Samuel Cornell investigates how social media platforms and digital culture shape perceptions of risk and influence real-world behaviour. His work examines digital harm, influencer culture, and the limitations of traditional public-health communication in fast-moving online environments.

Before entering academia, Samuel Cornell trained as a Mine Clearance Diver with the Royal Navy, gaining direct, lived experience in high-stakes risk environments. This early exposure to operational risk and decision-making informs his perspective on how individuals interpret danger, respond to uncertainty, and manage competing pressures — themes that now underpin much of his research.

Samuel Cornell completed a Bachelor of Science in Physiological Science at the University of Bristol, a rigorous natural-science degree encompassing physiology, neuroscience, biochemistry, and quantitative methods. This training provided a strong empirical foundation for analysing human biology, behavioural responses, and risk.

He went on to complete a Master of Science by Research at the University of South Wales, working closely with clinicians — including GPs, cardiologists, and public-health practitioners. This experience further strengthened his ability to translate research into real-world clinical contexts.

Samuel Cornell is now a PhD Candidate in Public Health and Community Medicine at UNSW Sydney, where he studies how social media encourages and amplifies risky behaviours with health consequences. His research integrates biological, clinical, and public-health perspectives to better understand why online environments so often undermine effective risk communication.

Timothy Piatkowski’s research focuses on harm reduction, particularly among individuals who consume performance and image-enhancing drugs.

Professor Kelly Phillips is Co-Lead of Breast Medical Oncology at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, an NHMRC Leadership Fellow, and a Lancet Breast Cancer Commissioner. In 2025 she was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in recognition of her leadership in women’s health. Her work centres on targeted breast cancer prevention, with a strong focus on translating evidence into accessible, real-world care. She has led the development of digital services that support GPs to enable healthy Australian women at increased risk of breast cancer to access evidence-based medications that halve their risk.

Dr Wetherell is a Urologist in Melbourne, Australia specialising the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer, kidney cancer, bladder cancer as well as kidney stones, benign prostatic enlargement and general urology.

He is a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and has completed an advanced pelvic uro-oncology robotic fellowship in University College Hospital (UCH), London UK where he specialised in an innovative technique Retzius Sparing Robotic Radical Prostatectomy. He also has a special interest in Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HOLEP) for benign prostatic enlargement.

Dr Wetherell’s research interests extend to biology of resistance mechanisms of prostate cancer as well as clinical research in all fields of urology.

Alison Slater is an internationally-trained Physiotherapist, with 39 years of knowledge and practical clinical experience. She is a titled member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, as well as of Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Australia.

Alison graduated from the University of New South Wales, followed by Cumberland College of Health Sciences. With a wealth of post-graduate study, including a Master of Manual Therapy from the University of Western Australia (UWA) finishing top of her cohort. Following graduation from her Master’s degree, she was offered and accepted an Adjunct Teaching Fellowship at UWA and held this position for two and a half years. She has since added a Master of Public Health (University of New South Wales), graduating “with excellence”, in 2024.

She has also taught extensively throughout the United Kingdom and Australia in Muscle Energy Technique, firstly for Manual Therapy Seminars of the U.K. and subsequently with MET Rx.

Alison is an APPI-trained Pilates Instructor in Matwork and Equipment. She uses her extensive practical skills and passion for all things fascia to treat her patients at The Source Physiotherapy, which was established in 2003. Her practice offers one-on-one manual therapy, as well as targeted Pilates group sessions.

The Source Physiotherapy has now been established for 22 years, and continues to grow and develop, nurturing a trusted and respected reputation within the local community. From detailed assessments to myofascial therapy, our expertise is to treat the source of your pain, not just the symptom.

Dr Sally Sweeney is a specialist GP and clinician-researcher with over 20 years clinical experience in sexual & reproductive healthcare. She works in private General Practice as well as a specialist multidisciplinary women’s health clinic, having previously spent 15 years as a senior clinician with Family Planning Australia. She is a senior lecturer with the University of Newcastle, blending hands on clinical skills with clinical research. She contributes to NHMRC-funded research as a Chief Investigator on several projects, and has numerous peer reviewed publications.

Prof Susan Davis AO is a clinician-researcher who is an internationally recognised expert in sex hormones across the female lifespan, and menopause. She leads the Monash Women’s Health Research Program, is Head of the Women’s Endocrine Clinic, Alfred Health Melbourne, and an Executive Council Member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. She is a past President of the Australasian and the International Menopause Societies. With over 495 peer-reviewed publications, her work underpins many best practice recommendations and has influenced health care delivery globally.

Dr Sally Sweeney is a specialist GP and clinician-researcher with over 20 years clinical experience in sexual & reproductive healthcare. She works in private General Practice as well as a specialist multidisciplinary women’s health clinic, having previously spent 15 years as a senior clinician with Family Planning Australia. She is a senior lecturer with the University of Newcastle, blending hands on clinical skills with clinical research. She contributes to NHMRC-funded research as a Chief Investigator on several projects, and has numerous peer reviewed publications.

Prof Sutapa Mukherjee is a respiratory and sleep physician and researcher. She is a Senior consultant at SA Health; Professor of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine at Flinders University and works in private practice. Her main clinical and research interests focus on sleep disorders, especially sleep apnoea and insomnia. She has worked as a sleep physician and researcher in Canada, USA and Australia. She was President of the Australasian Sleep Association from 2021-2025 and was the co-host of Australia’s Sleep Revolution with Michael Mosley which aired on SBS in 2024 and has won multiple national and international awards.

Dr Jane Elliott AM has been a general practitioner in Adelaide for many years, with a special career interest in women’s health, including menopause and premature menopause. She is a clinical senior lecturer in the Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Adelaide University and teaches medical students, GPs and RANZCOG trainees. She has been an investigator in clinical research trials in many areas of women’s health including menopause, contraception, osteoporosis, and low libido. Jane is a Past President of the Australasian Menopause Society and is a member of Healthy Bones Australia National Consumer and Community Advisory Committee.

Professor Kim Delbaere is Discipline Lead of Physiotherapy at the School of Health Sciences at the University of New South Wales, Sydney and a Senior Principal Research Scientist and Director of Innovation & Translation at the Falls, Balance & Injury Research Centre, Neuroscience Research Australia. Originally trained in Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy at Ghent University in Belgium, she completed her PhD in 2005 on falls in older people and relocated to Australia in 2006.Professor Delbaere is internationally recognised for her multidisciplinary research, which has advanced our understanding of the physical, psychological and cognitive contributors to falls. Her work blends physiotherapy, neuropsychology, behavioural science and digital technology to deliver innovative, real-world solutions that prevent falls and promote healthy ageing. Over the past decade, she has led the development of validated digital health interventions and assessment tools now used globally in clinical trials, health services and policy.

Associate Professor Magdalena Simonis AM MBBS FRACGP DRANZCOG MHHS is a general practitioner, widely recognised for her contributions to women’s health, medical education, and health system improvement. Magdalena is on the Breast Screen Australia Clinical Advisory Group, the National Endometriosis Action Plan Advisory Group, the Victorian Multicultural Health Advisory Committee and is Clinical Director of the Victorian Mobile Women’s Health Service, pilot program. Her Board Director roles include the Melbourne Teaching Health Clinics (MTHC) University of Melbourne, Climate and Health Alliance (CAHA) and the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH). Magdalena is also a health columnist for The Australian and produces weekly podcasts for SBS.

Prof Dennis Lau is an academic cardiac electrophysiologist at The Royal Adelaide Hospital and Clinical Professor at The University of Adelaide. His research is focused on dysautonomia/ postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, atrial fibrillation, risk factor management and cardiac implantable electronic devices. He has published more than 260 peer reviewed journal articles and is an editorial board member for 7 international journals.

Dr Gideon Blecher is an Australian qualified Urologist and Andrologist. As a surgeon who looks after male reproductive and sexual health issues, he has the experience and knowledge to manage complex problems. He has completed several years of overseas fellowship subspeciality training, in both andrology as well as robotic oncology in some of London’s most esteemed hospitals.Dr Blecher specialises in a variety of areas including erectile dysfunction, penile prosthetic surgery, Peyronie’s disease, genital reconstruction, male infertility, male incontinence, testicular and penile lesions, as well as sexual dysfunction and general urology.Dr Blecher graduated from Monash University (MBBS Hons) in 2004. He completed Urology training (FRACS Urol) in 2014 and subsequently spent three years obtaining his dual fellowships. He is the current co-chairperson of the Young Sexual Medicine Academy (YOsEMA). Gideon has authored multiple medical book chapters and published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. He has been an invited speaker and chairperson at both international and local urological meetings.