Dr. Audrey Adji is a research scientist at the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute and a research fellow at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney. Her work explores pulsatile function in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, including mechanical circulatory support devices in heart failure. She has authored >80 peer-reviewed publications, presented at international conferences, and fostered collaborative research networks. Dr. Adji has received multiple scientific awards and serves on editorial boards of hypertension journals. She mentors postdoctoral fellows and supervises higher degree students across medicine and engineering. As Chair of the Women in Hypertension (Research) Committee at Hypertension Australia and the Early Career Research Network of Pulse of Asia, she advocates for equity and emerging researchers. She is a member of the Hypertension Australia Taskforce and a Fellow of both the International Society of Hypertension and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Dr. Adji actively cultivates national and global research partnerships.

Brendan recently completed his PhD in the laboratory of Nicola Smith at UNSW Sydney. He is now a Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology in the School of Biomedical Sciences at UNSW Sydney. Brendan has a special interest in G protein-coupled receptors, particularly those that do not yet have an identified endogenous ligand which are termed “orphans”. Brendan is the chair-elect of the ASCEPT Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee and is committed to improving the visibility of the ASCEPT LGBTQIA+ community.

Darren is a medical specialist in clinical pharmacology, addiction medicine and nephrology. He completed a PhD in clinical toxicology with field work in resource poor environments, and clinical fellowships in toxicology (NSW) and nephrology (Cambridge, UK). He is the medical director of the NSW Poisons Information Centre, a senior specialist at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Conjoint at UNSW. His research and clinical leadership have focused on making treatment safer and more equitable—particularly for people with complex health needs. Beyond his scientific expertise, Darren advocates for diversity and inclusion in medicine and research, recognising that equitable care must also reflect the needs and lived experiences of underrepresented groups. His work is guided by a commitment to building health systems where every individual feels seen, valued, and safe—an ethos that continues to inspire colleagues, students, and the communities he serves. He believes that everyone should feel comfortable sharing their story.

Courtney Ryder is a nationally recognised Aboriginal injury epidemiologist and emerging leader in First Nations health research. She is Co-Director of the FHMRI Health Equity Impact Program, Discipline Lead for Trauma and Injury at Flinders University, and a Matthew Flinders Fellow. With expertise in biomedical engineering, mixed-methods research, and Indigenous Data Sovereignty, her work is grounded in community-led approaches. Ryder has secured over $30M in funding and leads transformative initiatives such as the NHMRC-funded HEAL Cohort Study and the Nra:gi Ya:yun diabetes remission program. She actively builds capacity across the Aboriginal health sector and contributes to ethical research and policy through roles on the SA Public Health Committee and SA Department of Health and Wellbeing HREC.

Dr Maria Alejandra Piñero de Plaza is a Research Fellow at Flinders University, whose work is improving how healthcare and digital innovations reach and benefit communities, particularly those who are marginalised. Her contributions have strengthened equity, informed national health policies, and guided the responsible use of artificial intelligence in care settings. Through tools such as PROLIFERATE and PROLIFERATE_AI, she has influenced the way health systems evaluate and adapt to change over time. Her leadership has been recognised nationally with the CSIRO ON Prime Innovation Reward (2024) and the STEM Sisters Women of Colour in STEM – Healthcare Innovator Award (2024), amongst other accolades.

Dr Bulamu is a senior research fellow with the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. Dr Bulamu leads the Health Service Translation team within the Bowel Health Service group at Flinders Medical Centre and Health Economics with the Cancer Impact Theme and Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute. She has secured over $4M in research funding as a principal investigator and part of a team, from the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Medical Research Future Fund as well as being the recipient of the Cancer Council SA Early Career researcher Fellowship for 2023. Dr Bulamu’s area of expertise is health services research and policy impact evaluation, applying health economics methodologies to inform policy decision making on the efficient allocation and use of health care resources. Her career goal is to be a leader in establishing evidence based public health policy. Her multi-disciplinary and collaborative research is presented in peer reviewed journal publications (50) and has been presented at national and international forums.

Alex Burke is a Proud Wiradjuri and Dharug pharmacist who has recently submitted his PhD at the University of Sydney. He is looking at the cultural safety training of pharmacists and pharmacy students specifically around First Nations people. He is looking at how curriculums have been designed with this in mind, and, at the creation of co-designed resources with First Nations people to be implemented in the classroom.

Marina is a mid-career academic from a culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background and a primary carer for an adult with a disability. She earned her PhD in Molecular Pharmacology from Macquarie University, Sydney. Passionate about teaching, Marina strives to create an inclusive and welcoming environment for all students. She is eager to contribute to initiatives that mitigate biases and foster equitable opportunities.

Danial completed is an Associate Lecturer from The University of Queensland (UQ). His research interests are developing medicines with less debilitating side effects, in particular opioids. He is an associate lecturer in the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, teaching in the Master's in Pharmaceutical Industry Practice (MPIP) program, where he teaches courses such as preclinical drug development, pharmaceutical innovation and entrepreneurship. Hailing from Malaysia, a diverse multicultural country, I have developed a special interest and appreciation for cultures and food.

Dr Rikeish R Muralitharan is a Research Fellow at the Hypertension Research Laboratory, Victorian Heart Institute, where his work explores the role of the gut microbiota in cardiovascular disease. With a background in medicine and a PhD in genetics and physiology, his research spans molecular biology, immunology, physiology, and translational science. Dr R Muralitharan is a passionate advocate for equity in STEM and higher education, reflected in his leadership roles on diversity and early-career committees, and his receipt of the 2024 Dean’s Award for Diversity and Inclusion in Education. In addition to his leadership roles and experience, he has co-organised an international symposia, contributed to >20 publications, and regularly engages in science communication and community outreach. As a panellist for Visibility in STEM and Medical Practice/Research/Higher Education: Empowering Diverse Voices, he brings lived experience and a commitment to fostering inclusive research environments.