Our vision is to improve human milk feeding among preterm infants
By doing so we aim to reduce the burden of prematurity related cognitive and physical impairment on children, families and society
Improving breastfeeding in children born premature will have lasting impacts on their long-term health and development.
Our program of research involves working with families and health care providers to understand why breastfeeding rates are lower in premature infants than full term infants, to improve breastfeeding support after birth, to optimise the use of donor human milk, and to develop new nutritional interventions that harness the unique components of human milk.
Professor Alice Rumbold is a leader in the field of perinatal epidemiology, internationally recognised for her leadership of clinical trials and large epidemiological studies to improve perinatal and child health. Alice is Theme Leader of SAHMRI Women and Kids, leading a large multidisciplinary team (>50 staff) focussed on applied perinatal research to improve outcomes for women and babies. She has held continuous NHMRC funding since 2007, leadership positions in the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand and serves on the South Australian Child and Adolescent Health Community of Practice Committee, a statewide policy committee.
Alice is widely published, including papers in NEJM, Lancet, Lancet Global Health and JAMA Network Open. Her trial and evidence synthesis activities on perinatal vitamin supplementation have resulted in invited contributions to the WHO’s Antenatal Care Guidelines and to international consortiums (e.g., the International Prediction of Pregnancy Complications Network). In addition to leadership of this Centre of Research Excellence, Alice currently leads the GIFT trial, a world first randomised controlled trial examining the use of pasteurised donor human milk to reduce neonatal morbidity and length of hospital stay in more than 2,000 infants born moderate or late preterm (32 to 36 weeks gestation). Her very recent publications have demonstrated important improvements in childhood IQ and behaviour with a higher intake of maternal breast milk during the neonatal hospitalisation in very preterm infants.
Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak, CRE Deputy Director
BPharm (Hons), GCertClinEpid, FANZCAP, FSHP, PhD
Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak is the Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation Fellow in Medicines Use and Safety at Flinders University and South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. Luke also works clinically as a senior pharmacist in Flinders Women and Children at Flinders Medical Centre. He leads the Reproductive and Perinatal Pharmacoepidemiology research group which has a strong translational research focus on improving women’s and newborn health through evaluating and improving the quality, safety, and effectiveness of medication use. Luke is recognised as an international authority on medication use and lactation and is currently leading two large clinical trials evaluating pharmacological interventions for the treatment or prevention of lactation insufficiency following preterm birth. He is an Associate Editor or the International Breastfeeding Journal and Expert Advisor on medication use and lactation for the Australian Therapeutic Guidelines. His research has influenced numerous guidelines, policies and practices related to medication use in lactation, including those published by the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. Luke has >130 peer-reviewed publications published 66 papers and has been named investigator on 34 successful grants totalling more than $27 million.
Professor Maria Makrides
BSc, BND, PhD
Professor Maria Makrides is a research dietitian who is internationally recognised for her work in determining the health effects of dietary interventions during pregnancy and early childhood. She is a world leader in the conduct of nutritional intervention trials during the neonatal period and their translation. Maria has in excess of 300 internationally peer-reviewed papers relevant to this field and their work has contributed to nutritional guidelines for pregnant and breastfeeding women, preterm and newborn infants, as well as determining the safe composition of infant foods.
Maria is Executive Director of SAHMRI and leads the CRE in Targeted Nutrition to Improve Maternal and Child Health Outcomes (2018-2023) and successfully led the CRE in Foods for Future Australians (2012-16). Collectively these CREs have resulted in more than 200 peer-reviewed publications, 2 patents, the award of 13 new NHMRC Fellowships/Investigator Grants and input into several national and international guidelines and policies. Maria’s leadership in the field of perinatal health and nutrition has been recognised by their election to Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the Nutrition Society of Australia. Maria was recently awarded 2022 Scientist of the Year at the Science Excellence and Innovation Awards (SA).
Professor Kei Lui
MBBS, MD UNSW FRACP
Professor Kei Lui is a clinical academic at the University of New South Wales and a senior neonatologist and former medical director of Newborn Services at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick NSW. Since 1997, Kei has developed their academic expertise in clinical epidemiology, randomized trials and clinical and laboratory studies on bronchopulmonary dysplasia and intestinal microbiome in newborns. He is the Chairman of the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN) with the core business in clinical data collection of every sick newborn admitted to all neonatal intensive care units in Australia and New Zealand.
Professor Barbara Masser
BSc (Hons), MPH, PhD
Professor Barbara Masser is an applied social psychologist and recognised leading authority in substances of human origin (SoHO) donor behaviour and the mechanisms underlying donation. Barbara has worked collaboratively for >20 years with Lifeblood and other SoHO collection agencies around the world. She is the current Lifeblood Chair in Donor Research at The University of Queensland, invited Donor Behaviour theme co-lead in the National Institute for Health and Care Research Blood and Transplant Research Unit in Donor Health and Behaviour, University of Cambridge, UK and co-lead of the global interdisciplinary Donor Research Network. She has a proven track record in research on SoHO (whole blood, plasma, human milk and faecal microbiota) donor behaviour, and works collaboratively with Lifeblood to inform practice.
Professor Emily Callander
BA PhD
Professor Emily Callander is a health economist, specialising in maternal health economics. She leads a Women’s Economics and Value-Based Care research program, externally funded by a number of NHMRC and MRFF grants. She collaborates widely across a number of key maternal health research centres within Australia and internationally to provide the economic evidence base to guide health service and policy decision-making. This includes undertaking economic evaluation alongside randomised controlled trials, measuring costs and outcomes with real-world linked administrative data, and conducting local-health service level economic modelling. She also sits on a number of maternal health state government committees; and is a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee Economics Subcommittee, where she provides economic advice on all new drugs seeking public subsidisation through the PBS.
Dr Vanessa Clifford
BA (Hons), MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA, MPH, MA, PhD
Dr Vanessa Clifford is a paediatric infectious physician and medical microbiologist. She provides medical oversight of the Lifeblood donor human milk program across operations and research. Vanessa is involved in several clinical trials and research projects designed to improve the quality and safety of donor milk, and to investigate its potential benefits for new cohorts of babies. Vanessa also works clinically at the Royal Children’s Hospital and Royal Women’s Hospital in Melbourne. She is a clinician scientist fellow at Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and a senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne.
Associate Professor Lisa Yelland
BMa&CompSc (Hons), PhD
A/Prof Lisa Yelland is a research biostatistician and clinical trialist specialising in maternal and infant health. She holds appointments as Co-Leader of the Biostatistics Unit at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), Biostatistician Senior Research Fellow in the SAHMRI Women and Kids Theme, and Affiliate Associate Professor in the School of Public Health at The University of Adelaide. Lisa has led the statistical design and analysis of numerous clinical trials and observational studies aimed at improving the health of women and their children. As a Chief Investigator on the Australian Trials Methodology Research Network NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence, she remains at the cutting edge of new developments in trial design and analysis methods. Lisa is most recognised for her research on the design and analysis of randomised trials including infants from multiple births.
Associate Professor Amy Keir
MBBS, MPH, FRACP, PhD
Associate Professor Amy Keir is Chief Medical Advisor at the South Australia Ambulance Service, a Senior Consultant Neonatologist and clinician-researcher. Since commencing a career in research in 2013, Amy has published 77 peer-reviewed papers and authored three book chapters. Awarded an NHMRC Early Career Research Fellowship in 2019, Amy led the implementation of a clinical practice improvement program in perinatal care across South Australia. This focused on improving care around the use of human milk in preterm infants, better predicting neonates at risk of late-onset sepsis and improving magnesium sulphate for fetal neuroprotection. She holds national leadership positions in peak professional organisations involved in perinatal care, including with the Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Network (ANZNN). Amy has a comprehensive understanding of healthcare systems and works at the research-clinical interface. Amy is also a parent of a child born preterm and, therefore, also provides essential lived experiences and perspectives on the challenges of feeding a baby born preterm.
Karen Glover
BEd, MBA
Karen Glover is a senior Mein:tnk and Wotjobaluk Aboriginal woman who co- leads the Aboriginal Health Platform of the SAHMRI Women and Kids Theme. She has 30 years’ experience working with Aboriginal community and family policy and service development, 18 of those years at senior management and executive level in government and Aboriginal community controlled health organisations. She had a key role in extending the Port Augusta Anangu Bibi program to the Aboriginal Family Birthing Program with a new workforce of Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care workers in South Australia.
Karen’s roles have influenced and supported others to understand the intercultural space between Aboriginal ways and frameworks and those of non-Aboriginal people, systems and structures. She began full time research in 2015, building and enhancing collaborations across maternal and child health, culminating in the Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance (ACRA) Platform at SAHMRI. ACRA engages Aboriginal communities and community organisations, government and non-government health and social service providers and policymakers at State and Commonwealth levels and researchers from across Australia. Karen has enabled Aboriginal leadership and governance across 10 (current) mainstream and Aboriginal specific research projects, including two successful Centre of Research Excellence grants. Karen has been CI on grants totalling over $12.6 million.
Professor Lisa Amir
MBBS, MMed, PhD, IBCLC
Professor Lisa Amir is a general practitioner and lactation consultant. She has been continually certified as an IBCLC since 1989 and continues to work in breastfeeding medicine at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne. She is a Principal Research Fellow at the Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University. She conducts research in the area of breastfeeding - from rates and determinants of breastfeeding, to nipple and breast pain in breastfeeding women, to use of medicines for breastfeeding women. Lisa is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Breastfeeding Journal which she established in 2006.
Professor Robert Gibson
BSc, PhD
Professor Robert Gibson is a clinical biochemist/nutritionist who has published over 350 peer reviewed papers in a variety of paediatric, nutrition and biochemical journals. He has designed and conducted a range of randomised clinical trials involving nutrition interventions in the perinatal period. He has tested the effects of interventions with iron, selenium, probiotics, nucleotides and long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on infant biochemistry, growth, physiology and developmental outcome. Professor Gibson was awarded the 2003 Nutrition Society of Australia, Research Medal and in 2004 was made a Fellow, Nutrition Society of Australia. In 2012 he was awarded the Alexander Leaf Distinguished Scientist Award for Lifetime Achievement and in 2016 made a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL).
In 1998 he established and led the Child Nutrition Research Centre which has continued as one of Australia’s leading nutrition research groups particularly in the area of fatty acids in the perinatal period.
Associate Professor Mandy Belfort
MD, MPH
Mandy Brown Belfort is a practicing neonatologist, investigator, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA (USA). Dr. Belfort has over 15 years of experience leading and collaborating on longitudinal cohort studies and clinical trials focused on early-life nutrition and long-term health and developmental outcomes. Her work emphasizes the neonatal hospitalization as a critical window of opportunity for effective nutritional interventions in the preterm infant, with a particular interest in human milk-based interventions. She is principal investigator on two current National Institutes of Health-funded studies, one a randomized trial of individually targeted human milk fortification for very preterm infants and the other a study to improve nutritional assessment in clinical practice by incorporating body composition as a bio-indicator of nutritional status. Evidence of the impact of her work includes over 100 peer-reviewed publications, including publications in JAMA Pediatrics, Journal of Pediatrics, and JAMA Network Open reporting beneficial associations of breastfeeding and human milk with neurodevelopmental outcomes at school age in cohorts of full-term and preterm-born children. This body of work informs infant feeding recommendations from the World Health Organization, American Academy of Pediatrics, and other organizations.
Associate Professor Jacqueline Gould
BSoSc, BHSc (Hons Psych), PhD
A/Prof Jacqueline Gould is a Research Fellow in the SAHMRI Women and Kids theme at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, based at the Women and Children’s Hospital.
She is passionate about optimising early brain development to give all children the best start to life. This stems from her curiosity about the brain, and undergraduate major in public health where the ethos was prevention is the best cure. Jacqui is also enthusiastic about nutrition, and the concept that food can be your medicine.
She completed a PhD in paediatrics and is now fortunate to be able to combine her interests to explore the role nutrition in pregnancy, infancy and early childhood to best support brain development. Jacqui is responsible for multiple large randomised controlled trials and observational studies of nutrition in the first 1,000 days to evaluate the effect on child cognitive, language and behavioural development. She is also leading an observational study to learn how infants are fed across the first year of life, including challenges and enablers for breastfeeding in over 1,800 mother-infants pairs. She leads an ever-growing team of research assistants, nurses, and trial coordinators to oversee over 4,000 study participants and their families. She enjoys new challenges and upskilling both herself, her team, and the team’s practices.
Dr Laura Klein
BSc, MA, PhD
Dr Laura Klein is the National Milk Research Leader at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Laura manages a multidisciplinary team that collaborates with researchers and clinicians across Australia to understand every aspect of human milk donation. She is passionate about generating evidence to improve the products and services that milk banks provide to donors and the families who receive donor milk. Laura is currently involved in research to learn more about Lifeblood’s breast milk donors, what makes up each individual batch of donor milk, and if donor milk may help improve outcomes for other cohorts of babies who are unable to access sufficient maternal milk.
Dr Merryn Netting
BSc, BND, PhD, AdvAPD
Merryn is an experienced clinical paediatric dietitian. She has contributed over 50 peer reviewed publications to the fields of infant feeding, allergy management and prevention. Merryn works with the SAHMRI Women and Kids Theme, supporting their early life nutrition and allergy prevention research programs, and with the National Allergy Council coordinating translational projects aiming to improve the lives of Australians with allergic disease.
Beth Clennell
BSc (Med), Consumer Representative
Beth Clennell is a proud mother of two young children, one of which was born prematurely in August 2020. As a parent of premature infant, Beth has a unique perspective on the challenges associated with early birth. Beth has lived experience of prolonged hospitalisations, feeding challenges and long term complications associated with prematurity. Beth will serve as a community voice at Steering Committee meetings and lend a considered parental perspective to the research team.
Susie Jones is a registered nurse, midwife, Neonatal Intensive Care Trained and IBCLC having worked in a variety of settings, including a tertiary level NICU in South Australia and Victoria, Lactation Clinic and currently Strategic Educator Manager in Neonatal Services at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital In South Australia.
They are on the South Australian Executive Committee for the Australian College of Neonatal Nursing, a are a member of the Special Interest groups ‘Infant Feeding’ and ‘Neonatal Education’ They had a lead in the Quality Improvement Project exploring the rates of Breastfeeding in the late preterm infant. They worked as a clinical research nurse/midwife on the initial set up and implementation of the GIFT trial.
Susie has an interest in improving breastfeeding rates for all mothers and babies, especially in the areas of preterm lactation, Domperidone use and breastfeeding.
Associate Professor Wendy Ingman
BSc (Hons), PhD
Associate Professor Wendy Ingman leads the Breast Biology & Cancer Unit at the University of Adelaide, based at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Her research investigates the biology of breast development and function to better understand how disease states occur, including lactation mastitis and breast cancer. Wendy’s multidisciplinary approach integrates immunology, protein chemistry, biomechanics, and machine-learning research methods to explore new concepts in breast biology in order to improve breast health across the life course.
Wendy is passionate about the importance of community education and advocates for women to be well-informed about how to take control of their own breast health. She also provides advice and education to a number of national organisations including BreastScreen Australia, the Australian Breastfeeding Association, and the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia. Wendy founded and currently leads a national alliance of breast cancer researchers called InforMD <www.informd.org.au> who are highly active in public health policy and community awareness.
Professor David MacIntyre
BSc Biotech (Hons), PhD
David MacIntyre is Professor of Reproductive Systems Medicine and Director of the Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide. He holds a conjoint position at Imperial College London, UK where he is co-Director of the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Centre. His research is mainly focused on investigating the dynamic relationship between microbiota of the reproductive tract and women’s health and disease states, particularly during pregnancy. His group use “systems” modelling approaches that involve integration and analysis of genomic, transcriptomic, microbiomic and metabolic profiling data. It is hoped that this will lead to improved diagnostic and predictive tools useful for patient stratification and targeted treatment strategies that improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Abigail Edwards
BSc (Hons), PhD Candidate
Abigail is a current PhD Candidate within the School of Psychology at the University of Queensland. As a researcher in applied social psychology, Abigail's expertise lies in utilising social psychology theory to enhance donor recruitment and retention. In 2021, Abigail commenced her PhD under the supervision of Professor Barbara Masser, within the broader Helping the medical matchmakers: sustaining and understanding living donors research program. Abigail’s current program of research focuses on using psychological ownership, or the feeling that something belongs to you, to enhance retention in blood donors.
Aya Gharram
BSc(Biotech), BMIS
Aya is a Clinical Trial Project Manager / Coordinator at South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) as part of the SAHMRI Women and Kids Theme. Aya completed two bachelor degrees: one in Management Information Systems, and another in Science (Applied Sciences) with a major in biotechnology. Aya’s experience in the research field includes experience in research ethics and governance processes and experience in study design and management. She is currently coordinating the GIFT Trial at SAHMRI Women and Kids. Aya has great ambitions to continue her learning journey by progressing her studies to higher levels and to further her career.
Dr Emily Shepherd
BHlthSci (Hons), PhD (University of Adelaide, Medal)
Dr Emily Shepherd is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.
Her fellowship is focused on ‘Preterm birth and neurodevelopment: improving long-term outcomes.’
She is also an Affiliate Senior Lecturer within the Adelaide Medical School and Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide.
Kate has been a registered midwife for the past 12 years, 10 of them working in a midwifery continuity of care model (midwifery group practice). In 2023 Kate certified as an international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) and in 2024 commenced as Lactation Consultant Lead and BFHI coordinator for the Women and Children's Hospital, Adelaide. Kate's research interests generally centre around supporting women in the early days of establishing breastfeeding and is currently focusing on breast pump use and flange sizing, trying to determine if accurate sizing of flanges improves maternal comfort when pumping and total milk output.
Kristiana Neal
Registered Nurse, IBCLC, GradDip Advanced Nursing Practice (Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing)
Kristiana is a NICU nurse, and is currently working as an IBCLC at The Royal Women’s Hospital, Melbourne. She has a keen interest in improving lactation and breastfeeding support for infants and their families in the NICU space.
Dr Mariana Muelbert
Research Fellow (Liggins Institute, University of Auckland), New Zealand Registered Nutritionist, MSc in child and Adolescent Health, PhD in Perinatal Sciences
Dr Mariana Muelbert is a Research Fellow at the Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, specialising in maternal and infant nutrition. Her research focuses on human milk composition, breastfeeding, and breastmilk donation, with an emphasis on overcoming barriers to optimal breastfeeding and understanding how human milk promotes lifelong health. Dr Muelbert is a trained dietitian from Brazil and a registered nutritionist in New Zealand, passionate about human milk and lactation research. Her current research aims to explore breastmilk composition and lactation outcomes in women exposed to antenatal corticosteroids and undergoing elective C-section. She actively participates in the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand, the New Zealand Nutrition Society, and the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation. Her research aims to address health inequities by promoting culturally responsive strategies to support breastfeeding for all newborns and their families.
Dr Naho Ikeda
Research Fellow, MD, PhD
Dr Naho Ikeda is an experienced pediatrician and neonatologist with extensive experience in research and clinical practice. Naho obtained her medical degree from Juntendo University School of Medicine in 2006, followed by a Ph.D. in Medical Science from Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine in 2015. Naho is currently a visiting research fellow from Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI).
Naho's work has been recognised with multiple grants and awards, including scholarships and research grants. She is an active member of several professional societies, including the Japan Pediatric Society and the Japan Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine. Naho has authored numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, showcasing her dedication to advancing knowledge in neonatal healthcare.
Dr. Ranmali Rodrigo
MBBS, MD, MRCPCH, FRACP, PhD, IBCLC
Dr. Ranmali Rodrigo is a Neonatologist at Mercy Hospital for Women and a lactation consultant. Ranmali obtained her medical degree from University of Colombo and has postgraduate paediatric / neonatology qualifications from Sri Lanka, UK and Australia. She has engaged in many research projects including international clinical trials in neonatology in her previous role as a university lecturer in Sri Lanka. She recently completed her PhD from La Trobe University on ‘Storage and transport of expressed breast milk: exploratory studies in two neonatal intensive care units in Australia and Sri Lanka’. Ranmali has authored many publications in peer-reviewed journals and has played a key role in updating the knowledge of health care professionals in lactation management for preterm infants and baby-friendly hospital initiative practices. Her current research interests and quality improvement projects are based on these themes.
Renae Walker
ICARE Program Manager – Cultural Safety
Renae is a proud First Nations woman, from the Wakka Wakka community in Queensland and currently resides on Kaurna land in South Australia. Renae comes from an extensive background in Aboriginal community development, services, and education support, with a solid knowledge base spanning Early Childhood to Secondary School. In 2021 she transitioned into research within the Aboriginal Communities and Families Research Alliance at SAHMRI. She is currently the lead study coordinator for Corka Bubs, a project that seeks to support Aboriginal women and families, by identifying life stressors that contribute to alcohol and marijuana use during pregnancy.
In her current role, Renae collaborates with an extensive network of researchers, government, and Aboriginal community health organisations locally and nationally, to improve health and wellbeing through increased access to services and support, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums and their families. Renae has co-developed, conducted, evaluated, and refined community and stakeholder workshops, and both built and maintained effective working relationships with key organisations and stakeholders, including most importantly, community members.
Renae has recently been appointed as the new co-chair of ACRA; a collaborative initiative which brings together researchers, Aboriginal community members, policymakers, and service providers who share a vision for ‘a healthy and just future for Aboriginal families’ and the view that Aboriginal health is everyone’s business. ACRA facilitates community-driven, culturally respectful research to benefit Aboriginal families and communities in South Australia and is now the Co Program Manager – Cultural Safety of a new project called ICARE. Renae has and continues to act in a mentorship role, supporting and educating Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal staff. Her positive attitude, passion for sharing cultural knowledge, and drawing strength from elders makes her an extremely strong Aboriginal leader, and advocate for change.
Renee Kam
BPhysio, PhD candidate
Renee is a research assistant with over 20 years experiences working with perinatal women as a physiotherapist and lactation consultant. She is near completion of her PhD which has investigated breast hypoplasia as a reason for low milk production. Renee has a keen interest in optimising lactation care for mothers and babies.
Shae Desmet
BHlthSci, MPH, PhD Candidate
Shae Desmet (she/her) is CRE Research Scholar. Shae is a PhD candidate at University of Technology Sydney with a thesis entitled “an exploration of costs and accessibility of maternal and child health in Australia for the culturally and linguistically diverse”.
She completed her Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Public Health at the University of Adelaide.
As an early career researcher, Shae has work experience in a number of areas of public health including health economics, mental health, suicide prevention, social work, and youth mental health. Her passion for health equity and access to care for all is a major driving factor for all her work.
Dr Tanith Alexander
NZRD, MSc, PhD
Dr Tanith Alexander is a paediatric dietitian in the neonatal unit at Middlemore Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand, specialising in neonatal nutrition for the past 16 years. Tanith is actively involved in clinical research, has co-authored several academic articles and is the principal investigator of the DIAMOND trial (Different Approaches to Moderate & late preterm Nutrition: Determinants of feed tolerance, body composition and development). Tanith is the current President of the Perinatal Society of New Zealand, a steering group member of the Australasian Neonatal Dietitians' Network (ANDiN) and an executive committee member of the ON TRACK network (New Zealand maternal and perinatal clinical trials network).
Tegan Walker
BNurs
My name is Tegan Walker and I am a proud Wakka Wakka and Arrente from both of my grandfather’s side. I am also a proud mother to two young boys.
One of my greatest achievements was completing my degree and becoming a Registered Nurse. Believing in myself, having family support and some great mentors along the way all helped me achieve my career goal.
I have been working for ACRA (Aboriginal Community and Families Research Alliance) for the last year as a Research Assistant, working on the Corka Bubs Program and recently transitioned to iCare. I became a nurse to work in Health and be an advocate for my people. I can also work alongside other health professionals to expand my knowledge and keep growing in this field.
I am looking forward to being involved in the CRE as a scholar and am very interested in learning more along the way.
Teresa Ginis
BNurs, NICC, Clinical Research Nurse
Teresa is a Registered Nurse specialising in Neonatal Intensive Care nursing for over a decade. She has worked in tertiary level NICU’s in both South Australia and Victoria. Teresa is currently a senior Neonatal Nurse at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide. She has been simultaneously working with SAHMRI Women and Kids as a Clinical Research Nurse, working on the pilot GIFT trial. Subsequently, assisting in the development, planning, and training for the multicentre GIFT Trial, which commenced in May 2024. Teresa has a keen interest in lactation improvement, improving breastfeeding rates and supporting lactating mothers and their babies of all ages. This focus is particularly in preterm lactation within the neonatal nursery setting.
Maria Yelland
BFin, BMid, MPhil student
Maria is a MPhil student, supported by the CRE, at the Adelaide School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, with a background in clinical midwifery. She combines her research interests with clinical experience to enhance holistic care for families during critical life transitions.
Her research will focus on improving breastfeeding and lactation outcomes, reflecting her passion for advancing maternal and infant health. Maria is a compassionate advocate in the field, dedicated to bridging research and practice to achieve better health outcomes.
Lilliana Drapaniotis
BHlthSci
Lilliana is a Research Assistant on SAHMRI's Omega-3 Test-and-Treat Program, which aims to reduce preterm births in South Australia. This role has sparked her strong interest in nutritional interventions to reduce the impact of prematurity.
In 2025, she will begin a master’s degree by research at the Adelaide School of Medicine, supported by the CRE. Her research will focus on the experiences of families with preterm infants receiving donor milk.
Beth Clennell
Chair - Consumer Advisory Board
Beth Clennell is a proud mother of two young children, one of which was born prematurely in August 2020. As a parent of premature infant, Beth has a unique perspective on the challenges associated with early birth. Beth has lived experience of prolonged hospitalisations, feeding challenges and long term complications associated with prematurity. Beth will serve as a community voice at Steering Committee meetings and lend a considered parental perspective to the research team.
Vanessa Moffa
BOH, MPH. CRE Program Manager
Vanessa is a dedicated oral health therapist and public health advocate. With experience in both clinical practice and research, Vanessa brings a unique blend of expertise to her work.
After establishing herself in the field of oral health therapy, Vanessa pursued further education, earning a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree. Her journey led her to become deeply involved in research, where she has experience as a program manager, facilitating the implementation of research findings into clinical practice.
Maria Yelland
BFin, BMid, MPhil student
Maria is a MPhil student, supported by the CRE, studying at the Adelaide School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, with a background in clinical midwifery. She combines her research interests with clinical experience to enhance holistic care for families during critical life transitions.
Her research will focus on improving breastfeeding and lactation outcomes, reflecting her passion for advancing maternal and infant health. Maria is a compassionate advocate in the field, dedicated to bridging research and practice to achieve better health outcomes.
