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Gordon holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, South Africa, which focused on the application of machine vision, image processing and machine learning algorithms for modelling grade in froth flotation systems.

Gordon spent ten years working for the Victorian Government developing technical computing and modelling solutions. These included the development of the Environmental Systems Modelling Platform, a tool that aims to bring multiple environmental models and datasets into a single easy to use software package, and the development of the Native Vegetation Regulations Tool, to calculate the interactions between proposed clearings and models of rare and threatened species, and thereby determine the required offset credits. More recently, Gordon worked as a data scientist at the Victorian Centre for Data Insights, where he worked with a team focused on delivering innovative data driven solutions across the government sector.

Gordon now applies his data analytics, modelling and technical computing skills at the JKMRC where he works with the Advanced Process Prediction and Control group developing tools for improved time series analysis and visualisation of industrial data and comminution process models.

Dr Liza Forbes specialises in mineral flotation, with specific focus on flotation reagent chemistry, mineral surface chemistry and base-metal sulphide electrochemistry. Her main interest lies in integrating fundamental and applied aspects of flotation research, to develop new and improved processing technologies.

Education and Work

Liza graduated with a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Cape Town in 2007. Since then, she has worked at the N.B.Keevil Mining Institute, University of British Columbia; the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Melbourne; and CSIRO Mineral Resources.

Industry

Liza has previously worked at a metallurgist at the Bafokeng Rasimone Platinum Mine, Anglo Platinum in South Africa. She has since been involved with a number of industry research projects with companies such as Kennecott Copper Co, Zijin Mining, Newmont, Newcrest, Sytec Technology Solutions and Anglo Coal.

Roma Forbes is the Associate Dean (Academic) in the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioual Sciences. A highly experienced APA-titled Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and teaching-focused Associate Professor in Physiotherapy, she brings extensive clinical and academic expertise to her role.

Roma is a Director of the Australian Physiotherapy Council and serves as the National Chair of the Accreditation Committee, overseeing the quality and standards of physiotherapy education and practice. She also represents Australia on the World Physiotherapy Education Committee, contributing to global advancements in physiotherapy and interprofessional education. She serves a number of editorial roles including as an Associate Editor for The Clinical Teacher and Editor for Education for the Archives of Physiotherapy.

With a strong commitment to student success and workforce readiness, Roma leads programs of research exploring work-integrated learning, student transition, and the capabilities needed for a contemporary health workforce. Her work informs both curriculum innovation and policy, focusing on how learning environments, assessment, and educator development can enhance graduate outcomes.

Roma is passionate about fostering a supported, inclusive, and high-performing community of health professional students, educators, and researchers at UQ and beyond. She remains deeply committed to transforming health professional education through evidence-informed leadership, policy, and partnerships that support students from university entry through to graduation and into the workforce.

Roma also maintains a long-standing commitment to community service through her advocacy and volunteer work with the Australian Government’s Aged Care Volunteer Visitor Scheme (ACVVS). This commitment to community wellbeing informs her leadership and reflects her broader values of connection and equitable access to care.

Awards and Fellowships

• Universities Australia Australian University Teacher of the Year (2025)
• Unviersities Australia Award for Teaching Excellence (2025)
• Advance Higher Education Global Impact Award (2023)
• The University of Queensland Award for Teaching Excellence (2023)
• Association for the Study of Medical Education - Medical Education Developing Scholarship Award (2023)
• Higher Education Academy Senior Fellow (2023)
• Health and Behavioural Sciences Faculty Award for Programs that Enhance Learning (2023)
• Australian Award for University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2021)
• Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia (HERDSA) Fellow (2021)
• The University of Queensland Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2020)
• Flinders University - ANZAHPE Award for Excellence in Health Professional Education (2020)
• Higher Eduction Academy Fellow (2019)
• Health and Behavioural Sciences Faculty Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2019)
• School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning (2018)
• Australian and New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Associate Fellow (2018)

Dr Forbes has an extensive background in applying optimisation methods to industrial problems. He spent over 20 years working in industry before returning to academia in 2010. Dr Forbes now focuses on building Mixed Integer Programming models for industrial applications and specialised techniques for solving difficult Mixed Integer Programming models.

Dr Forbes has experience in many application areas including

• vehicle routing;
• supply chain optimisation;
• mine planning;
• public transport vehicle and crew scheduling and rostering (buses, trains and planes);
• hospital staff scheduling and rostering, including operation scheduling and room allocation;
• power generation and planning;
• network design (communications, electricity, gas, water);
• maintenance scheduling.

Dr. Jerad A Ford has spent nearly two decades creating innovation-driven strategies in a variety of sectors, from renewable energy to fast moving consumer goods. During that time Jerad has set research strategy for large organisations, created and managed technology platforms, built and supervised large R&D project portfolios, designed strategic capability plans (people and infrastructure), created innovation management systems, led major proposal efforts, managed complex client projects, patented and commercialised technology, led international business development efforts and managed executive-level relationships. In his current role is Manager, Innovation Services at CSIRO Futures, the Strategic Advisory Arm of Australia's National Science Agency he helps industry and government clients identify strategic opportunities and capture them by harnessing science, technology and innovation.

Brian Forde is a fellow in microbial bioinformatics and Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellow at the University of Queensland (UQ) Centre for Clinical Research (CCR). Brian was awarded a PhD from University College Cork, Ireland, in 2013 and developed his interest in bacterial genomics as a postdoctoral fellow at the UQ School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB). Currently, his work is primarily focused on clinical microbial genomics, including: the evolution of antibiotic resistance, genomic epidemiology, genomic surveillance of Infectious Diseases and translating genomic research into clinical practice. Since 2017 he has been part of a multidisciplinary team, including researchers, infectious diseases clinicians and infection control professionals, leading the introduction of WGS to investigate hospital-acquired infection in Queensland (https://www.queenslandgenomics.org). In 2020, Brian was awarded Advance Queensland Industry Research Fellowship to explore the application of Artificial Intelligence to genomic surveillance and transmission dynamics.

Craig Forrest is a Professor of Law and Director of the Marine and Shipping Law Unit, Professor Forrest teaches and undertakes research in maritime law, private international law and cultural heritage law. He has published widely in these areas and contributed directly to national and international public policy developments and directly to the drafting of national legislation and international law. Most recently, Professor Forrest has completed a World Bank financed project on the future of the Marshall Islands Ship Registry with a research team drawn from Columbia University, University College London and the University of the South Pacific.

Professor Forrest has a long association with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Between 1998 and 2000, he was a member of the South African delegation to UNESCO and has undertaken a number of activities and consultancies for UNESCO, including: acting as an independent advisor to UNESCO regional cultural meetings in Solomon Islands, Cambodia, St.Kitts and Nevis, Indonesia and Antigua and Barbuda; together with the UNESCO secretariate, drafting a Model Law for the implementation of the UNESCO UCH convention for the Caribbean States; completing a UNESCO consultancy with Dr Bill Jeffery (University of Guam) on the protection of underwater cultural heritage in the States of Micronesia and, together with Major Projects Foundation, undertaking a national Interest Analysis and Gap study on the protection of underwater cultural heritage in Solomon Islands (2012), Marshall Islands (2022) and Fiji (2023). Professor Forrest is an Australian representative on the International Law Association's Committee on Safeguarding Cultural Heritage in Armed Conflict and a member of the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) International Committee on Underwater Cultural Heritage. Professor Forrest is also a Federal Attorney-General appointed Australian correspondent to the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (Rome).

Professor Forrest is the general editor of the Australian and New Zealand Maritime Law Journal, and on the editorial boards of the World Maritime University Journal of Maritime Affairs, Journal of Ocean Law and Governance in Africa and the International Maritime and Commercial Law Yearbook.

Professor Forrest has held visiting research and teaching positions at Cambridge University, National University of South Korea, City University of Hong Kong, Dalhousie University and University of Nottingham (the latter as a Universitas 21 Fellow). Before turning to the law, Professor Forrest served as a naval officer in the South African Navy.

I am a Queensland-trained medical practitioner who currently works as Lecturer in Clinical Science and Clinical Practice at The University of Queensland.

I build curricula in clinical history-taking, physical examination, procedural skills and communication that scaffolds the professional and clinical development of students across the MD Program.

Over the past four years, I have successfully run nine large-cohort courses in Clinical Practice and Integrated Clinical Studies, and mentored over 50 clinical tutors. More recently, I have taken on the role of Academic Lead for Clinical and Professional Learning in Year 1 of the MD Program and a Year 1 Educational Adviser.

I am very interested in innovative approaches to clinical skills teaching in medical education, as well as team functioning, junior doctor and medical student health, safety and wellbeing, and transition to clinical practice

Marina Fortes is an Associate Professor and Deputy Director for Agriculture in the Biotechnology program at The University of Queensland (UQ), where she leads the Livestock Genomics and Biotechnology Group. Her research focuses on applying genetics, genomics, and biotechnology to improve reproductive efficiency and sustainability in livestock systems. Her group integrates molecular biology, bioinformatics, and precision livestock technologies to address key challenges in the beef industry.

A major current focus of her research is understanding how physiological states, particularly pregnancy, influence enteric methane emissions, grazing behaviour, and metabolism in cattle. By combining field-based measurements with computational and genomic approaches, her work aims to improve carbon accounting methods and support the development of practical mitigation strategies for breeding herds, particularly in tropical production systems.

Marina holds a degree in Veterinary Medicine (2004) and a Master of Science in Animal Reproduction (2007) from the University of São Paulo, Brazil. She completed her PhD in Genetics in 2012 at UQ, supported by international scholarships from UQ and the Beef CRC, and received the Dean’s Commendation for her thesis. She then undertook a postdoctoral position at the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation (QAAFI), further developing her expertise in genomics and livestock systems. In August 2014, she joined the School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences (SCMB) at UQ, where she established her research group.

Her research program is strongly connected to industry and international collaborators, contributing to a dynamic and applied research environment aligned with sustainable livestock production. Her work has been consistently supported by Meat & Livestock Australia, and she was awarded an Advanced Queensland Fellowship (2018–2021) for her research on the genomics of cow fertility.

Marina is also actively involved in teaching and training the next generation of scientists, contributing to undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including Livestock Biotechnology (BIOT7038) within the Master of Biotechnology program. She co-produced the Women in Science podcast alongside Marloes Dekker and Kirsty Short, promoting the visibility and engagement of women in STEM.

Dr Kathryn Fortnum is an Early Career Researcher working as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow in the Health and Wellbeing Centre for Research Innovation (School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences), a collaboration between The University of Queensland and Health and Wellbeing Queensland; and affiliate researcher in the Queensland Centre for Olympic and Paralympic Studies (UQ). As an ESSA Accredited Exercise Physiologist, Dr Fortnum has extensive experience working with children and young people living with mental illness, neurological conditions, and neurodevelopmental disorders across inpatient and community settings.

Her research focuses on enhancing physical health, mental wellbeing, and participation outcomes for children and young people, with a commitment to improving equitable access to the tools and opportunities that foster lifelong health and resilience.

Dr Fortnum’s areas of expertise include:

• Physical activity and physical literacy
• Clinical and applied research
• Qualitative methodologies
• Systematic reviews and evidence synthesis
• Co-design and participatory approaches including engaging consumers with lived experience
• Program design and evaluation
• Rapid translation of research into evidence-based practice through partnerships with community and clinical services
• Implementation science, centred on scaling effective interventions into real-world contexts (emerging)

Her work aims to bridge the gap between evidence and practice, producing research that is both scientifically robust and directly meaningful for the individuals, families, clinicians, and organisations she collaborates with.

I completed my PhD, supervised by Dr. Jan Engelstaedter, investigating host shift dynamics of parasites within a host clade. In this project I am was interested in understanding the long-term dynamics and consequences of host-shift dynamics, while taking into account the evolutionary relationships between host species. I was interested in identifying predictable patterns in the distribution of pathogens using statistical and mathematical modeling.

Currently, I am a postdoctoral researcher working at the University of Queensland under Dr. Christine Beveridge. I will be creating computational models of plant hormone signalling in order to make predictions on the phenotypic outcomes of plant species.

Dr. Forutan is an internationally recognized Researcher. Her research area includes understanding the bovine genome and epigenome, discovering causative mutation underlying economic important traits such as fertility, understanding the way genes turn on and off, investigating different methodologies to improve the accuracy of genomic prediction, and optimizing methods for predicting genetic diversity and inbreeding. Her future research career vision is to make a significant contribution to creating new knowledge in the field of quantitative genetics that can help to improve efficiency and resilience in Livestock.

Professor Emerita Foster retired from the role of Mayne Professor and Director of the Academy for Medical Education and Director of Teaching and Learning in the Medical School on 30th April 2023. She led the major curriculum change to the UQ MD Program, MD Design which welcomed its first students in 2023. Kirsty has a national and international reputation in medical education leadership and in global health (especially in the area of maternal and child health and primary care). After graduating in Medicine from Edinburgh University she undertook specialist training in General Practice and gained membership of the Royal College of General Practitioners UK by examination. She has a strong clinical background with twenty years’ experience in the Scottish National Health Service as a principal in general practice and partner in a large academic group practice in one of Edinburgh’s most socially deprived areas. Since coming to Australia in 1998 she has focussed on health professional education and research firstly as a postgraduate medical educator with Central Sydney Area Health Service and then as an academic at the University of Sydney. Kirsty has led many educational initiatives in diverse settings such as the Balkans, Timor Leste, China, Ghana, Indonesia, India, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam. She is recognised as an expert on education in the tertiary and continuing professional education sectors with particular strength and experience in integrated curriculum design and development, interactive teaching methods and faculty development. She worked in global health for more than a decade and held academic leadership roles at the University of Sydney including as Sub Dean Education at Northern Clinical School from 2008 - 2019, Associate Dean International and Head of the Office for Global Health for 5 years 2014-2018. She was appointed to the position of Professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Sydney in August 2018. Kirsty was adn Australian Office of Learning and Teaching citation for outstanding contributions to student learning in 2012 and was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019 for Services to medical education and community health. She first joined UQ in March 2019 as Director of the Office of Medical Education and MD Program Convener. Kirsty is an Honorary Professor at Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam. She continues to provide mentorshp in medical education leadership and remains active in medical education research and research supervision, in accreditation activities with the Australian Medical Council and is sought after as a keynote speaker.