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Dr Devi Mohan, an Associate Professor in the School of Public Health is a physician with a specialization in Community Medicine and holds a Graduate Certificate in Higher Education.

Dr Mohan leads the public health teaching of the MD program and serves as the theme lead for Advocate for Health Improvement. She has extensive experience teaching in medical programs in both India and Malaysia, including integrated medical programs, and has mentored many medical graduates in medical research.

Dr Mohan's research primarily focuses on dementia epidemiology, prevention, and care in low and middle-income countries. Her work has been published in high impact public health and dementia journals. Currently, she leads various dementia research projects in Malaysia, Vietnam, and India. Working with various international research teams, Dr Mohan has secured research grants totalling over AUD 5 million from prestigious funding bodies such as NIHR UK, Australian Research Council, and MRC UK. She has mentored many PhD students and post-doctoral fellows, contributing to the development of the next generation of public health researchers.

As a member of the NIHR Global Health Group on Dementia Prevention and Enhanced Care (DePEC), Dr Mohan collaborates with international experts to develop approaches for reducing dementia risk and establishing sustainable care pathways. She has extensive international collaborations with partners in the UK, India, Malaysia, South-East Asia, focusing on projects related to aging and dementia. Dr Mohan is a member of Global Dementia Prevention Program, and the Southeast Asia Dementia Research Network.

Prior to her current role, Dr Mohan served as an Associate Professor in Global Public Health at the Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia. She has also worked with the Department of Health, Kerala, India, where she was actively involved in primary health care and delivery of health programs.

Dr Morley is an epidemiologist by background who works in health policy and health services research. Her broad areas of research interest are substance use and mental health. She is also interested in the evaluation of complex interventions using mixed-methods approaches involving administrative data. Dr Morley teaches applied health policy and health program design, implementation and evaluation at UQ.

Prior to joining UQ, Dr Morley was a Senior Research Leader and Deputy Director of the Health and Wellbeing Research Group at RAND Europe, a not-for-profit policy research organisation based in the UK. In this role she led major research projects investigating government policy including an evaluation of the UK government investment in drug and alcohol treatment and recovery systems (NIHR205228), and an assessment of the mental health impact of a major high-speed rail infrastructure project on surrounding communities (NIHR132761). She is a co-investigator for the Birmingham, RAND and Cambridge Rapid Evaluation Centre, one of five UK rapid evaluation centres funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR156533). She has also conducted research for the European Commission, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the UK Department for Health and Social Care.

Before working at RAND Europe, Dr Morley was a Senior Lecturer at the King's College London Institute for Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IOPPN), based at the National Addiction Centre. While at the IOPPN, she led research focused on using electronic health records to understand the unmet physical and mental health needs of people who use alcohol and other drugs and taught research methods and statistics on MSc programmes. Before this she held positions at University College London, the Wellcome Sanger Institute and the University of Melbourne.

Dr Kylie Morphett completed her PhD in November 2016 and has since worked as a Research Fellow at the UQ School of Public Health. Prior to beginning her PhD, she worked in a number of non-profit health promotion project management roles. Her PhD research investigated how smokers understand the neuroscience of nicotine addiction and how this influences their sense of self-efficacy and choice of cessation methods. It also explored barriers to the use of best practice smoking cessation pharmacotherapies.

Dr Morphett's current research is focused on health communication related to tobacco and nicotine products. She has a strong interest in tobacco control policy and regulatory science, and is an investigator on a $5M NHMRC Synergy grant, where she leads the workstream on stakeholder support for tobacco endgame policies. She also has a strong interest in environmental health communication, and is an investigator on an NHMRC funded grant exploring the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) exposome, leading the risk communication component of the project. She has expertise in mixed methods research, including systematic reviews, qualitative data design and analysis and the development and analysis of cross-sectional surveys.

Dr Sally Mortlock is a genetic epidemiologist and NECST Research Fellow who leads the Genetic Epidemiology stream at the Australian Women and Girls Health Research (AWaGHR) Centre, University of Queensland. Her research integrates genomics with life course epidemiology to understand how genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors shape women’s health across the lifespan.

Her work focuses on reproductive and menstrual health, particularly endometriosis and related conditions, with the aim of improving understanding of disease mechanisms, risk, diagnosis, and personalised approaches to care.

Research areas include:

• Genetic epidemiology and reproductive genomics
• Women’s health across the life course
• Endometriosis and reproductive disorders
• Longitudinal cohort studies and life course epidemiology
• Genetic risk prediction and causal inference methods (including Mendelian randomisation)
• Multi-omics and biological pathway analysis

Dr Mortlock previously spent seven years as lead computational biologist within the Genomics of Reproduction Disorders group at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, contributing to internationally recognised research in reproductive genomics. She now combines this expertise with large-scale longitudinal health data, including genetic resources within the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, to investigate women’s health trajectories over time.

Beatrice is a Postdoctoral Researcher with a special interest in behaviour change and digital health promotion. She has extensive experience in clinical trial management and evaluation. Following on from a Master’s Degree in Medical Science, her PhD was dedicated to the development of a mobile app that targeted adults’ physical activity and sleep health. The body of work she has contributed to has incorporated a wide range of research methods and study designs and her research outputs have added important knowledge to the field of multiple behaviour change and non-clinical sleep interventions. In more recent roles, Beatrice has worked on wide-scale implementation projects targeting the health and wellbeing of young children. Beatrice’s work is about maximising impact, both in the scientific field and out in the community by way of generating high quality data and improving equity of access to evidence-based resources.

Herston Campus

Allyson Mutch is an Associate Professor in Health Systems in the School of Public Health, University of Queensland and a Senior Fellow in the Higher Education Academy. Her research uses qualitative methods to investigate the social determinants of health and the health and wellbeing of people who are socially excluded and experiencing disadvantage. Allyson's research is firmly embedded in community, with strong links to community organisations that ensure their needs are represented.

Associate Professor Son Nghiem is the Head of the Health Economics Research and Modelling Unit, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland. A/Prof Nghiem has a background in applied econometrics and has 18 years of experience in health services research, health economics, and health technology assessment. He has been a chief investigator on 18 research grants, including ten grants as a chief investigator A, with a total funding of more than $15 million. A/Prof Nghiem successfully led a multidisciplinary team to develop the Queensland Cardiovascular Disease Cohort Linkage Study, the first data linkage cohort study for cardiovascular disease in Australia. A/Prof Nghiem has an excellent publication track record with 150 peer-reviewed articles, three book chapters and one book. His publications have been cited over 4000 times, resulting in an average H-index 36.

Dr Kim-Huong Nguyen is a Senior Lecturer in Health Economics at the University of Queensland. Her research centres on the efficient and equitable allocation of resources to support brain health in disadvantaged populations. She applies economic methods and theories to evaluate interventions, programmes and public policies for neurodegenerative diseases, brain injuries, and mental disorders. As a Global Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health with the Global Brain Health Institute (Trinity College Dublin and University of California, San Francisco), she collaborates closely with multidisciplinary teams—including artists, medical professionals, engineers, industry partners, advocates, and health and social care consumers—to advance knowledge and transform practices for brain health.

Dr Huy Nguyen is a biostatistician and epidemiologist whose 25+ year career has spanned clinical medicine and advanced quantitative research across Vietnam, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. He trained as a medical doctor at Thai Nguyen and Hanoi Medical University, before completing postgraduate qualifications in statistics, research methods and public health at Flinders University and a PhD in Statistical Modelling and Epidemiology at Queensland University of Technology, for which he received the Outstanding PhD Thesis Award. He has held academic and biostatistics roles at Hanoi Medical University, St Luke's International University, the University of Adelaide, Griffith University, and Federation University Australia, and currently serves as Senior Research Fellow (Biostatistics) at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of Queensland, with honorary and adjunct appointments at Federation University, St Luke's, UMass Chan Medical School, and Mekong University.

Huy's research focuses on the design and statistical analysis of clinical trials and large observational studies, with particular expertise in causal inference, longitudinal and survival modelling, and Frequentist and Bayesian methods applied to chronic and infectious disease epidemiology. He has served as statistician or statistical/technical advisor on seven clinical trials (six ANZCTR-registered) – most recently as Technical/Statistical Advisor on the Wellcome Trust-funded E-Dengue cluster-randomised trial to reduce dengue incidence in Vietnam's Mekong Delta – and has contributed statistical expertise to over 30 funded research projects supported by the NHMRC, NIH, CDC, and Wellcome Trust, including NIH/Fogarty-funded non-communicable disease research and training in partnership with UMass Chan Medical School.

He has published nearly 100 peer-reviewed articles in international journals – including The Lancet, eClinicalMedicine, The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific, PLOS Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research.

Huy has supervised 1 postdoctoral fellow, 6 PhD candidates (2 completed, 4 in progress), 25 Master's students, and 17 Honours/Bachelor students.

Dr. Mehwish Nisar is a medical doctor, researcher, and academic (FHEA) whose work spans clinical practice, public health research, and higher education. Her research expertise lies in mixed-methods investigations of chronic diseases and their complications. She is especially focused on promoting appropriate and equitable healthcare access among diverse and underserved populations.

Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, she spearheads initiatives that integrate mixed-methods research, co-design principles, implementation science, and consumer and community involvement in research to enhance health outcomes for CALD communities living with hearing loss. She is a committee member of the IH SIG, Public Health Australia.

As an Academic at UQ, Dr. Nisar leverages more than ten years of teaching experience gained across medical schools and tertiary institutions in Australia and internationally. Her dedication to high-quality university education is formally acknowledged through her recognition as an Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).

Central to Dr. Nisar's professional mission is the pursuit of health equity through culturally responsive, evidence-informed strategies. She offers comprehensive skills in research methodology, qualitative and quantitative analysis, knowledge translation, and fostering collaborative relationships with community-based organisations.

Dr. Charles Okafor is a postdoctoral research fellow at the Centre for Health Services Research, University of Queensland. His work involves the economic evaluation of healthcare technologies, and the application of health economics in public health and health services research. He previously worked in the Pharmaceutical Industry as a Research and Development Manager.

He holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree (BPharm) from the University of Nigeria; a Master of Clinical Pharmacy degree (MPharm) from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; and a PhD in Health Economics from Griffith University.

Charles is a member of the Health Technology Assessment International (HTAi); the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research (ISPOR); and the International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE).

Dr Osborne, BSc(Hons), MAgSc, PhD is an epidemiologist and toxicologist with research interests in using environmental epidemiology to examine aetiology and pathological pathways of disease. He has worked on a range of projects examining environmental exposures and health outcomes including exposure to metals, pollen, mould, chronic exposures to low levels of chemicals, pesticide and cyanotoxins. He also has experience examining how exposure to the environment may increase health and wellbeing (green/bluespace and solar irradiance and vitamin D).

He has developed skills in the linkage of environmental and population health data in an interdisciplinary context, and has expertise in design, linkage, hypothesis formulation, analysis, interpretation, translation and dissemination.

He has experience in designing and collecting epidemiological data and initiating studies of primary collected data (HealthIron, HealthNuts, Cornwall Housing Study, Survey of Recreational Water Users, Monitoring of Meniere’s Symptoms).

He also has used secondary data from existing cohorts (NHANES, UK Biobank, 1958 Birth Cohort, British Household Survey, Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study, South Asian Clinical Toxicology Research Collaboration), as well as linkage of previously unconnected “big data” sets in mashups on novel platforms (MEDMI project). He has used traditional statistical methods such as linear/logistic regression, time series analysis, interrupted time series and Cox regression to ascertain associations between exposures and outcomes, as well as integrating confirmatory structured equation modelling with environmental/health data sets to construct conceptual diagrams of associations and assess pathway directions.

He currently researches pollen and health outcomes as well as chronic kidney disease in low to middle income countries.

He has supervised 13 PhD students to completion (6 primary supervisor, 7 co-supervisor) and currently supervises 4 PhD student. He has been associate editor of Archives of Environmental and Occupational Health since 2011 and is on the editorial board of International Journal of Epidemiology and Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Pulmonology. He is a member of Australasian Epidemiology Association, International Society of Environmental Epidemiology and International Epidemiology Association.

He has previously worked at the Universities of NSW, Sydney, Exeter, Melbourne, Portsmouth, Queensland and Flinders, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the Cancer Council Victoria. He completed his PhD at the School of Population Health, University of Queensland/National Research Centre of Environmental Toxicology working on the toxicology and public health effects of cyanobacterial toxins in southeast Queensland.

Dr Junel Padigos is a registered nurse academic. He finished his PhD from the School of Public Health at The University of Queensland in 2024. In his PhD program, Junel was a recipient of the Australian Government Research Training Program Tuition Fee Offset and Stipend Scholarship, allowing him to complete his research focusing on the role of nurses in antimicrobial optimisation in the intensive care unit. Junel currently works as a registered nurse and a nursing academic in Far North Queensland. Throughout his nursing career, he has worked in acute care specialties such as emergency, spinal, acute neurosurgery, intensive care, and coronary care. As a qualified educator and a practising nurse, Junel's research interests focus on clinical education, health promotion, knowledge-to-practice translation, and implementation science.

Zoe is a Honorary Research Fellow with the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences. She also currently holds an appointment as a Senior Research Officer with the Mental Health Evaluation Research Stream at Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (QCMHR), where she leads and manages large-scale evaluation projects that seek to enhance mental health services within Queensland. During her time at QCMHR, she has worked on several state-wide evaluations for Queensland Health - including of their Crisis Support Spaces, Adolescent Day Program and Youth and Adult Step-Up-Step-Down Programs.

Zoe's research work largely focuses on the development, implementation and evaluation of interventions that seek to promote positive health behaviours and which improve social and mental health outcomes. Previously, she developed and trialled a behavioural support program (Active Choices) for the Department of Veterans Affairs, with the aim of increasing self-managed physical activity and social connectedness in Australian Defence Force veterans. Zoe has also designed and evaluated a brief motivational intervention for cannabis users (iAx), which is now in routine use at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

In addition to her work as a researcher, Zoe has held roles in health consulting where she assisted State and Federal Government agencies, PHNs and peak bodies to design, implement and review health services, programs and policies.

Zoe's educational background in psychology, having completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science (2013) and Doctor of Philosophy (2020) in this discipline.

Dr. Dung Phung has a background in medicine and public health. He has experienced diverse roles in clinical practices, health policy and management, and research and teaching in epidemiology, research methods, and environmental health.

Dr. Phung’s research now focuses on the adverse health effects of occupational and environmental pollution, climate change, and health interventions. He has developed research expertise and skills in epidemiologic methods, systematic review and meta-analysis, health risk assessment, needs assessment, and policy evaluation. He has recently conducted a series of studies on the health effects of extreme weather events and adaptation interventions to reduce climate-sensitive health risks. He has a special interest in translating complex scientific evidence into health policy and practices.

Dr. Phung has been awarded several research, fellowship, and global partnership grants totaling> $20 million as a chief/associate investigator (approx. $8.5 million as the principal investigator). He has published over 130 peer-reviewed publications in highly reputable journals and has disseminated research findings at national and international scientific conferences. He has supervised 20 PhD students to conduct research projects on a wide range of public health topics worldwide.

I am a globally recognised leader in lived-living experience led research on substance use, particularly image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs). Presently, I am a senior research fellow at The University of Queensland, School of Public Health, funded through an NHMRC Investigator Grant to examine how both individual behaviours and systemic factors, such as stigma and healthcare barriers, shape the risk profiles of people who use IPEDs. I have received >$11 million in funding as Chief Investigator and have authored >200 outputs.

I have strong national and international partnerships. I am the Peer Research Lead and Vice President of the Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA), Research Lead (QLD) for The Loop Australia, QLD Representative for Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug User League (AIVL), a Visiting International Fellow at Swansea University, and one of six members of the Performance Enhancement Task Force for The Enhanced Games.

My award-winning research program triangulates insights from IPED consumers and health professionals to address critical policy and service gaps. This has led to pioneering initiatives such as the world's first steroid checking trial and full program, which was awarded Harm Reduction Program of the Year (AIVL, 2024). I also founded Steroid QNECT, Australia's only peer-led steroid education program, now informing national and international health enhancement strategies related to IPEDs. I have received several competitive awards, including the AIVL Peer Researcher Recognition Award (2024), the APSAD Kyp Kypri Early Career Researcher Award 2024, and more recently the QMHC Emerging Leader Award 2026 and AIPS Tall Poppy Science Award (QLD) 2026.

I am the Section Editor for Human Enhancement Drugs at the Harm Reduction Journal, and sit the Editorial Boards of Performance Enhancement & Health, Drugs: Education, Prevention, and Policy, and Addiction Research & Theory.