Conference Program

The Ngunnawal people are the Traditional Custodians of the Canberra region with a continued cultural, spiritual and historical connection to the area.
 

Evidence of the Ngunnawal’s ancestral connection of the Canberra region stretches back over tens of thousands of years where cultural, social, environmental, spiritual and economic connection to these lands and waters has been maintained in a tangible and intangible manner.
 

Ngunnawal country was defined by the language of the people inhabiting the land, not by lines clearly marked on a map. Generally the borders covered the area from Yass to Boorowa, towards Coolac, the highlands west of the Shoalhaven and back to Goulburn. This is an area of almost 11 000 square kilometres.
 

Ngunnawal is bordered by Wiradjuri, Ngarigo, Gundungurra and Yuin lands.

Olivia is the CEO of Parkinson’s Australia, but prefers the title National advocate and Changemaker. She has a wealth of Parkinson's experience, both with engaging with people affected by Parkinson's, government relations and advocacy skills. Parkinson's Australia has recently launch their new brand, and new tag line - National Advocacy. Connection. Awareness. This was chosen as their "promises" to the Parkinson's community across Australia.

She was the State CEO of Parkinson's SA, ACT and NT and in that time lobbied the SA government to fund 4FTE Parkinson's Nurse Specialists. Olivia founded Brain x Body Fitness Studio, an innovative exercise facility focused on the elements of neuroplasticity and adaptable to clients with a variety of health conditions and disabilities. She wrote the successful $1.5m grant for the Young Onset Exchange App which simplifies the NDIS application pathway for people living with Young Onset Parkinson's. This project has driven  and provides information for and by a working party of people with lived experience.

She also holds the voluntary position of Treasurer for The Rare Find Foundation that supports families and research for GM2 conditions, a form of Childhood Dementia.

George is an interdisciplinary scientist who works on all aspects of neurodegenerative disease with an emphasis on Parkinson’s disease. He has an extensive research track record of grants, publications and disciplinary engagement, is an active teacher of undergraduates and postgraduates and is a previous recipient of National Teaching Award. In addition, George has, for many years, been an advocate for people affected by Parkinson’s disease. He is currently the President of Parkinson’s Queensland and Parkinson’s Australia, the peak State and National not-for-profit advocacy groups supporting the Parkinson’s community.

Roger Barker is the Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and Consultant Neurologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital. He runs the regional NHS Huntington's Disease (HD) as well as clinics in Parkinson's Disease (PD). His research investigates the heterogeneity of these disorders and its basis which has informed work he has done on trialing new experimental therapeutics for these conditions including cell and gene therapies as well as drug repurposing. He is lead academic scientist of the ARUK funded Drug Discovery Institute in Cambridge as well as the John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair. He is Co-editor in chief of the Journal of Neurology.

Richelle is a CORU state registered dietitian who has been practicing Dietitian for 20 years. She was president and CEO of the of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI), the professional body for Dietitians in Ireland. She was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson’s Disease shortly after the birth of her second child. She is a World Parkinson Congress Ambassador Alumni, a member of the Dublin Committee of the Parkinson’s Ireland and a EUPATI Fellow. She is particularly passionate about two areas (1) the importance of diet for PD and (2) the unmet needs of women with PD. She is a co-founder of the Women’s Parkinson’s Project www.womensparkinsonsproject.com and co-founder of a digital health start-up, My Moves Matter  www.mymovesmatter.com, a digital self-care companion to empower people with Parkinson’s to live better lives through personalised tracking, feedback, care and research.

Session Sponsored by: SYMBYX

Thomas Kimber is Clinical Associate Professor in the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, and Neurologist and Clinical Lead of the Movement Disorders Service of the Neurology Unit, Central Adelaide Local Health Network. He is Past President of the Movement Disorders Society of Australia and New Zealand. His main research interest is the development of new therapies for the management of Parkinson disease and related disorders.

Laurie Mischley, ND PhD MPH studied naturopathic medicine (ND) at Bastyr University and epidemiology (MPH) and nutritional sciences (PhD) at the University of Washington and she maintains appointments at both Universities. Her work is focused on identifying the nutritional requirements unique to individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and has published on coenzyme Q10, lithium, NAD+, and glutathione deficiency (www.lauriemischley.com). She is Principal Investigator of the Modifiable Variables in Parkinsonism (MVP) Study (MVP-study.com), which is attempting to describe why some people with PD progress slower than others. She is working on ways to study, package and deliver evidence-based lifestyle modification as a therapeutic strategy. She founded the Parkinson Center for Pragmatic Research (www.parkinson-cpr.com) and the canine scent-based PD screening tool, ParK-9 (www.Park-9.com), developed a patient-reported outcome measure to assess PD severity (www.PD-symptoms.com), built the Parkinson Symptom Tracking (PRO-PD) App, and is instructor of the online series, Parkinson School (www.Parkinson-School.com). Dr. Mischley maintains a small clinical practice at Seattle Integrative Medicine focused on nutrition and neurological health of patients with Parkinsonism. 

Professor Cedric Bardy is an ARC Future Fellow and leading researcher at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) and Flinders University. He graduated from the University of Sydney and completed postdoctoral training at the Pasteur Institute (2008-2011) and the Salk Institute (2011-2016). Cedric's team focuses on discovering treatments for neurodegeneration and brain cancer in both adults and children, while leading advancements in human brain models in vitro.

Dr Ashani Couchman is a Urological surgeon who is a sub-specialist in Transitional (adolescent) urology and Neuro-urology.

A graduate of Auckland Medical School in 2003 and she completed her surgical training in New Zealand. This was followed by fellowships at the Institute of Urology (London), Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (London) and National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (London) and Western General Hospital (Edinburgh) culminating in a consultant position at Kingston Hospital, Kingston-upon-Thames. She is the Neuro-urologist at the Repatriation Precinct, The Royal Adelaide Hospital and is a visiting specialist at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia.

Her positions are:

• Deputy Head of Unit – Department of Urology – Royal Adelaide Hospital
• Chair of the Children and Young Persons committee of the International Continence Society
• Board Member – Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Member of the Adolescent Transition Care Clinical Network Steering Committee – South Australia
• Co-Chair of the Report on Terminology of Transitional care in the Lower urinary tract and pelvic floor symptoms and dysfunction for the international continence society
• Member of the editorial panel for Continence – the journal of the International Continence Society
• Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee – Calvary North Adelaide Hospital
• Member of the Executive Committee for the RACS Annual Meeting 2023
• Member of the special advisory groups for: Functional Urology and Paediatric Urology for the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand
• Advisory Board Member – Urology (Botox) – Allergan/Abbvie

She is a member of:
The International Neuro-Urology Society
The European Association of Urology
The American Urological Association
The International Continence Society
The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

She has published clinical research in her sub-specialty fields and edited a reference textbook on urinary incontinence. She continues to be a reviewer of the Journal of Paediatric Urology, a peer reviewer of the British Journal of Urology International and a member of the Cochrane Collaboration

Melissa is a Specialist Neurological Physiotherapist and founder of PD Warrior, an exercise, education and training program for people living with Parkinson’s, licensed across 10 countries globally. She is a clinician, educator, author and entrepreneur, and her 24 year career in physiotherapy has been dedicated to helping to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s.

Melissa currently sits on the Board of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and the Executive Committee of the International Neurological Physical Therapy Association (INPA) for the World Confederation for Physical Therapy.

Melissa was awarded Australian Physiotherapist of the year in 2019, Small Business Champions Australian Entrepreneur of the Year in 2020 and HESTA Impact Award in 2022.

TEDx speaker and Author Annie Harvey is an expert in emotional wellbeing and speaks both nationally and internationally. Her particular passion is giving people really practical tools to avoid burnout and empathy fatigue. Annie has a light hearted style to deliver simple strategies around an important topic. As an educator, Annie likes to make people aware of the less talked about strands of burnout but more importantly, loves to send everyone away with a fun and meaningful toolkit. Annie is also a mindfulness trainer and laughter wellness expert and is the creator of The Giggle Game, an intergenerational program for co-regulation.

Dinesh Kant Kumar is Professor at RMIT University, Melbourne, a Fellow of Australasian Institute of Digital Health, and leads research in Biosignals and Digital Health. He is also on the TGA (Australia) advisory panel for medical devices.

His passion is to develop affordable diagnostic devices. He is Editor for two journals, has been Chair of Society of Medical Engineers Australia, Senior Professorial Fellow in Brazil, and Vajra Fellow in India. His publications have been cited over 8900 times. Dinesh has also initiated two startup companies.

Dinesh has developed multiple technologies to detect and monitor Parkinson’s disease. He has developed software based devices for assessing Parkinson’s disease based on the recording and analysis of the (i) dynamics of handwriting, (ii) voice (iii) pupillary reflex, and (iv) IMU for gait. His work is to facilitate the clinicians to perform fast and accurate assessment of their patients, which can also be used for regular monitoring of the disease symptoms.

Olivia is the CEO of Parkinson’s Australia, but prefers the title National advocate and Changemaker. She has a wealth of Parkinson's experience, both with engaging with people affected by Parkinson's, government relations and advocacy skills. Parkinson's Australia has recently launch their new brand, and new tag line - National Advocacy. Connection. Awareness. This was chosen as their "promises" to the Parkinson's community across Australia.

She was the State CEO of Parkinson's SA, ACT and NT and in that time lobbied the SA government to fund 4FTE Parkinson's Nurse Specialists. Olivia founded Brain x Body Fitness Studio, an innovative exercise facility focused on the elements of neuroplasticity and adaptable to clients with a variety of health conditions and disabilities. She wrote the successful $1.5m grant for the Young Onset Exchange App which simplifies the NDIS application pathway for people living with Young Onset Parkinson's. This project has driven  and provides information for and by a working party of people with lived experience.

She also holds the voluntary position of Treasurer for The Rare Find Foundation that supports families and research for GM2 conditions, a form of Childhood Dementia.

Olivia is the CEO of Parkinson’s Australia, but prefers the title National advocate and Changemaker. She has a wealth of Parkinson's experience, both with engaging with people affected by Parkinson's, government relations and advocacy skills. Parkinson's Australia has recently launch their new brand, and new tag line - National Advocacy. Connection. Awareness. This was chosen as their "promises" to the Parkinson's community across Australia.

She was the State CEO of Parkinson's SA, ACT and NT and in that time lobbied the SA government to fund 4FTE Parkinson's Nurse Specialists. Olivia founded Brain x Body Fitness Studio, an innovative exercise facility focused on the elements of neuroplasticity and adaptable to clients with a variety of health conditions and disabilities. She wrote the successful $1.5m grant for the Young Onset Exchange App which simplifies the NDIS application pathway for people living with Young Onset Parkinson's. This project has driven  and provides information for and by a working party of people with lived experience.

She also holds the voluntary position of Treasurer for The Rare Find Foundation that supports families and research for GM2 conditions, a form of Childhood Dementia.

Laurie Mischley, ND PhD MPH studied naturopathic medicine (ND) at Bastyr University and epidemiology (MPH) and nutritional sciences (PhD) at the University of Washington and she maintains appointments at both Universities. Her work is focused on identifying the nutritional requirements unique to individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and has published on coenzyme Q10, lithium, NAD+, and glutathione deficiency (www.lauriemischley.com). She is Principal Investigator of the Modifiable Variables in Parkinsonism (MVP) Study (MVP-study.com), which is attempting to describe why some people with PD progress slower than others. She is working on ways to study, package and deliver evidence-based lifestyle modification as a therapeutic strategy. She founded the Parkinson Center for Pragmatic Research (www.parkinson-cpr.com) and the canine scent-based PD screening tool, ParK-9 (www.Park-9.com), developed a patient-reported outcome measure to assess PD severity (www.PD-symptoms.com), built the Parkinson Symptom Tracking (PRO-PD) App, and is instructor of the online series, Parkinson School (www.Parkinson-School.com). Dr. Mischley maintains a small clinical practice at Seattle Integrative Medicine focused on nutrition and neurological health of patients with Parkinsonism. 

Roger Barker is the Professor of Clinical Neuroscience at the University of Cambridge and Consultant Neurologist at Addenbrooke's Hospital. He runs the regional NHS Huntington's Disease (HD) as well as clinics in Parkinson's Disease (PD). His research investigates the heterogeneity of these disorders and its basis which has informed work he has done on trialing new experimental therapeutics for these conditions including cell and gene therapies as well as drug repurposing. He is lead academic scientist of the ARUK funded Drug Discovery Institute in Cambridge as well as the John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair. He is Co-editor in chief of the Journal of Neurology.

Patricia leads the peak body for older Australians, taking a constructive approach to building an inclusive and bright future for older people. Her goal is to eliminate ageism, which should be as socially unacceptable as sexism and racism. Studying ageism as part of her BA in Social Sciences, she was inspired to volunteer in home care, and do meals runs. She cried when an older woman held on to her hand and asked her to stay because she had not seen anyone that day, and anyone young in a long time.

Committed to building a more inclusive Australia that appreciates and welcomes the contribution of older people, Patricia’s career spans community, disability, and aged care, health, and advocacy roles. She has experience from the perspective of not-for-profit, public service, advocacy, Ministerial office, and most importantly, as a support to her own ageing family members.

Patricia centres her work on the value of older people. Everyone deserves the benefit of older people we love in our lives. She has worked consistently to improve the choice and control older people have in their own lives, working to reform aged care to fund the individual’s care, rather than the provider, and following through to make sure the system works.

David Tsui is the Nurse Practitioner in Parkinson’s & Movement Disorders for the whole Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) in New South Wales.  He entered the field of movement disorders in 2008 under the mentoring of Laraine McAnally (retired Clinical Nurse Consultant).  He completed his Master of Nursing in 2014 and was endorsed as a Nurse Practitioner in 2017.  In addition to his clinical roles, David was one of the authors and tutor of the Australian College of Nursing, ‘Parkinson’s Care 299’ unit of study and worked as a casual academic at the University of Sydney.  David has also been an integral committee member of the Movement Disorders Chapter (MDC) of Australasian Neuroscience Nurses Association (ANNA) since 2016 and was nominated to be the chairperson of the MDC in 2019 to 2022.  He now co-chairs the Movement Disorders Chapter with Sue Williams. 

Michael Bakker is a pharmacist and has worked with the Parkinson’s community in South Australia for more than a decade. Michael is the Chief Pharmacy Information Officer for SA Health but has been a board member with Parkinson’s SA for more than 7 years. Overtime he has specialised in Home Medication Reviews for People with Parkinson’s and has delivered more than 100 of these reviews for people living with Parkinson’s in and around Adelaide. In 2021 Michael published original research in the frequency and type of medication errors that people with Parkinson’s experience when they are admitted to hospitals. It is the most comprehensive study of the challenges of managing Parkinson’s related medicines during transfer of care and was the genesis for the Parkinson’s grab bag and the development of guidelines on the management of PD meds in people with swallowing difficulties that have been shared across jurisdictions nationally.

Martin Rocliffe was born and raised in London and educated as a Microbiologist/Serologist and Biochemist in Manchester in the 1980’s.

His career in Medical Sales meant worldwide travel, eventually bringing him briefly to Australia in the mid 1990’s.

After several senior positions in Sales & Marketing for multi-nationals based in the UK, Martin and his wife Mags emigrated to Australia in 2010.

Martin has three grown up children and two Grandchildren in the UK, plus Mag’s daughter Jessica, Hubby Steve and two Grandsons in Queensland.

Becoming Australian Citizens in 2015 was a highlight for them both as they continued to travel within Australia, Asia and the UK in between work and family commitments.

Mags was diagnosed in 2017 with Parkinson’s Disease. By 2020 her health was declining and a move to Qld was necessary to be near family for support.

By 2023 Mags was recategorised as having Multi System Atrophy Parkinsonia (MSAP) as her health got rapidly worse. Sadly Mags’s passed away under QVAD supervision with Martin and Jessica by her side in April 2024. It followed long periods of paralysis, pain and suffering but was dignified and peaceful at the end.    

TEDx speaker and Author Annie Harvey is an expert in emotional wellbeing and speaks both nationally and internationally. Her particular passion is giving people really practical tools to avoid burnout and empathy fatigue. Annie has a light hearted style to deliver simple strategies around an important topic. As an educator, Annie likes to make people aware of the less talked about strands of burnout but more importantly, loves to send everyone away with a fun and meaningful toolkit. Annie is also a mindfulness trainer and laughter wellness expert and is the creator of The Giggle Game, an intergenerational program for co-regulation.

Olivia is the CEO of Parkinson’s Australia, but prefers the title National advocate and Changemaker. She has a wealth of Parkinson's experience, both with engaging with people affected by Parkinson's, government relations and advocacy skills. Parkinson's Australia has recently launch their new brand, and new tag line - National Advocacy. Connection. Awareness. This was chosen as their "promises" to the Parkinson's community across Australia.

She was the State CEO of Parkinson's SA, ACT and NT and in that time lobbied the SA government to fund 4FTE Parkinson's Nurse Specialists. Olivia founded Brain x Body Fitness Studio, an innovative exercise facility focused on the elements of neuroplasticity and adaptable to clients with a variety of health conditions and disabilities. She wrote the successful $1.5m grant for the Young Onset Exchange App which simplifies the NDIS application pathway for people living with Young Onset Parkinson's. This project has driven  and provides information for and by a working party of people with lived experience.

She also holds the voluntary position of Treasurer for The Rare Find Foundation that supports families and research for GM2 conditions, a form of Childhood Dementia.

Olivia is the CEO of Parkinson’s Australia, but prefers the title National advocate and Changemaker. She has a wealth of Parkinson's experience, both with engaging with people affected by Parkinson's, government relations and advocacy skills. Parkinson's Australia has recently launch their new brand, and new tag line - National Advocacy. Connection. Awareness. This was chosen as their "promises" to the Parkinson's community across Australia.

She was the State CEO of Parkinson's SA, ACT and NT and in that time lobbied the SA government to fund 4FTE Parkinson's Nurse Specialists. Olivia founded Brain x Body Fitness Studio, an innovative exercise facility focused on the elements of neuroplasticity and adaptable to clients with a variety of health conditions and disabilities. She wrote the successful $1.5m grant for the Young Onset Exchange App which simplifies the NDIS application pathway for people living with Young Onset Parkinson's. This project has driven  and provides information for and by a working party of people with lived experience.

She also holds the voluntary position of Treasurer for The Rare Find Foundation that supports families and research for GM2 conditions, a form of Childhood Dementia.