Please return to this page - more Invited Speaker biographies will be added as the program is finalised.
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Dr Fiona Bisshop MBBS DRANZCOG BSc (Hons)
Fiona is a GP in Brisbane, having studied at the University of Queensland, and has been working in the area of LGBT health and HIV medicine for over 10 years. For the last 3 years she has written the fortnightly Doc Q health column in the gay publication Q News. She became more interested in transgender medicine in recent years, and now manages a large caseload of people at all stages of transition. Fiona is a member of ANZPATH, and is very keen to involve more general practitioners in primary care of trans people. "My trans patients are the most amazing people. Assisting them to fulfil their potential is one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life."
Fiona is a GP in Brisbane, having studied at the University of Queensland, and has been working in the area of LGBT health and HIV medicine for over 10 years. For the last 3 years she has written the fortnightly Doc Q health column in the gay publication Q News. She became more interested in transgender medicine in recent years, and now manages a large caseload of people at all stages of transition. Fiona is a member of ANZPATH, and is very keen to involve more general practitioners in primary care of trans people. "My trans patients are the most amazing people. Assisting them to fulfil their potential is one of the most rewarding experiences of my professional life."
Cr Tony Briffa
Mayor, City of Hobsons Bay, Victoria
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia www.vicnet.net.au/~aissg
Tony Briffa is a leading intersex activist and has featured in documentaries, television and radio programs, and magazine and newspaper articles for over a decade. He has authored submissions to law reform commissions across Australia, served on various government advisory committees, and is the longest serving president of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia - the longest running group for people with intersex conditions in Australia.
Tony was born with an intersex condition and was raised as a girl. He underwent various irreversible, non-therapeutic surgeries and hormone treatment as a child. After a unique journey to discover what he would have been like without the earlier medical intervention, Tony now openly celebrates his intersex condition and describes his sex as both male and female.
Tony is also the world's first openly intersex Mayor, having been elected Mayor of the City of Hobsons Bay (Victoria) in 2011.
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Mayor, City of Hobsons Bay, Victoria
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia www.vicnet.net.au/~aissg
Tony Briffa is a leading intersex activist and has featured in documentaries, television and radio programs, and magazine and newspaper articles for over a decade. He has authored submissions to law reform commissions across Australia, served on various government advisory committees, and is the longest serving president of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia - the longest running group for people with intersex conditions in Australia.
Tony was born with an intersex condition and was raised as a girl. He underwent various irreversible, non-therapeutic surgeries and hormone treatment as a child. After a unique journey to discover what he would have been like without the earlier medical intervention, Tony now openly celebrates his intersex condition and describes his sex as both male and female.
Tony is also the world's first openly intersex Mayor, having been elected Mayor of the City of Hobsons Bay (Victoria) in 2011.
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Dr Connie Brinton-Diamond
Constance (“Connie”) Brinton-Diamond, Ph.D. is a private-practice
psychotherapist and clinical sexologist who provides TG-affirming
counseling and referral services to individuals, couples, friends, and families wishing to explore various gender identity issues. These may include gender identity or sexual orientation concerns, transitioning (according to the WPATH Standards of Care), cross-dressing, and post-transition issues. Her professional credentials (i.e., education, specialized training, and 25-years of experience) are in the fields of clinical and forensic psychology (specializing in human sexuality, including gender issues).
Constance (“Connie”) Brinton-Diamond, Ph.D. is a private-practice
psychotherapist and clinical sexologist who provides TG-affirming
counseling and referral services to individuals, couples, friends, and families wishing to explore various gender identity issues. These may include gender identity or sexual orientation concerns, transitioning (according to the WPATH Standards of Care), cross-dressing, and post-transition issues. Her professional credentials (i.e., education, specialized training, and 25-years of experience) are in the fields of clinical and forensic psychology (specializing in human sexuality, including gender issues).
Dr. Milton Diamond
http://www.hawaii.edu/PCSS/
Dr. Milton Diamond is professor at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine. He has had a very long and productive career in the study of human sexuality.
Dr Diamond retired from the University in 2009 but continues full-time conducting research and writing. Presently most of his work revolves around questions of transsexuality and intersex.
His work has received numerous awards that include the Kinsey Award of the American Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, the Magnus Hirschfeld Medal of the German DGS Society, the Research Award of the British GIRES organization and the Diversity Award of the Norwegian Organization for Transsexuals
http://www.hawaii.edu/PCSS/
Dr. Milton Diamond is professor at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, John A. Burns School of Medicine. He has had a very long and productive career in the study of human sexuality.
Dr Diamond retired from the University in 2009 but continues full-time conducting research and writing. Presently most of his work revolves around questions of transsexuality and intersex.
His work has received numerous awards that include the Kinsey Award of the American Society for the Scientific Study of Sex, the Magnus Hirschfeld Medal of the German DGS Society, the Research Award of the British GIRES organization and the Diversity Award of the Norwegian Organization for Transsexuals
The Hon Warren Entsch MP
Warren was first elected to Parliament in March 1996, bringing to the
electorate of Leichhardt a diverse career history that included working as a railway porter, real estate salesman, grazier, crocodile farmer and aircraft engine fitter for the RAAF.
Throughout his time in politics Warren has been very public in his
commitment to remove legal and financial discrimination in the LBGTI
community and was pivotal in providing the framework for the 2008 reforms.
In 2011 he established a Parliamentary Friendship Group for LGBTI
Australians, the first of its kind, and currently sits as the chair of this
tri-partisan group. He continues to maintain strong friendships and
connections with individuals and advocacy groups within the LGBTI community.
Warren retired from politics at the 2007 election to spend more time with
his teenage son. Following his son's decision to study at university,
Warren successfully recontested the seat in 2010 and was then appointed Chief Opposition Whip, a position he continues to hold.
Warren was first elected to Parliament in March 1996, bringing to the
electorate of Leichhardt a diverse career history that included working as a railway porter, real estate salesman, grazier, crocodile farmer and aircraft engine fitter for the RAAF.
Throughout his time in politics Warren has been very public in his
commitment to remove legal and financial discrimination in the LBGTI
community and was pivotal in providing the framework for the 2008 reforms.
In 2011 he established a Parliamentary Friendship Group for LGBTI
Australians, the first of its kind, and currently sits as the chair of this
tri-partisan group. He continues to maintain strong friendships and
connections with individuals and advocacy groups within the LGBTI community.
Warren retired from politics at the 2007 election to spend more time with
his teenage son. Following his son's decision to study at university,
Warren successfully recontested the seat in 2010 and was then appointed Chief Opposition Whip, a position he continues to hold.
Dr Az Hakeem,
MBBS FRCPsych MSc MIGA
Website:www.drazhakeem.com
Email: az@drazhakeem.com
Dr Az Hakeem is a Consultant Psychiatrist in General Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Forensic Psychotherapy at Camden & Islington and The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trusts London. He is currently living in Sydney and working at Liverpool Hospital NSW on a 12 month sabatical. He completed advanced training in both Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at The Tavistock & Portman Clinics and has trained as a Group Analyst at The institute of Group Analysis, London and has completed a Masters in Group Analysis and its application to Transgender patients. He is the only consultant psychiatrist in the UK to specialise in psychotherapy for gender identity disorders and has single-handedly run a UK-wide specialist gender identity psychotherapy service for the past 12 years. He has also worked as a consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist to the media both on and off-screen and has worked on a number of UK television shows.
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MBBS FRCPsych MSc MIGA
Website:www.drazhakeem.com
Email: az@drazhakeem.com
Dr Az Hakeem is a Consultant Psychiatrist in General Psychiatry, Psychotherapy & Forensic Psychotherapy at Camden & Islington and The Tavistock & Portman NHS Foundation Trusts London. He is currently living in Sydney and working at Liverpool Hospital NSW on a 12 month sabatical. He completed advanced training in both Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at The Tavistock & Portman Clinics and has trained as a Group Analyst at The institute of Group Analysis, London and has completed a Masters in Group Analysis and its application to Transgender patients. He is the only consultant psychiatrist in the UK to specialise in psychotherapy for gender identity disorders and has single-handedly run a UK-wide specialist gender identity psychotherapy service for the past 12 years. He has also worked as a consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist to the media both on and off-screen and has worked on a number of UK television shows.
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Ms Nyah Harwood
Nyah Harwood currently lives in Cairns and studies externally as an undergraduate student in Writing and Cultural Studies at Southern Cross University. She is also a co-researcher in the "Trans voices" project, at James Cook University, which deals with trans experiences of transition and aims to re instate a voice for trans people. She is active in the transgender community. Her interests are strongly focused on gender theory, queer theory, trans feminism, as well as anti-oppression, sex work, and trans politics. Her current research focuses on cisnormativity and the erasure of trans bodies.
Nyah Harwood currently lives in Cairns and studies externally as an undergraduate student in Writing and Cultural Studies at Southern Cross University. She is also a co-researcher in the "Trans voices" project, at James Cook University, which deals with trans experiences of transition and aims to re instate a voice for trans people. She is active in the transgender community. Her interests are strongly focused on gender theory, queer theory, trans feminism, as well as anti-oppression, sex work, and trans politics. Her current research focuses on cisnormativity and the erasure of trans bodies.
Annette Hogan
Client Services Manager (Brisbane Region), Care Connect
Annette has a diverse career in health leadership in not-for-profit and public sector organisations, spanning more than 30 years. Prior to working at Care Connect, Annette was State Manager of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Chief Executive Officer of the Ipswich and West Moreton Division of General Practice.
Annette was the founding manager of Care Connect’s South-East Queensland and NSW Far North Coast services, commencing in 2006. She spent three years working towards the establishment of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community aged care service which commenced operations in 2011.
Annette is passionate about developing and providing personalised, flexible and innovative services that meet people’s needs now and into the future.
Client Services Manager (Brisbane Region), Care Connect
Annette has a diverse career in health leadership in not-for-profit and public sector organisations, spanning more than 30 years. Prior to working at Care Connect, Annette was State Manager of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and Chief Executive Officer of the Ipswich and West Moreton Division of General Practice.
Annette was the founding manager of Care Connect’s South-East Queensland and NSW Far North Coast services, commencing in 2006. She spent three years working towards the establishment of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community aged care service which commenced operations in 2011.
Annette is passionate about developing and providing personalised, flexible and innovative services that meet people’s needs now and into the future.
Mr Peter Hyndal
A Gender Agenda www.genderrights.org.au
Email: peter@genderrights.org.au
Peter Hyndal is a founding member of A Gender Agenda – a trans and intersex organisation providing information, support and advocacy services to the sex and gender diverse communities of the ACT.
Through his work with AGA, Peter is actively engaged in building constructive alliances with health professionals and other service providers. Peter recently co-authored the report “Gender Diversity in the ACT” which documented evidence of health related issues for trans people. In 2011 he was integrally involved in a successful pilot project which sought to improve a range of health outcomes for trans and intersex people in the ACT.
Peter is active in other national and international trans and intersex networks including as Convenor of the 'National LGBTI Health Alliance' Diverse Sex and Gender Working Group. He has attended and presented at a range of international conferences on issues of sex and gender diversity.
A Gender Agenda www.genderrights.org.au
Email: peter@genderrights.org.au
Peter Hyndal is a founding member of A Gender Agenda – a trans and intersex organisation providing information, support and advocacy services to the sex and gender diverse communities of the ACT.
Through his work with AGA, Peter is actively engaged in building constructive alliances with health professionals and other service providers. Peter recently co-authored the report “Gender Diversity in the ACT” which documented evidence of health related issues for trans people. In 2011 he was integrally involved in a successful pilot project which sought to improve a range of health outcomes for trans and intersex people in the ACT.
Peter is active in other national and international trans and intersex networks including as Convenor of the 'National LGBTI Health Alliance' Diverse Sex and Gender Working Group. He has attended and presented at a range of international conferences on issues of sex and gender diversity.
Dr. Rosemary A. Jones
M.B. Ch.B. F.R.C.O.G. F.R.A.C.O.G.
Born in England, as a he, she was educated at Shaftesbury Grammar School and took her medical degree at Bristol University. After being pushed off the pavement by the crush of the crowd, she departed for the less populated areas of Uganda where she worked as a ‘Government Medical Officer’. Having tried Black Africa she decided to see what it was like in South Africa. She received her basic training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Natal, and thereafter a brilliant and comprehensive further specialist training at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. She succeeded in obtaining her Membership in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London. She returned to Oxford in the UK as a Research Registrar and thereafter continued her researches at the New John Radcliffe Hospital. She finally decided that the National Health Service was not for her and emigrated to Australia.
She started in Private Practice in New South Wales but was persuaded that a small country town for not the place for an aspiring transwoman and that Adelaide was a more congenial place to live and work in. She arrived in Adelaide in 1979 and took up positions as a Senior Visiting Specialist at the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria Hospitals while starting a private practice.
For 30 years now she has taken an increasing interest in the problems of the Menopause, laparoscopic surgery and most relevantly the problems of gender dysphoria both surgical and hormonal. She herself underwent surgical reassignment in September 2007 and lives contentedly with another woman.
She is quite happy to answer questions of both a general professional nature and the more intimate questions that would relate to her own transition.
“When you conclude the war in your own head, you are free to make peace with the rest of the world.”
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M.B. Ch.B. F.R.C.O.G. F.R.A.C.O.G.
Born in England, as a he, she was educated at Shaftesbury Grammar School and took her medical degree at Bristol University. After being pushed off the pavement by the crush of the crowd, she departed for the less populated areas of Uganda where she worked as a ‘Government Medical Officer’. Having tried Black Africa she decided to see what it was like in South Africa. She received her basic training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Natal, and thereafter a brilliant and comprehensive further specialist training at Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town. She succeeded in obtaining her Membership in the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London. She returned to Oxford in the UK as a Research Registrar and thereafter continued her researches at the New John Radcliffe Hospital. She finally decided that the National Health Service was not for her and emigrated to Australia.
She started in Private Practice in New South Wales but was persuaded that a small country town for not the place for an aspiring transwoman and that Adelaide was a more congenial place to live and work in. She arrived in Adelaide in 1979 and took up positions as a Senior Visiting Specialist at the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria Hospitals while starting a private practice.
For 30 years now she has taken an increasing interest in the problems of the Menopause, laparoscopic surgery and most relevantly the problems of gender dysphoria both surgical and hormonal. She herself underwent surgical reassignment in September 2007 and lives contentedly with another woman.
She is quite happy to answer questions of both a general professional nature and the more intimate questions that would relate to her own transition.
“When you conclude the war in your own head, you are free to make peace with the rest of the world.”
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Dr Sanguan Kunaporn B.S., M.D.
Website:www.phuket-plasticsurgery.com
Doctor Sanguan has an extensive and varied medical background and throughout his University and Medical training has performed with distinction. Following internship and general practice, he commenced his specialization in plastic surgery in 1988 at Chulalongkorn University, and in 1991 he received the “Outstanding Resident, Department of Surgery” award.
Doctor Sanguan opened the PPS in 1992, and in 2006 was a founding member of the Phuket International Aesthetic Center in Phuket International Hospital. Whilst highly skilled in all areas of plastic and cosmetic surgery, his main and specialized expertise is in Gender Reassignment Surgery and Breast Surgery, where he enjoys a renowned reputation. Aside from his busy workload with Gender Reassignment Surgery and related cosmetic procedures, Doctor Sanguan finds time to visit community hospitals where he volunteers his skills free of charge to those less fortunate in need of his services. He attends accident victims, burn victims, children with cleft pallets and those who would otherwise be unable to afford the fees of a world class plastic surgeon. Additionally, over the past 20 years,he has devoted a great deal of time to the Rotarians. For his transgendered patients Dr. Sanguan is a skilled surgeon who turns dreams into reality. For the many accident victims he helps he is a surgeon who prevents a life of suffering. All those who meet him know him to be a caring, considerate human being who has learned the delicate balance in life between “give” and “take”.
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Website:www.phuket-plasticsurgery.com
Doctor Sanguan has an extensive and varied medical background and throughout his University and Medical training has performed with distinction. Following internship and general practice, he commenced his specialization in plastic surgery in 1988 at Chulalongkorn University, and in 1991 he received the “Outstanding Resident, Department of Surgery” award.
Doctor Sanguan opened the PPS in 1992, and in 2006 was a founding member of the Phuket International Aesthetic Center in Phuket International Hospital. Whilst highly skilled in all areas of plastic and cosmetic surgery, his main and specialized expertise is in Gender Reassignment Surgery and Breast Surgery, where he enjoys a renowned reputation. Aside from his busy workload with Gender Reassignment Surgery and related cosmetic procedures, Doctor Sanguan finds time to visit community hospitals where he volunteers his skills free of charge to those less fortunate in need of his services. He attends accident victims, burn victims, children with cleft pallets and those who would otherwise be unable to afford the fees of a world class plastic surgeon. Additionally, over the past 20 years,he has devoted a great deal of time to the Rotarians. For his transgendered patients Dr. Sanguan is a skilled surgeon who turns dreams into reality. For the many accident victims he helps he is a surgeon who prevents a life of suffering. All those who meet him know him to be a caring, considerate human being who has learned the delicate balance in life between “give” and “take”.
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Mr Paul Martin
Principal Psychologist, Centre for Human Potential cfhp.com.au
Paul Martin is a psychologist specializing in the areas of gender and sexual diversity for over 25 years. He was voted as one of Australia's 25 Most Influential gays and lesbians in 2007 and 2010, writes on gender and sexual diversity issues for various media outlets including QNews and wrote a journal article on gender diversity for the Gay and Lesbian Interest Group for the Australian Psychological Society. Paul is regularly featured in mainstream and LGBTI media including ABC & commercial radio, JOYFM, and newspapers including Sunday Mail, The Australian & has appeared in several documentaries.
Paul has trained GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers regarding the underlying psychological issues regarding same sex attraction and will be soon running programs on working with gender diverse clients. He has developed and run programs for organizations to understand LGBTI populations in the workplace. He is actively engaged in lobbying for marriage equality which has included meeting with many MP's in Canberra and has met with the Prime Minister and the Federal Attorney General.
Principal Psychologist, Centre for Human Potential cfhp.com.au
Paul Martin is a psychologist specializing in the areas of gender and sexual diversity for over 25 years. He was voted as one of Australia's 25 Most Influential gays and lesbians in 2007 and 2010, writes on gender and sexual diversity issues for various media outlets including QNews and wrote a journal article on gender diversity for the Gay and Lesbian Interest Group for the Australian Psychological Society. Paul is regularly featured in mainstream and LGBTI media including ABC & commercial radio, JOYFM, and newspapers including Sunday Mail, The Australian & has appeared in several documentaries.
Paul has trained GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers regarding the underlying psychological issues regarding same sex attraction and will be soon running programs on working with gender diverse clients. He has developed and run programs for organizations to understand LGBTI populations in the workplace. He is actively engaged in lobbying for marriage equality which has included meeting with many MP's in Canberra and has met with the Prime Minister and the Federal Attorney General.
Mr Jez Pez
www.dudemag.org
Mr Jez Pez has been actively involved in the LGBTIQ community for over a decade. He is the creator and Editor of DUDE MAGAZINE, a resource about trans masculine sexuality. Jez is a passionate community organiser who has played a pivotal role in the Australian trans male movement and co-curated exhibitions about trans men and trans masculinity for Midsumma in 2008, 2009 & 2012.
Jez also works in a professional capacity as a consultant, providing trans male sensitive training and education to organisations in health service delivery. Jez’s background involved more creative pursuits such as performance art, boylesque and trans male strip performance, but the focus of his recent work has been to facilitate greater trans inclusiveness in male only sex on site premises in Australia.
Jez Pez is a white, self made, middle class Australian who is currently studying a double degree in Youth Work and Sport & Recreation Management.
www.dudemag.org
Mr Jez Pez has been actively involved in the LGBTIQ community for over a decade. He is the creator and Editor of DUDE MAGAZINE, a resource about trans masculine sexuality. Jez is a passionate community organiser who has played a pivotal role in the Australian trans male movement and co-curated exhibitions about trans men and trans masculinity for Midsumma in 2008, 2009 & 2012.
Jez also works in a professional capacity as a consultant, providing trans male sensitive training and education to organisations in health service delivery. Jez’s background involved more creative pursuits such as performance art, boylesque and trans male strip performance, but the focus of his recent work has been to facilitate greater trans inclusiveness in male only sex on site premises in Australia.
Jez Pez is a white, self made, middle class Australian who is currently studying a double degree in Youth Work and Sport & Recreation Management.
Mx. Mish Pony
Mx. Mish Pony has been involved in the LGBTIQ community both on a personal and a professional level for the past 7 years, and has been involved in the sex worker rights movement for the past 3 years. They are a community organiser in queer, trans* and sex worker communities, and has worked within collectives and organisations such as Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association; Camp Out; ACON and Still Fierce.
Mx. Mish Pony has been involved in the LGBTIQ community both on a personal and a professional level for the past 7 years, and has been involved in the sex worker rights movement for the past 3 years. They are a community organiser in queer, trans* and sex worker communities, and has worked within collectives and organisations such as Scarlet Alliance, Australian Sex Workers Association; Camp Out; ACON and Still Fierce.
Ms Elizabeth Riley
Counsellor PhD (Cand.) MA(Couns.) BSc
Elizabeth Riley is a counsellor, supervisor, and educator specialising in sexuality, gender, ethics and supervision. Elizabeth gained extensive experience working with gender diverse clients at the Gender Centre for 7 years as the centre's first professional counsellor. Elizabeth has almost completed her PhD titled "The needs of gender variant children and their parents" and has four publications in the area of gender diversity.
Elizabeth works at The Australian College of Applied Psychology as a Counselling Placement Lecturer organising the curriculum and delivery of supervision for students on placement. Elizabeth has also spent many years as a counsellor, consultant and trainer for the St James Ethics Centre and works in private practice in Sydney. She has presented papers and workshops, both locally and internationally, in the areas of Sexuality, Gender Identity, and Ethics.
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Counsellor PhD (Cand.) MA(Couns.) BSc
Elizabeth Riley is a counsellor, supervisor, and educator specialising in sexuality, gender, ethics and supervision. Elizabeth gained extensive experience working with gender diverse clients at the Gender Centre for 7 years as the centre's first professional counsellor. Elizabeth has almost completed her PhD titled "The needs of gender variant children and their parents" and has four publications in the area of gender diversity.
Elizabeth works at The Australian College of Applied Psychology as a Counselling Placement Lecturer organising the curriculum and delivery of supervision for students on placement. Elizabeth has also spent many years as a counsellor, consultant and trainer for the St James Ethics Centre and works in private practice in Sydney. She has presented papers and workshops, both locally and internationally, in the areas of Sexuality, Gender Identity, and Ethics.
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Dr Darren Russell
MBBS FRACGP DipVen FAChSHM FRCP (London)
Darren Russell is the Director of Sexual Health at the Cairns Sexual Health Service and also holds academic appointments at James Cook University and the University of Melbourne. He has worked with trans clients for over 20 years and has written text book chapters on the topic of transgender medicine. He is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health (ANZPATH) and is interested in models of care for working with trans clients and in the hormonal treatment of those who require it. His opinion on transgender health issues is regularly sought from other clinicians around Australia. He has lived in Cairns for the last 6 years after relocating from Melbourne.
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MBBS FRACGP DipVen FAChSHM FRCP (London)
Darren Russell is the Director of Sexual Health at the Cairns Sexual Health Service and also holds academic appointments at James Cook University and the University of Melbourne. He has worked with trans clients for over 20 years and has written text book chapters on the topic of transgender medicine. He is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health (ANZPATH) and is interested in models of care for working with trans clients and in the hormonal treatment of those who require it. His opinion on transgender health issues is regularly sought from other clinicians around Australia. He has lived in Cairns for the last 6 years after relocating from Melbourne.
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Ms Evie Ryder
Health Promotion Officer, Healthy Communities, Brisbane, Queensland
Evie (previously Amanda Dean) has been working with the LGBT community for the last 6 years, after completing her Bachelor of Social Work at JCU Cairns in 2007.
During her Social Work degree, Evie completed a student placement at Open Doors - an LGBT youth organisation. Evie now works for Healthy Communities as a Health Promotion Officer and has worked with communities in Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane and Toowoomba.
Evie gives presentations on transgender issues and trans-phobia at conferences at both statewide and nationally, including Health in Differences 2010 and the Queensland Clinician's Meeting 2011.
Having lived as a trans woman for the past 10 years, Evie underwent Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) last year in Thailand. A founding member of the Lesbian Health Action Group, Evie is also a current member of Many Genders One Voice; a trans and gender diverse action group promoting healthy communities. She also enjoys holding skateboarding classes for LGBT people.
Evie has exhibited pro-trans photography in collaboration with Transforming Pixels, which has received national and international exposure. Currently, Evie's short film about her SRS experience is being screened at the Brisbane and Melbourne Queer Film Festivals.
Evie is very passionate about trans healthcare and improving acceptance within the community.
Health Promotion Officer, Healthy Communities, Brisbane, Queensland
Evie (previously Amanda Dean) has been working with the LGBT community for the last 6 years, after completing her Bachelor of Social Work at JCU Cairns in 2007.
During her Social Work degree, Evie completed a student placement at Open Doors - an LGBT youth organisation. Evie now works for Healthy Communities as a Health Promotion Officer and has worked with communities in Cairns, Townsville, Brisbane and Toowoomba.
Evie gives presentations on transgender issues and trans-phobia at conferences at both statewide and nationally, including Health in Differences 2010 and the Queensland Clinician's Meeting 2011.
Having lived as a trans woman for the past 10 years, Evie underwent Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) last year in Thailand. A founding member of the Lesbian Health Action Group, Evie is also a current member of Many Genders One Voice; a trans and gender diverse action group promoting healthy communities. She also enjoys holding skateboarding classes for LGBT people.
Evie has exhibited pro-trans photography in collaboration with Transforming Pixels, which has received national and international exposure. Currently, Evie's short film about her SRS experience is being screened at the Brisbane and Melbourne Queer Film Festivals.
Evie is very passionate about trans healthcare and improving acceptance within the community.
Dr Melissa Vick
Associate Professor
School of Education at James Cook University (Townsville)
My current research interests are in gender transition and in theories and practices of gender more broadly; however, I have published extensively in history, sociology, policy and philosophy of education. In addition, I have been active in road safety, in particular Indigenous road safety, as a researcher and member of a number of government and other committees.
I also happen to be a trans* woman. I began transition in my early 60s, in the institution where I had worked for 25 years and have a high institutional profile. I regard myself as a trans* activist, bringing my extensive research knowledge, and skills and my experience in government and other public work to bear on the issues that affect us as trans* people.
Associate Professor
School of Education at James Cook University (Townsville)
My current research interests are in gender transition and in theories and practices of gender more broadly; however, I have published extensively in history, sociology, policy and philosophy of education. In addition, I have been active in road safety, in particular Indigenous road safety, as a researcher and member of a number of government and other committees.
I also happen to be a trans* woman. I began transition in my early 60s, in the institution where I had worked for 25 years and have a high institutional profile. I regard myself as a trans* activist, bringing my extensive research knowledge, and skills and my experience in government and other public work to bear on the issues that affect us as trans* people.
