clinical research where her special interests lie in diabetes complications including nephropathy and in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes. Her research has attracted awards such as the Commonwealth Health Minister’s Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research and an NHMRC Achievement Award. She has a strong commitment to the development of young researchers and in bridging the gaps between clinical and basic research by bringing together multidisciplinary teams. Josephine is also an advocate of community based programs providing education and opportunities to be involved in health research to the general public including to school aged participants. She completed her PhD in Melbourne at the Royal Children’s Hospital in 2000 followed by post-doctoral studies at the Austin Hospital (Dept of Medicine, University of Melbourne) and then the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne. Josephine sits on a number of panels including the JDRF Australia Professional Advisory Panel and serves on grant review panels both within Australia (eg NHMRC, DART) and internationally (eg JDRF, DVA, MRC). 

Joined ADS Council 28 August 2014

Member bio

Jonathan
Shaw

President Elect /
Vice President

Member Bio

Jonathan Shaw- President Elect/Vice President

Professor Jonathan Shaw underwent his clinical and research training in the UK. At Melbourne’s Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, he runs a large research section focussing on epidemiology and clinical research in diabetes, and is also a consultant physician in the diabetes services. He has authored over 350 peer-reviewed scientific papers and 35 book chapters. He is the Chair of the National Diabetes Data Working Group, Past-President of the International Diabetes Epidemiology Group, was awarded the global Novartis Diabetes Award (for research) in 2006, and in 2011 was awarded the International Diabetes Epidemiology Group Peter Bennett award. In 2014, he was included in the Thomson Reuters The World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds, which lists the 1% most highly cited scientists in the world since 2002. In 2015, he was awarded the Australian Diabetes Society’s Jeff Flack Diabetes Data Award.

Joined ADS Council 25 August 2016

Member bio

Melkam Kebede

Honorary Secretary

Member Bio

Melkam Kebede – Honorary Secretary

Associate Professor Melkam Kebede is a cell biologist with a strong interest in understanding the cause of reduced glucose stimulated insulin secretion in type 2 diabetes. She heads the Islet Biology and Metabolism laboratory at the Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney. Melkam studies the pancreatic beta-cell with specific interests in understanding the mechanisms behind insulin secretory granule biogenesis, maturation, stability and targeting for secretion. Her laboratory uses a combination of mass spectrometry, flow cytometry, microscopy, cell and molecular biology approaches to help understand these processes in cell and animal models of type 2 diabetes. Her research has been funded by Diabetes Australia Research Program and the NHMRC project and Ideas grants.

Joined ADS Council 5 November 2020

Member bio

Jerry Greenfield

Honorary Treasurer

Member Bio

Jerry Greenfield – Honorary Treasurer

Professor Jerry Greenfield is an Endocrinologist and clinical diabetes researcher. He is Head, Department of Endocrinology, and Director, Diabetes Services, St Vincent’s Hospital (Sydney). Under his direction, the Diabetes Service obtained a National Association of Diabetes Centres (NADC) Centre of Excellence award in 2019. He undertook his PhD at the Garvan Institute (2001-2004) and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Cambridge, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, United Kingdom (2005-2006). His other current positions and roles include: Clinical Associate Dean, St Vincent’s Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney; Laboratory Head, Clinical Diabetes, Appetite and Metabolism, Garvan Institute of Medical Research; Editor-in-Chief, Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Case Reports; and Editorial Board member, Clinical Obesity. His recent research interests focus on elucidating the molecular basis of insulin resistance by studying humans with insulin-sensitive obesity. He was awarded a Diabetes Australia Millennium Grant in 2019 to undertake a study of the effects of metformin on insulin resistance in type 1 diabetes. He is currently heading a study of antibody-negative type 1 diabetes to elucidate the aetiology of insulin deficiency in individuals with apparent non-immune type 1 diabetes. Finally, he oversees a precision medicine program aimed at determining the ‘omic’ factors that predict maximal effectiveness and safety of diabetes medications in an individual.

Joined ADS Council 5 November 2020

Member bio

Christopher Nolan

Council Representative

Member Bio

Christopher Nolan – Council Representative

Professor Christopher (Chris) Nolan is a clinician/scientist/teacher/policy advisor in diabetes. He completed his training in Medicine at the University of Melbourne (BMedSc and MBBS-1983) and Endocrinology at The Royal Melbourne Hospital (FRACP-1991). He received his doctoral degree from the University of Melbourne on glucose metabolism and insulin action in pregnancy under the supervision of Prof Joe Proietto (1998). He received further training in islet beta-cell research at the University of Montreal under supervision of Prof Marc Prentki (2002-4). He moved to Canberra to join the Endocrinology Department at The Canberra Hospital and the ANU Medical School in 2005. He is currently Associate Dean of Research and Professor of Endocrinology for the ANU Medical School, Chair of the ANU College of Health and Medicine Research Committee, and a Senior Staff Specialist in Endocrinology at Canberra Health Services. In 2018 he stepped down as Director of Diabetes Services (2011-2018) and Director of Endocrinology (2016-2018) at the Canberra Hospital. Under his leadership, the ACT Health Diabetes Service was recognised as a National Centre of Excellence by the National Association of Diabetes Centres. Prof Nolan is currently a Board Member of the Australian Diabetes Society and Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Diabetes Australia Research Program. He has previously been President of the Australasian Diabetes in Pregnancy Society and Council Member of the International Association of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Groups. He is an Advisory Board Member for Diabetologia (2020-) and an International Review Panel Member for the Danish Diabetes Academy Committee for Talent Development (2018-). He directs an active diabetes research laboratory at the John Curtin School of Medical Research focusing on islet beta-cell failure in type 1 and 2 diabetes and the role of insulin hypersecretion in metabolic syndrome and related conditions. He is involved in multicentre diabetes clinical studies including the NHMRC funded Treatment of Booking Gestational Diabetes (TOBOGM) study. He is a lead investigator for the ANU Grand Challenge project, Our Health in Our Hands, which includes research into improving the care of people with type 1 diabetes using a personalised medicine approach.

Joined ADS Council 23 August 2018

Member bio

Emma Hamilton

Council Representative

Member Bio

Emma Hamilton – Council Representative

Dr Emma Hamilton is an Endocrinologist at Fiona Stanley and Fremantle Hospitals, Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Western Australia and Clinical Lead of the Multidisciplinary Diabetes Foot Unit at Fiona Stanley Hospital, an NADC accredited Centre of Excellence High Risk Foot Service. Emma completed her Endocrinology training at Fremantle and Royal Perth Hospitals in WA, before moving to Melbourne to complete a PhD “Control of Musculoskeletal Function and Body Composition by Androgens in Males” under the supervision of Professor Jeffrey Zajac and Professor Mathis Grossmann at the University of Melbourne, Austin Health. Since returning to WA, Emma continues to pursue her research interests in diabetes, androgens, osteoporosis and diabetes-related foot complications, as well as a long term research collaboration with Professor Tim Davis and the Fremantle Diabetes Study team. Emma was awarded a Raine Clinician Research Fellowship for 2020- 2022 to further her research in diabetes-related foot disease, with the aim of improving outcomes for people living with diabetes and foot complications. Emma has a long history of participation in trainee supervision, mentorship and education, both locally and nationally. Emma is a member of a number of national diabetes-related foot disease projects and committees, including the NADC Diabetic Foot Network Working Party, NADC interdisciplinary High Risk Foot Service accreditation committee, the Foot Forward Executive Advisory team, the Diabetes Feet Australia (DFA) Australian Research Priorities project and the DFA Australian Guidelines Wound Classification group. Emma is also a member of the International Working Group of the Diabetic Foot, working in the Wound Classification group. In 2021, Emma was appointed as Co-Lead of the Diabetes Health Network, WA Health. Emma has also recently commenced as a member of the DFA steering committee and the ADS Advocacy Advisory committee. As a clinician researcher, Emma is keen to encourage greater communication, interaction and collaboration between researchers and clinicians in the field of Diabetes, as well as advocating for improved funding and engagement for diabetes research and translational research activities. Emma has a strong focus on improving access to care and outcomes for all people living with diabetes in Australia.

Joined ADS Council 9 August 2022

Member bio

Vincent
Wong

Council Representative

Member Bio

Vincent Wong – Council Representative

Dr Vincent Wong completed his medical studies at University of Sydney and pursued his training in endocrinology at Westmead Hospital. Under the guidance of Professor Wah Cheung, he developed an interest in cardiovascular endocrinology and undertook his doctoral study at University of Sydney. He combined both clinical and basic science projects in his research studies, and together with Professors Wah Cheung and Mark Mclean, undertook the “Hyperglycaemia: Intensive Insulin Infusion In Infarction” (HI-5) Study. While completing his PhD, he was heavily involved in teaching and shared the role of clinical superintendent at the Westmead/Blacktown network. He began his affiliation with southwestern Sydney in 2006 as a staff specialist in endocrinology at Liverpool Hospital in 2006. In 2011 Dr Wong was appointed Director of Diabetes and Endocrine Service at Liverpool and Fairfield Hospitals, and since 2013, has been conjoint associate professor at the South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales. In recent years, Dr Wong has developed a wide range of research interests that include diabetic cardiomyopathy, retinopathy and oral health. He has a special interest in diabetes in pregnancy, in particular in examining the differences in the characteristics of women from diverse ethnic groups in southwestern Sydney. He is the Liverpool Lead for the Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Translation Research Unit (DOMTRU) – an academic unit supported by South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD), and has established strong research links with other research units across the LHD as well as other centres. He is also involved in clinical trials. Dr Wong is a councillor on the Medical Benevolent Association of New South Wales (since 1999). He was Treasurer between 2005 and 2009, and he has been committed to assisting doctors-in-need for over 20 years.

Joined ADS Council 9 August 2022.

Member bio

Anna
Wood

Council Representative

Member Bio

Anna Wood – Council Representative

Dr Anna Wood is an endocrinologist and early career researcher. She moved to Darwin in 2018 after undertaking endocrinology training at The Austin Hospital and Monash Health in Melbourne. Anna is co-director of Diabetes Services at Royal Darwin Hospital, where she works as an endocrinologist and general medicine physician. She recently submitted her PhD with Menzies School of Health Research focussing on diabetes in pregnancy and cardiometabolic health in the Northern Territory. She is currently a senior research officer with Menzies, continuing her research in this field. She has developed expertise in research in diabetes, obesity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare. As chief investigator for a HOT NORTH Pilot Project Grant, Anna led formative work interviewing Aboriginal women with lived experience of diabetes. This formative work led to the MRFF-funded Diabetes in Pregnancy co-design project, for which she is an Associate Investigator. She has had the opportunity to visit and work in remote communities, enhancing her understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and remote health. She led the recent revision of the diabetes guidelines for the Aboriginal and remote primary health care clinical guidelines used across the NT. She has a keen interest in consultative and strategic leadership. Through her role as co-director of Diabetes Services at Royal Darwin Hospital, she has enjoyed working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary and diverse team, ensuring that all stakeholders are heard, and their perspectives valued. Anna has a strong interest in translating research into meaningful outcomes. Her research in diabetes in pregnancy highlighted the significance of modifiable risk factors, and she established a Weight Management Clinic through the Royal Darwin Hospital. She currently leads this clinic, servicing people who live in Darwin as well as a remote telehealth component. Anna is strongly committed to clinical education and mentoring and is currently a member of the ADS Educational Advisory Committee. During her PhD she was the PhD student lead of the Diabetes Across the Lifecourse research group at Menzies School of Health Research and gained experience in guiding and supporting fellow PhD students. Anna is co-chair of the Women in Medicine Group at Royal Darwin Hospital and an advocate for supporting women in medicine and improving gender equality in leadership positions.

Joined ADS Council 9 August 2022

Member bio

Lisa
Nicholas

Council Representative

Member Bio

Lisa Nicholas – Council Representative

Dr Lisa Nicholas is a Group Leader at the University of Adelaide. Prior to this, she undertook post-doctoral training in pancreatic beta-cell biology at Lund University Diabetes Centre, Sweden and in developmental programming at the University of Cambridge, UK. Dr Nicholas’ research interests lie in understanding how a child’s metabolic destiny is determined even before birth by their mother’s metabolic health during pregnancy. Specifically, her group is focused on defining the epigenetic determinants of pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction in offspring exposed to maternal hyperglycemia and how this is driving an intergenerational cycle of diabetes. This is being achieved using both animal models of developmental programming and by studying the blood epigenetic landscape of Aboriginal children whose mothers had diabetes in pregnancy.

Joined ADS Council 22 August 2024

Member bio

John Wentworth

Council Representative

Member Bio

John Wentworth – Council Representative

Dr John Wentworth is an endocrinologist and diabetes researcher at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. His current research focuses on type 1 diabetes prediction and prevention. He leads three national research programs that offer islet autoantibody screening linked to immunotherapy prevention trials: Type1Screen, TrialNet and ATIC.

Joined ADS Council 22 August 2024

Member bio

Taryn
Black

Diabetes Australia Nominee Director

Member Bio

Taryn Black – Diabetes Australia Nominee Director

Ms Taryn Black [insert bio].

Joined ADS Council 16 February 2024

Member bio

Past ADS Council Members

View past ADS council members.

Australian Diabetes Society

For all enquiries: 

145 Macquarie Street,
Sydney, NSW, 2000

p: 61 2 9169 3859
e: admin@diabetessociety.com.au

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Acknowledgement of Country
The Australian Diabetes Society acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands upon which we live, learn and work.
We pay our respects to Elders both past, present and future.

©2023 Australian Diabetes Society
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