Medical Research Future Fund Consumer Reference Panel

Mr John Stubbs  (Chair)

John is a board member of the  Cancer institute NSW, and the TGA Medicines Advisory Committee. John is a survivor of Leukaemia and a strong advocate for people with cancer and chronic disease. John is the Australian Consumer Representative on the International Colon Cancer Familial Register. John has contributed to more than 40 research papers and has previous involvement in MRFF, NHMRC and Cancer Australia grant assessment processes.

Nil

Ms Dania Ahwang  (Deputy Chair)

Dania is the CEO of Wuchopperen Health Service, a community controlled Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Organisation in Cairns. Dania has MRFF grant assessment committee experience.

Nil

Mr Mohammad Al-Khafaji

Mohammad is the CEO of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA). Mohammad is a member of the national Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Health Advisory Group on COVID-19, and the South Australian Health Performance Council.

FECCA provides support/advice to projects in receipt of MRFF grant funding.

Ms Merryn Carter

Merryn is a consumer advocate with the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute’s Breast Cancer Laboratory. Merryn is a member of Breast Cancer Trials Australia New Zealand’s Consumer Advisory Panel.

Nil

Ms Nyree Gale

Nyree is the Lived Experience Resource Network Manager at the Black Dog Institute. Nyree has worked across research and clinical work for over a decade. Nyree is a strong advocate for people with lived experience of mental health challenges and/or suicide. Nyree also has her own lived experience with mental health challenges and suicide related experiences.

Nil

Mrs Kate Griggs

Kate is a health consumer representative in the policy areas of patient safety national regulation, medical education and medical research. Kate has been a consumer representative on both MRFF and NHMRC grant assessment committees.

Nil

Mr Ben Horgan 

Ben is Community Development Officer for the East Metro Health Service within the Royal Perth Bentley Group. In this role Ben works to improve collaboration between clinicians, researchers, service providers and health consumers within the local community.

Nil

Ms Anne McKenzie AM 

Anne is a Consultant and Consumer Advocate at Telethon Kids Institute. Anne holds an Adjunct Appointment at the School of Population and Global Health at the University of Western Australia. Anne is a member of Health Consumers Council WA and Consumers Health Forum and serves as a consumer member on key research committees.

Short term consultant to the Commonwealth Department of Health.

Consumer committee member: Australian Teletrial Program, Clinician and Consumer Advisory Group. Genomics Australia, Involve Working Group. National Prescribing Service, Data Governance Committee. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, Health and Medical Research Advisory Group. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare, Ethics Committee Advisory Group. National Health and Medical Research Council, Targeted Call for Research Prioritisation Committee.

Board Director: Australian Clinical Trials Alliance.

MRFF grant funding recipient.

Mrs Karen Van Gorp 

Karen is a stage IV melanoma survivor. Karen chairs the Melanoma Patients Australia (MPA) Consumer Advisory Group, is a board director for MPA and provides peer to peer support. Karen chairs Cancer Voices SA Executive, sits on the SA Cancer Plan Board and is involved in the development of the Australian Cancer Plan. Karen is a mother of 3 and a senior policy officer at Business SA. Karen is a member of the Consumers Health Forum and a consumer representative on various committees. Karen has been a consumer representative on Cancer Australia grants assessment and an associate investigator on research grant applications.

Nil

Mrs Robina Yasmin 

Robina is currently the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) council member representing NSW and chairperson of the Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association of NSW. Robina is an anthropologist, with many years’ experience working in public health programs. Robina is also the mother of six children, and has extensive experience accessing services and support for her son with cerebral palsy.

Nil