Keynote Speakers
Phylesha Brown-Acton
Presentation title: Transcending Barriers with Pacific Values: Promoting Self-Determined Health and Well-Being through F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa Trust Services in Auckland, New Zealand
Phylesha Brown-Acton, MNZM, is the Executive Director of F’INE Pasifika Aotearoa Trust, providing support services to MVPFAFF+ and Pacific LGBTQI+ individuals and families in Auckland. With extensive governance experience, she serves on various regional boards and is a Netball World Cup Gold Medallist. Phylesha’s work focuses on advancing the rights and visibility of MVPFAFF+ communities, and she is involved in research, advocacy, and community leadership. She is a weaver, dancer, storyteller, and navigator, dedicated to promoting human rights and collective activism.
David Azul
Presentation Title: Transforming Transgender Health: The ambivalent power of lived experience as a gender diverse person on professional agency
Dr David Azul (they/them) is transdisciplinarily trained teaching and research academic and certified practising speech pathologist based on Dja Dja Wurrung Country, La Trobe University, Bendigo. Their work focuses on bringing theoretical and methodological innovation to the nexus between voice, communication, sociocultural belonging and wellbeing in transgender health.
Shakara Liddelow-Hunt with the Walkern Katatdjin team and partners
Presentation title: Trans and gender diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people’s mental health and social emotional wellbeing
Shakara Liddelow-Hunt is a Wajarri Yamatji who grew up on Noongar country. They are a Research Assistant in the Youth Mental Health Team at the Telethon Kids Institute and PhD student at the University of Western Australia, whose work is focused on the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ young people.
James H.L. Hill
Presentation Title: Trans and gender diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people’s mental health and social emotional wellbeing
James Hill is a queer Ngarrindjeri man who was born and raised on Noongar Country. He is a PhD and Master of Clinical Psychology student at the University of Western Australia and the Telethon Kids Institute. James’ work focuses on the mental health of trans young people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, and the importance of including trans young peoples’ lived experience in research.
Kate Daglas
Presentation title: Trans and gender diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people’s mental health and social emotional wellbeing
Kate is a queer Gunditjmara person who predominantly grew up on Wathaurong Country in Geelong. They are passionate about working within youth spaces, particularly those associated with mob and/or LGBTQA+ identities. Kate hopes to finish their Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Psychology and Sociology at Deakin University and further, move into the policy space to explore and research the process of policy making, specifically concerning young people and mob.
