OUR TEAM

Professor Gillian Gould is a GP in refugee health, a Tobacco Treatment Specialist and an Indigenous Health researcher. She lives in Emerald Beach NSW, and her interests are walking on the beach with her cute daschund Ziggy, making art and delving into her family genealogy. She is an Indigenous Judean. Her life and family experience feeds her motivation to improve access to health services for priority populations. She leads the iSISTAQUIT project and other research about smoking among Indigenous peoples.

Read more about her work here

Dr Marilyn Clarke is a Worimi woman from Port Stephens area, living on Gumbaynggirr country. She is Australia's first Aboriginal obstetrician & gynaecologist and has worked on the north coast of NSW for over 20 years. She is passionate about women's health, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women's health. She is a mother of 2 children and enjoys spending time with her family.

Rebecca Hyland is a proud Kamilaroi woman, currently living, working and raising her two jarjums on Gumbaynggirr Country. Rebecca is the Senior Project Manager for iSISTAQUIT. Rebecca’s career has taken her across Australia, and over the past 19 years First Nations engagement has always been a key focus. Rebecca is most passionate about empowering through education, health outcomes for mob, and First Nations leadership. Rebecca’s passion for smoking cessation in communities has been both a professional and personal journey. Rebecca enjoys spending time with her family going on bush walks, stand up paddle boarding and being active.

Dr Ratika Kumar is a tobacco control researcher working to scale-up iSISTAQUIT throughout Australia. Her research focuses on implementing behaviour change interventions among priority populations to help them live healthier lives. She is passionate about designing innovative research studies and writing scientific articles. In her free time, she likes to binge on British TV shows, read crime fiction, dabble in gardening, and dance with her toddler.

Alison Hart is a proud Gumbaynggirr woman, a mother of her son, and descendant of the local Coffs Harbour area. Alison is Research Assistant with iSISTAQUIT. She has more than 25 years’ experience in consulting and engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, services and communities. Alison is passionate about culture and creating safe culturally inclusive environments and systems for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Dr Gina La Hera Fuentes is part of the iSISTAQUIT team, her PhD is focused on the implementation and Health Economics of the iSISTAQUIT smoking cessation intervention. She has several years of experience in research and is passionate about the implementation and data analysis of the projects.Her hobbies are dancing, roller skating, spending time outdoors and going camping.

Dr Leah Stevenson is the project lead for the SISTAQUIT trial and is a part of the iSISTAQUIT team. Leah is experienced in health research interventions and regional research projects. She holds postgraduate qualifications in education, public health, and tropical medicine, including a Ph.D. focused on nature-based activities, tourism, and health. She has previously worked on health promotion projects for the public health sector.

Read more about her work here

Dr Nicole Ryan is a Postdoctoral Researcher and Project Manager for the SISTAQUIT and MAMA-EMPOWER mobile phone app projects both of which support pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to have a healthy pregnancy and quit smoking. Nicole has been conducting health and medical research for 18 years across a variety of research areas and projects including pharmaceutical treatments for neuropathic conditions and behaviour change interventions. Nicole also enjoys travelling with her family, painting, reading, and watching crime shows.

Tanya Stewart provides Research Administration Support for the iSISTAQUIT project and the Faculty of Health at Southern Cross University. Her mission is to ensure the researchers have the support and resources they need to enhance the research outcomes. Tanya has been working in Research Administration at Southern Cross University for 10 years. She is a mother of two children and enjoys spending time with her family at the beach.

Sharni Carberry is a local Gumbaynggirr woman and proud mother to her son. She is a Project Engagement Officer with the iSISTAQUIT team. Sharni is an enrolled nurse with over ten years’ experience in a variety of health care systems, including clinical settings. Sharni has serviced her community as an Aboriginal health worker for the past three years. Sharni is passionate about culture, gardening/landscaping, being active and health.

Dr Karen McFadyen is a member of the iSISTAQUIT team. Karen is experienced in workplace health and productivity interventions and research projects. She is passionate about improving lives through the provision of clear, useful information combined with small changes in behaviour. Karen holds postgraduate qualifications in business management and marketing. She enjoys outdoor activities with her family, reading, and taking long walks along the beach.