Plenary speakers

Daniel Hermens

Dan Hermens is Professor of Youth Mental Health and Neurobiology at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He studies brain development, as well as the onset and trajectories of mental and substance use disorders in young people. His current research includes a prospective cohort study of early adolescents from the Sunshine Coast region. With a focus on neuroimaging and cognitive assessment, this study will examine the factors associated with mental health and wellbeing in the adolescent period. His research program also includes specialised imaging studies examining neurotransmitters and other brain effects of novel treatments.

Jane Currie

Dr Jane Currie is Associate Professor in Nursing at Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. Jane’s research focus is investigating and evaluating the impact of nursing and health services on access to healthcare, particularly for vulnerable populations. Jane recently relocated to Brisbane after 8 years as an academic at Sydney Nursing School, University of Sydney. She joined Sydney Nursing School in 2012, after serving in the British Army and Australian Defence Force as a Nursing Officer. Jane’s military experiences include operational tours of Iraq and Indonesia, serving in primary health care and emergency department settings. Jane’s clinical expertise as a nurse practitioner includes emergency care, primary care, and most recently homeless health services. She practises clinically with Micah Projects, Brisbane, a non-government organisation that provides healthcare and support to people experiencing extreme poverty, homelessness, vulnerability and marginalisation.

Ruth Stewart

Adjunct Professor Ruth Stewart MBBS (Uni Melb 1985), PhD (Flin), FACRRM, DRANZCOGadv

Dr Ruth Stewart was appointed as the second National Rural Health Commissioner for Australia in July 2020. She brings to this role nearly 30 years of work as a Rural Generalist doctor with the advanced skills of a GP obstetrician. Ruth and her husband, Anthony Brown now live and work in Roma (Maranoa), located in the South West region of Queensland.

For 22 years Dr Stewart and Anthony were General Practitioners in private practice in Camperdown in south west Victoria. In 2008 Ruth was employed as the inaugural Director of Clinical Training Rural with the then new medical school of Deakin University. Her role was to establish the rural program. She created 18 Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship placements for third year medical students where they spent their core clinical year in rural practice.

In 2012 Dr Stewart moved to north Queensland to become Associate Professor of Rural Medicine, Director Rural Clinical Training with James Cook University, where she oversaw the doubling of rural clinical placements for the medical school. During this time, she also worked clinically as a Senior Medical Officer at Mareeba Hospital.

Ruth is a Past President of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine and was on the College’s board from 2002-2020 in various roles. She was on the board of the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service for 6 years, the Cape York Hospital Board for two years and has been on the board of several Regional Training Organisations for General Practice Training. She has been on the board of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia for two years and the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre board for three years.

Dr Stewart has held several representative and medico political roles including on the Distribution Advisory Group, and the Health Innovation Advisory Committee for the National Health and Medical Research Authority.

Ruth received a PhD from Flinders University in 2014. Her thesis examined the lessons learnt from a Managed Clinical Network of rural maternity services in South West Victoria. She has an abiding interest in quality of rural maternity services and sustainable models of rural health care.