Ellen is a proud Queer and disabled leader based in Launceston, with an undergraduate degree in sociology and postgraduate qualifications in human services. She brings more than fifteen years of experience across community development, engagement, disability advocacy, and senior roles spanning government, governance, and the not‑for‑profit sector. She is currently the CEO of Health Consumers Tasmania. Ellen’s journey into health advocacy accelerated in 2020 following her lived experience of young‑onset bowel cancer. This shaped a deep commitment to elevating the voices of consumers and communities, and strengthened her belief that meaningful, sustainable change happens when people with lived experience are not only heard but enabled to shape the decisions that affect them. Across her work, Ellen champions place‑based, community‑led approaches and is known for bringing honesty, energy and connection to conversations about prevention, equity, and systems transformation. She works collaboratively across sectors to bridge gaps, build trust, and amplify local wisdom as a driver of long‑term wellbeing. At the heart of her leadership is a simple conviction: communities hold the knowledge and insight needed to guide lasting change, and when their voices are elevated, we create opportunities for healthier, stronger, and more resilient futures.

Dr Heena Akbar is a Pasifika Fijian researcher whose work centres Pacific knowledge systems, Pacific health models, and Indigenous participatory methodologies to co-design and co-create solutions with First Nations, Māori, Pacific, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities to address health inequities. She works closely with Māori and Pasifika communities in Australia and internationally, strengthening pathways for Indigenous and Pacific researchers to lead Māori and Pacific health research in Australia. Dr Akbar has extensive experience in community development and research translation, with a strong commitment to amplifying community and consumer voices through advocacy, capacity building, and culturally grounded partnerships.