Committee

President

Kym is thrilled to be joining the AHPA Qld Branch Committee as the President and is excited to be working with such an experienced group of health promotion professionals. Kym holds a Master of Public Health (Health Promotion), Graduate Certificate in Health Promotion, Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Education (Applied Learning), and a Diploma in Project Management. She is passionate about health promoting settings and older people’s health. Kym currently works at the Brisbane North Primary Health Network as the Manager of Care Coordination in the Aged and Community Care Team. Throughout her 30-year career in health she has had a strong focus on wellbeing, collaboration, partnerships, quality improvement, clinical governance, and supporting people with chronic disease. Kym is looking forward to serving the AHPA QLD Branch members over the coming 12 months.

Incoming Secretary

Jodie is passionate about community health and wellbeing. With 20 years experience in community pharmacy as a Pharmacy Technician. Jodie completed a Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion in 2023 with Deakin University. During her degree Jodie undertook internships at BUPA, Gold Coast Primary Health Network and HOPE Worldwide Indonesia. Gaining a greater understanding and engagement within corporate, government and NGO’s regarding Public Health and Health Promotion.
Over the past 12 months Jodie has participated in a woman in leadership program with CareerTrackers and MHAH. Also, the Brisbane Committee pilot program, Board Observers programme with Healthy Land and Water. Where Jodie was able contribute her Environmental Health, sustainability and community engagement skills.
Areas of interest include advocacy for rare diseases especially autoimmune and allergy. Health communication, population health and global health.

Past Secretary

Jemma is the past President of the AHPA Queensland Branch. Jemma holds a Master of Public Health (Health Promotion) and a joint degree in Bachelor in Business and Psychology (Hons). Jemma is employed as a Lecturer in Public Health with a focus on teaching future health professionals about research. She is interested in health literacy, injury prevention, the research and practice nexus and the application of behaviour change principles to health enhancement. She is currently a member of the Townsville Health Promotion Network and the Active Transport in the Tropics Network.

Social Media Coordinator

Kylie holds a Master in Public Health and a bachelor of Behavioural Science. Kylie is employed as a Health Promotion Officer with the Townsville Hospital and Health Service. Kylie worked across a range of locations including the Northern Territory and Western Queensland and advocates for the needs and development of regional community initiatives.

General Member

Amy holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Public Health from the University of Queensland and has six years of experience leading a diverse portfolio of projects across the health, disability, and community services sector. Amy is deeply passionate about co-design and community engagement, advocating for the active involvement of health consumers and service users in all stages of project development to achieve the best possible outcomes. Amy has a strong interest in the areas of global health and development, advancing health equity for people with intellectual disability, hospital avoidance programs, domestic and family violence, and community-led disaster resilience. Currently, she works at Queenslanders with Disability Network on projects aimed at improving the lives of people with disability, including the first funded legacy project of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

General Member

Anne holds a Bachelor of Health Science with a major in Health Promotion and is currently completing a Master of Public Health through James Cook University.  She is currently working in the Older Persons Health and Palliative Care space. Anne’s passion is to build capacity, strengthen relationships and to collaborate. Advocating for regional, rural and remote areas is close to her heart.

General Member

Gosia is a Bachelor of Public Health graduate from QUT (2024) with a background as a professional chef. This unique combination allows her to deeply understand food systems while maintaining a strong commitment to creating healthier communities. She has a keen interest in the commercial determinants of health, the regulation of discretionary foods, and improving food environments.

Currently, Gosia works as a Program Support Officer at Brisbane North Primary Health Network. She has also completed an internship with the Cancer Council Queensland’s research team, where she developed analytical and research skills that reinforced her passion for evidence-based health policy. Gosia is eager to contribute to health promotion and policy initiatives across various areas.

General Member

Susan holds a Master of Health Promotion, a Bachelor of Science with a double major in Psychology, Anatomy and a Graduate Diploma in Education. She has been a registered health promotion practitioner with the IUHPE since 2019. Susan has always been passionate about health, from health education to health promotion with a purpose to enable everyone to have the best possible health to live their best life. Susan has worked in programs encompassing people at all stages of life, in primary and secondary schools, community-based programs, private business and now in the Primary Health Network. Susan is particularly interested in a preventative, early intervention approach to health including an awareness of health as holistic and dependant on the environment in which we live.

General Member

Sue holds a Graduate Diploma in Health Promotion, Master of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a DrPH. Sue has worked in the health promotion field since the early 1990’s and is passionate about building health promotion capacity in both within and outside the health sector. She currently works at James Cook University where she teaches health promotion subjects to postgraduate Public Health students and undergraduate allied health students.

General Member

Eva James holds a Bachelor of Health Sciences in Health Promotion and is currently completing a graduate diploma in Planetary Health. Eva has worked on a range preventive health programs, projects and policy developments across regional, state and national portfolios. She is super passionate about the intersection of climate change and health, and interested in place based approaches to prevention. Eva loves supporting early career professionals in their transition from student to workforce and was previously a tutor in the School of Public Health, UQ. Eva currently works at Healthy North Coast (Primary Health Network) leading initiatives focused on supporting wellbeing and resilience, particularly in communities impacted by recent natural disasters.

General Member

Kath has been a previous President of the AHPA Queensland Branch and involved as a general member of the committee on-and-off since 2008. Kath has worked in the field of health promotion for over 20 years and has completed a PhD focused on building health promotion and research capacity in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service. Kath is passionate about improving health outcomes in disadvantaged settings and has a strong interest in how organisational systems can be strengthened to increase health promotion capacity. Kath has dual roles in leading sexual health promotion approaches in north Queensland and supporting Allied Health staff to undertake research activities.

General Member

Kristel is excited to join the AHPA Qld Branch Committee and contribute her experience in public health, disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. She holds a Master of Public Health and a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation, and has nearly 20 years’ experience across government, non-government, and community sectors. Kristel currently works as a Senior Policy Advisor at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, leading policy and strategy across aged care, disability, mental health, suicide prevention, digital health, and health equity reform across South East Queensland (SEQ). She is also the Co-Owner of Active Connections Australia, an exercise physiology service based on the Gold Coast. Kristel has lived experience of disability and a strong commitment to inclusive, person-led, and community-informed approaches. She is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led models of care, and the role of movement and exercise in improving health and wellbeing. In her spare time, you can find Kristel hanging out with her fur baby, in the garden or going for walks along the Coast. 

General Member

Samantha is a Master of Health Promotion candidate with a strong foundation in public health, holistic healthcare, and community engagement. She brings a diverse skillset to the AHPA QLD Branch Committee, informed by her experience as a Clinical Naturopath, Nutritionist, emerging Health Promotion Practitioner, and Environmental Educator. Samantha has contributed to AHPA QLD through strategy development, stakeholder engagement, and inter-organisational advocacy in collaboration with PHAA QLD. With a background in project leadership, education, and interdisciplinary practice, she is passionate about advancing health equity, sustainable systems, and community resilience.

General Member

Madeline holds a Master of Public Health from the University of Queensland, specialising in health promotion and disease prevention. She brings seven years of experience in health promotion across national, state-wide, and local programs. Currently, Madeline works as a Senior Health Practitioner at Health and Wellbeing Queensland, focusing on the implementation of a prevention model of care that supports early intervention for modifiable risk factors of chronic disease. She is committed to shaping and implementing solutions that strengthen prevention and improve population health outcomes across Australia.