Public Health and Health Promotion Advisory Board

Todd Harper (chair)

CEO Cancer Council Victoria

For three decades, Todd Harper has led organisations dedicated to global public health and prevention, including Cancer Council Victoria, Quit Victoria and VicHealth. Todd is President of the NCD Alliance. Since 2011, as Cancer Council Victoria’s Chief Executive Officer, Todd has led the organisation’s important work in cancer research, prevention, support, and advocacy.

During this time Cancer Council has led research initiatives in tobacco plain packaging, screening campaigns, obesity prevention, been at the forefront of bans on solariums and campaigns on junk food, alcohol and smoking.

Todd has a bachelors degree in economics, a postgraduate diploma in health promotion, a masters degree in health economics, and was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Deakin University for ‘outstanding contributions and commitment to public health and for willingness to be innovative and brave in advocating for public health’.

Sarah Xia

Sarah is passionate about enabling fairer health outcomes through public policy and the important role of prevention in improving lives. Sarah has experience across a wide range of public policy portfolios across her career, as a ministerial adviser and as a public sector employee.  As Chief of Staff at the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), Sarah led the development of VicHealth’s bold, decade-long strategy toward a healthier and fairer Victoria. Sarah leads the CEO Office at VicHealth, driving the organisation’s work to promote good health and prevent chronic disease.

VicHealth, a Victorian statutory agency, was the world’s first health promotion body to be funded by a tax on tobacco when it was established by the Victorian Parliament under the Tobacco Act 1987.

Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Media & Communications, a Specialist Certificate in Public Administration (Advanced) and a Master of Public Policy and Management.

Dr Mohammad Akhtar Hussain

Bronwyn Upston

Bronwyn is an experienced health promotion practitioner and educator who has worked in the health and human services sector for the past 30 years within, and as consultant to, government, community-based and not-for-profit organisations, including women’s and community health. Bronwyn became interested in health education and public health when she saw firsthand the impact of inequity on health when working her first job in administration at the Collingwood Community Health Centre. After returning to study as a mature aged student, in 1990 Bronwyn was in the first group of graduates of the only health promotion qualification in Australia – the Health Information and Promotion Services undergraduate degree (later named Health Promotion) at Victoria College (later to become part of Deakin) – gaining a Dean’s commendation.

In her very first health promotion role, Bronwyn travelled across Victoria delivering educational sessions for community health staff about the Ottawa Charter and how health promotion might look in practice at the local level, as well as training local government officers about the new legislated requirement for municipal public health plans. Since then, Bronwyn has undertaken many diverse roles and projects in health promotion addressing a broad spectrum of issues. This includes VicHealth-funded projects, training packages, resource development and program evaluations.

Bronwyn has worked in both state and local government as well as non-government organisations including Women’s Health Victoria, Women’s Health East, Inner South Community Health Service, the Heart Foundation, InfoXchange, the MS Society, Eastern Health, the Centre for Social Health and Collingwood Community Health Centre. Bronwyn currently has the role of Community Health Planner at Whitehorse City Council, responsible for coordinating the municipal public health and wellbeing plan and Council’s work in the prevention of family violence.

Dr Bernadette Matthews

Bernadette Matthews is an accomplished public health researcher with over 20 years’ experience in injury prevention, health promotion and research. She is Head of Research, Evaluation and Insights at Life Saving Victoria and an adjunct associate professor at Monash University.

Bernadette has led national and state research initiatives focused on drowning epidemiology, aquatic safety and public awareness, and contributed to international water safety plans. Her work has influenced policy and legislative reforms, including home pool safety laws and mandatory water safety education in Victorian schools. She has provided expert evidence to the coroner and conducted research on swimming competency, immersive virtual reality and education interventions.

Recognised with the International Life Saving Federation Citation of Merit, Bernadette’s research supports the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly good health and well-being (SDG 3), quality education (SDG 4), and sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11). Passionate about translating research into practice, equity, and empowerment, she is committed to community public safety, health and wellbeing.

Monica Kelly

Monica is Victoria’s inaugural Wellbeing Promotion Adviser, commencing in the role in June 2022. She is also the Executive Director of the Prevention, Policy and First People’s Branch of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Division in the Victorian Department of Health.

She has worked as an Executive in Public Health, Primary Care and Human Services for many years in Victoria and previously in the Northern Territory.

Monica’s areas of expertise are health inequities, public health and health promotion, particularly with marginalised communities. She is a proud graduate of Deakin University.

Professor Jennifer Watts, Head of School, Health and Social Development

Dr Matthew Dunn, Associate Professor and Discipline Lead

Melissa Ensink, Course Director, Postgraduate Health Promotion

Dr Shane Kavanagh, Course Director, Postgraduate Public Health

Professor Lisa Gold, Postgraduate Health Economics

Dr Hayley McKenzie, Co-course director, Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion

Dr Julie Abimanyi-Ochom, Course Director, Honours in Public Health and Health Promotion

Dr Trish Taylor, Co-director, Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion

Elise Tulloch

Elise currently works as a Health Promotion Officer at Latrobe Community Health Service in Gippsland. Her role includes implementing Victorian state-wide health promotion programs, such as the Achievement Program, and implementing a localised oral health promotion program, Latrobe Little Smiles, across early childhood services.
Elise also works in the Multicultural Team at LCHS in the Strategic Partnerships Program. In this role, she works on a range of projects that builds local capacity by working with stakeholders and community leaders to plan and implement projects to respond to community identified needs. Elise has also previously worked in the Settlement Engagement and Transition Support Program at LCHS to support newly arrived migrants and refugees settle in Gippsland, as well as advancing culturally and linguistically diverse women’s social and economic inclusion.

Elise holds a Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion at Deakin University, majoring in Family, Society and Health. She is passionate about improving health outcomes in her local community and is excited to continue taking new opportunities and expanding her career path.

Nick Pascual

Venkateswaran Chandrasekaran

Aiden Stevenson (They/Them)

“I recently completed my Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion at Deakin University. I am passionate about community engagement, inclusion and policy development.

"I completed my placement at Yarra Ranges Council, supporting the Health and Wellbeing and Youth teams. During my placement, I contributed to initiatives including updating mental health support resources, developing a youth-specific support brochure, organising sexual and reproductive health materials for schools and community links, and engaging with local service providers to address gaps in public health support. I also participated in key health promotion events, including the International Day of People with Disability, the Outer East Youth Service Providers Network and the Yarra Ranges Health and Wellbeing Plan roadshow.

"In 2024, I was a wellbeing ambassador at Deakin University, contributing to initiatives such as You Can Ask That, Mind Matters, Women’s Health Week and Walk & Talk sessions. Additionally, I was part of the sexual health activation group and assisted at Deakin’s 2024 Open Day. I also hold a Mental Health First Aid certificate, reinforcing my commitment to community well-being. Furthermore, I have volunteered with organisations such as Minus18 and the Port Melbourne Toy Library.”

Nick Pascual, Master of Public Health

Katherine Coghlan, Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion

Meagan Forder, Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion

Clemmy Komuhangi

Clemence Komuhangi is a final year student, studying for a Master of Health Economics at Deakin University. Clemence has a clinical background, having completed a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at Southeast University in China.

Clemence has five years of clinical experience as a general practitioner in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her clinical work extended beyond the hospital setting; she also participated in community outreach programs that offered free consultations and free testing, which fostered trust and increased health awareness. Clemence aims to contribute to the development of a sustainable and equitable healthcare system, with a focus on low-resource settings.

Shanny Gordon

“I am currently halfway through my Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion, studying part-time with a major in Families, Society and Health. I am also a mature-aged student and parent with over a decade of experience in the community services sector with a background in Community Development.

Alongside my studies, I work part-time as a community engagement facilitator in a not-for-profit organisation, focussing on working with children, families and communities. My role involves networking and strengthening stakeholder relationships, as well as creating opportunities for community members to engage with service providers, to create a strong network of support across the community.

There is a significant crossover between community services and health services and my course enables me to strengthen my professional toolkit.”

Jannath Husssain Ali Chabuksawar Shaik

“I am a health promotion professional with a strong background in health literacy advocacy, program management and stakeholder engagement. My experience includes developing, implementing and evaluating health promotion initiatives, with a particular focus on community consultation and participation. I am currently completing my Master of Health Promotion at Deakin University, where my research explores the impact of health literacy on men's engagement with healthcare services. In addition, I work as an administrative officer in a medical centre, which has deepened my understanding of healthcare systems and service delivery.”