Australia’s trusted immunisation experts
17 March 2023 | NewsNew resources to support conversations about influenza vaccination with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peopleRead the full article
Sarah Sheridan is a public health physician with expertise in applied epidemiology and strong interest in vaccine preventable disease control. Her PhD was on the impact and effectiveness of vaccination programs in Queensland using routinely collected and linked data, particularly on pertussis and varicella. At NCIRS, Sarah is the technical lead for the Global Health program area of work and also provides technical support for the development of immunisation policy and practice. Following her basic clinical training, Sarah trained in public health, with an international focus, and undertook the Applied Master of Epidemiology during which she undertook multiple projects internationally, including in Lao PDR and Papua New Guinea. Sarah has maintained a strong interest in immunisation research using linked data as well as international public health and field epidemiology, undertaking projects in Samoa.
Shiva joined NCIRS in 2021. Shiva has over 13 years of experience managing advocacy campaigns and projects on behaviour change communication, capacity building and technical assistance on infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and Leprosy. Most recently he served as Head of Campaigns with Results Australia, undertaking high-level advocacy to raise funds from the Australian Government for multilateral institutions such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. Between 2007 and 2017, Shiva worked in India with international organisations, including the International Union Against TB and Lung Diseases (The Union), FHI 360, PATH and Lepra, where he worked closely with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, state health departments, non-government organisations and corporate sector partners. Shiva is passionate about ending diseases of poverty and holds a Masters in Health Administration (MHA) degree from the Tata Institute of Social Science, India.
Kidest Nadew joined NCIRS in June 2021. She is a healthcare professional with over 25 years of work experience in clinical care, healthcare program management, and education. In addition to working on in-country programs in Ethiopia, Rwanda, Australia, the Republic of Ireland and Nigeria, in areas such as child health, HIV/AIDS and PMTCT, prevention and management of infectious diseases, and human resources for health as hospital management and leadership advisor, Kidest has also collaborated with healthcare teams and ministries of health in Libya, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, PNG and Indonesia. She has led the development of multiple capacity-building programs in healthcare service delivery and leadership. Kidest holds a Masters of Health Science from the University of Sydney and is a doctoral candidate with Glasgow Caledonian University Health and Life Sciences.
Padmasiri (Pad) joined NCIRS in February 2021. Pad is a medical graduate with postgraduate qualifications in epidemiology and community medicine. He previously worked at NCIRS from 2006 to 2008 as a research officer before joining the World Health Organization (WHO). He worked as a medical officer with WHO in tropical diseases and immunisation for 12 years in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific, including Pacific Island countries. He has also worked as a public health specialist in Sri Lanka and Botswana, and undergone advanced training in public health medicine in Australia. His particular interest is the introduction of new vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, in developing countries.
Teem-Wing joined NCIRS in April 2022. She is an Australian-trained public health physician and remote general practitioner. Her home in Australia is Alice Springs where she spent over a decade working as a doctor in the hospital, public health (mostly communicable diseases control) and primary healthcare. She has lived in 7 countries, and most recently she has been living and working in Timor-Leste, including in health professional education and as a consultant to the World Health Organization Country Office. In recent years she has also lived and worked in India and Singapore. Her professional interests include global health, Aboriginal health, the health of labour migrants, and teaching and mentoring.
Shayema joined NCIRS in January 2022. She is a public health physician with expensive experience in maternal and child health services. Shayema has worked in health ministries of Timor-Leste and Bangladesh, and with UN organisations such as UNICEF Timor-Leste, UNICEF Bangladesh and UNFPA Bangladesh. She has worked on policy development healthcare program implementation in Timor-Leste for 3 years, and was heavily engaged in COVID-19 policy and program interventions with a special focus on infection prevention and control practices. She developed the National Healthcare Quality Improvement Strategic Plan Timor-Leste 2020-2024 and supported to develop COVID-19 infection prevention and control practice-related SOP manuals. Shayema has experience working with disadvantageous populations and in disrupted health systems and has worked with refugees in Rohingya Settings in Bangladesh during her UN career.
Wedyan joined NCIRS in June 2022. She is a graduate of the NSW Public Health Training Program, and holds Bachelor of Pharmacy and Master of International Public Health degrees, and a Certificate in Clinical Epidemiology from the University of Sydney. Wedyan has worked across the Australian health system in areas including safety and quality, health literacy, epidemiology, data management, policy and evaluation, along with international experience that includes South Sudan with Médecins Sans Frontières and Medair. Wedyan’s interests include health system strengthening, communicable diseases, and emergency preparedness and response in low resource countries with a strong interest in operationalising health program delivery in complex areas.
Caitlin joined NCIRS in February 2023. Caitlin is a public health physician who obtained Fellowship of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine in 2022. She started her training in public health medicine at NCIRS in 2019, in the Coverage, Evaluation and Surveillance team. She later obtained a broad variety of other public health experience through training placements in the NSW Ministry of Health COVID-19 Public Health Response Branch and Environmental Health Branch, at Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation in far western NSW and at South Eastern Sydney Public Health Unit. Her main interests are the epidemiology and control of communicable diseases. She completed her medical degree at the University of Queensland, Master of Public Health at the University of NSW and has worked as a doctor in hospitals across Queensland and NSW.
Chelsea joined NCIRS in February 2022. She holds an MPH from the University of Melbourne and a BSc in Nursing from the University of British Columbia. Chelsea previously worked as the Global Clinical Nurse Coordinator for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) of the United Nations, where she was responsible for improving clinical services and standards of care for refugees and migrants being resettled in the framework of IOM’s Global Health Assessment Program. Before this position, Chelsea worked in paediatric nursing, with a specific interest and experience in child health and development. She has also worked in public health within the Department of Health in Victoria, Australia, and has undertaken several projects and deployments in refugee health, promoting the health and well-being of people from refugee backgrounds. She has a strong passion for promoting health at a population level and for developing integrated approaches to effectively deliver health services for populations with complex health and social needs.
Karina has extensive experience coordinating project and program teams across multiple sectors, including ICT, telecommunications and the airline industry. Most recently, Karina worked as Community Engagement Manager at Sutherland Hospital, where she managed over 150 volunteers, the Consumer Advisory Group, fundraising and community engagement activities. Karina also supported the hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control Team in their response to Covid-19. Karina holds a Bachelor of Arts (Development Studies) from Macquarie University. She also worked in Tonga through the Good Return's Field Support Officer Program with a local microfinance organisation (South Pacific Business Development) that assists women with microenterprise development services.
Robyn joined NCIRS in September 2021. Previously, Robyn has worked for major multinationals such as Microsoft and Novartis but transitioned into public health via a role with the International Diabetes Federation. She went on to manage their international aid program, Life for a Child, then active across 40 countries, encompassing diverse cultures and needs. A passionate advocate of equity in healthcare, Robyn worked jointly for the Seniors Rights Service and the Older Persons Advocacy Network before joining Health Infrastructure (NSW Health) on the $1billion Westmead Hospital Redevelopment and Westmead's Mother and Baby Unit, part of the State-wide Mental Health Infrastructure Program. She holds a Bachelor of Human Sciences, major in Public Health: Policy and Promotion (Macquarie University) and is currently completing a Master of Public Health and Master of Health Management at the University of NSW, specialising in Community Development and Public Security.
Heidi joined NCIRS in June 2019. Previously, Heidi worked at Kids Research in various roles within the operations team for over 12 years. Heidi has experience in various areas of research, including operations support, administration and research animal care.
Grace joined NCIRS in February 2022. She holds a Bachelor of Finance degree and is currently studying Master of Health Service Management. Before joining NCIRS, Grace has worked at the Sydney Local Health District and Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health.
Elizabeth joined NCIRS in November 2021. She has worked across multiple industries, both in Australia and the UK, with broad administrative experience in office management, early childhood education, library and information services and health. She has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Technical Theatre, Master of Teaching (Birth-12 years), and completed specialist training to earn her Master of Education (Teacher-Librarianship). Previously, she worked at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead as part of the Patient Administration team and was a key member of the administrative team for the CHW Vaccination Clinic.
