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Lisa is a speech pathologist and conjoint research fellow with Metro North Health and The University of Queensland and works with the Queensland Aphasia Research Centre (QARC). Her research focuses on examining experiences, determining priorities, and co-designing meaningful solutions with lived-experience experts, and improving consumer partnerships. Lisa’s PhD used a novel application of Experience-Based Co-Design, to co-design aphasia services for QARC, who have adopted her findings as a future focus of the centre.

Urska Arnautovska is an early career clinical academic, working as a Research Fellow at the University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine and as a general psychologist in private practice. Following her professional training in Slovenia, she focused her research on suicide which led her to receiving an appointment at the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP), a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention and, since 2008, a National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention. In addition to her research work, she acted as a research coordinator of the Life Promotion Clinic and was involved in the management and analysis of clinical data pertaining to the patients of the clinic, which presented with complex mental health problems and suicidal thoughts and behaviour. Her subsequent research remained focused on mental health, and in more recent years, become dedicated to improving health outcomes in people with severe mental illness. Her PhD, for which she received a competitive Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2012-2016), investigated the motivational processes underlying physical activity in older adults and was awarded the Australian Psychology Society (APS) Award for Excellent Higher Degree Thesis in Health Psychology. She has 48 peer-reviewed publications and has over $8.5 million in competitive research funding, with leading (CIA) roles on projects related to digital health interventions for people living with schizophrenia.

Carl Francia (Saibai Koedal awgadhalayg) is a physiotherapist and population health researcher based at The University of Queensland, currently seconded as an NHMRC Synergy Fellow at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. His research focuses on acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD), with a particular emphasis on Indigenous-led, place-based approaches to prevention, early detection, long-term management, and health system reform.

Carl’s research program examines the burden, natural history, and progression of ARF and RHD using large-scale linked administrative and clinical datasets, with the aim of generating evidence that informs policy, improves service delivery, and supports disease elimination strategies. His doctoral research, recently completed and currently under examination, investigated the epidemiology and progression of ARF and RHD in Queensland over two decades, including population-level incidence and prevalence, progression and regression patterns, and inequities in outcomes.

Through his current role on the NHMRC Synergy project iPreventRHD, Carl is working to translate epidemiological evidence into practice by supporting life-course approaches to RHD prevention and care, strengthening primary and preventive care systems, and partnering with communities, clinicians, and policymakers. His work is underpinned by a commitment to Indigenous data sovereignty, community partnership, and research that is responsive to local context and priorities.

Carl maintains active collaborations across clinical, academic, and community settings and has published across epidemiology, public health, and cardiovascular disease prevention. He is particularly interested in research that bridges evidence and implementation, supports culturally safe care, and contributes to equitable health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.