Professor Margie Danchin is a consultant paediatrician at the Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH) and Clinician Scientist, University of Melbourne, and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute(MCRI). As leader of the MCRI Vaccine Uptake Group, her research focuses on vaccine confidence and uptake, particularly amongst high risk-groups and in low and middle-income countries, and on effective risk communication. Margie is also committed to efforts to improve vaccine confidence and uptake in the Western Pacific Region, and globally.

Margie works closely with the media, is co-host of the RCH Kids Health Info podcast and is passionate about effective science communication.

She also chairs the Australian Regional Immunisation Alliance, is a member of Australian Expert Technical Assistance Program for Regional COVID-19 Vaccine Access: Policy, Planning and Implementation Advisory Board and is on the steering committee for the MCRICOVID Governance Committee and Melbourne Children’s Global Health.

Professor Michelle Giles is an adult infectious diseases physician with clinical appointments at the Royal Women’s Hospital, Alfred Health and Monash Health in Melbourne. She also holds academic appointments in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University and in the Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne.

Professor Giles’ clinical and research focus is on infections in pregnancy and maternal immunisation. She is Director of the Infections in Pregnancy service at Monash Health and has established three perinatal infectious diseases clinics embedded within antenatal services. Her research in maternal immunisation has covered uptake, safety, access, cost effectiveness and non-specific protective effects on preterm birth. She is currently a sitting member on the Technical Advisory Group on Group B Streptococcus vaccines to the World Health Organization.

Dr Nuha Mahmoud is a medical doctor by profession and holds an MSc in Disease Control. She brings over 24 years of experience in clinical medicine, public health, emergency response, and research - working at national and international levels. Nuha joins Western Pacific Regional Office/Division of Pacific Technical Support from her most recent role as Head of Sub-Office in Aden, Yemen, where she managed a diverse portfolio of emergency and non-emergency programmes. Nuha previously worked in Liberia as WHO Technical Coordinator for Ebola, in Darfur and in South Sudan, and she has extensive experience in tropical/communicable disease management/response. 

She is a member of Leishmaniasis East African Research Platform(LEAP) and independent consultant of African Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) with 11 years’ experience as member on Data Monitoring and Safety Board (DSMB) on clinical trials on combination therapy.

Dr Kathleen Neuzil is the Myron M. Levine Professor in Vaccinology, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, and Director of the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine. An internationally recognised research scientist and advocate in the field of vaccinology, Dr Neuzil has authored more than 300 scientific publications and book chapters on vaccines and infectious diseases. Her clinical and epidemiological studies on vaccine-preventable diseases span dozens of countries and multiple vaccines, including influenza, rotavirus, HPV, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid and COVID-19.  

Dr Neuzil is co-PI of the NIH-funded Leadership Group for the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit network and part of an evaluation team for COVID vaccines and therapeutics in the US. Her 20 years’ involvement in domestic and international vaccine policy included membership on the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. She is a member of the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization and of the National Academy of Medicine.

AuliaimalaeTagloa Dr Robert Thomsen has held the role of Samoa’s Deputy Director General, Public Health Services since 2019.

After graduating with Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery from the University of the South Pacific Fiji before the Medical school changes to the National University of Fiji, his initial role as House Surgeon in Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital in Apia was followed by a variety of Medical Officer roles, and then 12 years as Assistant CEO, Health Service Performance and Quality Assurance at the Ministry of Health, Samoa.

Two major infectious disease events, both requiring strong public health leadership, have occurred while Robert has been in his current role. The 2019 measles epidemic in Samoa resulted in more than 80 deaths and lead to a state of emergency declaration and a mass vaccination campaign. Then came the COVID-19 pandemic with the first confirmed case of the virus in Samoa in November 2020. In August 2021 a nationwide door to door, mass vaccination ‘Do It For Samoa’ campaign was launched.

Sir Ashley Bloomfield trained in medicine at the University of Auckland and specialised in public health medicine. He has 25years’ experience in public policy and health leadership, including at the World Health Organization in Geneva. Sir Ashley was New Zealand’s Director-General of Health from June 2018 to July 2022 and led the country’s health response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM) in the 2023 New Year's Honours for services to public health and is now a Professor at the University of Auckland’s School of Population Health. Sir Ashley's professional areas of interest are non-communicable disease prevention and control and addressing health inequities.

Lisa is a Senior Lecturer in Immunology at Victoria University of Wellington NZ and a Research Associate at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. She obtained her PhD from the University of Otago in 2010 and conducted postdoctoral training at the Trudeau Institute, NY, USA and the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research in Wellington NZ.

In 2018, Lisa was awarded an HRC Sir Charles Hercus Fellowship and joined the School of Biological Sciences as a Lecturer. Her research focuses on the immune response to vaccination, particularly in developing mucosal vaccines for effective immunity in the respiratory tract. In 2020, Lisa became the team leader of the vaccine evaluation team for the Vaccine Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand, responsible for testing the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates.

Born in Auckland and raised in Tonga during his youth, Tevita completed a B. Com at Otago University. Further education included studying Strategic Perspectives in Non-profit Management and Behavioural Economics at Harvard.

Prior to joining The Fono (Primary healthcare service) in July 2010 as CEO, Tevita was the Pacific Health Manager for ProCare Health Ltd and the National Pasifika Liaison Advisor for Massey University. Currently, Tevita is the Chairman of ProCare Health Ltd board and Director of the Co-operative Board representing Pacific interests. He is the only independent member of the Te Whatu Ora Health Services Committee. He also holds governance and advisory positions on a wide range of national and regional forums that impact Pacific communities.

Tevita has established networks and relationships with Pasifika communities across New Zealand, and in particular Auckland Pasifika communities. He has a strong commitment to the wellbeing and prosperity of Pasifika peoples.

Dr Natalie Gauld is a pharmacist passionate about reducing barriers to medicines access, including in vaccination. She has reclassified many vaccinations to make administration by pharmacists easier, and has conducted research in access to medicines including leading the Waikato study of pharmacy funding of maternal vaccinations and surveying pharmacists. At Counties Manukau from 2020-2022, Natalie was involved in increasing the number of pharmacies in high priority areas delivering vaccinations, increasing uptake of MMR vaccines through pharmacy, and introducing funded maternal Tdap in pharmacy.

Natalie is an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for her work with pharmacy and health, a fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of New Zealand (PSNZ), and has the PSNZ's Gold Medal. In 2019, Natalie received the Distinguished Alumnus award for the School of Pharmacy at the University of Otago. Natalie is Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the Department of Paediatrics and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the School of Pharmacy, at the University of Auckland, and is self-employed at Natalie Gauld Ltd.

Leo Goldie-Anderson is a proud disabled person and advocate for inclusive, accessible and rights-based health services. They are a senior disability lead for Te Whatu Ora, and have been providing disability equity leadership across the healthcare system since 2019, including throughout the COVID-19 response.

Associate Professor Matire Harwood, Ngāpuhi, (MBChB, PhD) is a Māori health academic at the School of Population Health, University of Auckland, where she is Head of Department, teaches and undertakes research. She is a General Practitioner at Papakura Marae health clinic in South Auckland.  

She has served on several national Boards and Advisory Committees including Waitematā District Health Board, Health Research Council, COVID-19 Technical Advisory Group at the Ministry of Health and is a member of the Hauora Māori Advisory Committee to the Minister of Health, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the new Māori Health Authority, Te Aka Whai Ora.  

Matire has received numerous awards for her work including the 2017 L’Oréal UNESCO New Zealand ‘For Women In Science Fellowship’ for research in Indigenous health, the Health Research Council’s Te Tohu Rapuora 2019 award for leadership in research to improve Māori health and the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners Community Service Medal in 2022.

Claire is a Midwifery Advisor at Te Kāreti o ngā Kaiwhakawhānau ki Aotearoa | NZ College of Midwives, and has a Public Health and Equity portfolio. She led the College’s national Covid-19 response, including vaccination. Her work on maternal immunisation involves raising the needs of midwives and whānau with Te Whatu Ora, IMAC and national health sector entities, and promoting current and reputable information on vaccination to midwives and the public. Claire was a member of Te Whatu Ora National Immunisation Taskforce and now Te Whatu Ora Childhood Immunisation Taskforce.

Claire has a Master of Public Health and is dedicated to improving and being accountable for health equity in maternity.

Helen Petousis-Harris is a Vaccinologist, Co-Director of the Global Vaccine Data Network(GVDN), and Associate Professor at the School of Population Health at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland. She is a media spokesperson on vaccines and vaccination, and a science communicator. She was previously Chair of the World Health Organization Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety(GACVS). Helen has been involved in immunisation-related research in New Zealand since 1998, including clinical, social science, epidemiological and health systems. Her main research areas are vaccine safety and vaccine effectiveness.

Jemma Titheridge has been involved in a range of immunisation social marketing initiatives including Karawhiua, a COVID-19 vaccination campaign for Māori communities, and the Guardians of the Future MMR catch-up campaign. She has been involved with Te Whāinga o te Mārama, the project she will present on, since its inception in 2021. Jemma is passionate about sharing the theory and practice of social marketing with kaimahi in health and beyond, as well as applying whānau and community-based approaches to all of her work.

Jemma holds a Bachelor of Design, Hons (Visual Communication) from Massey University. She grew up in Marlborough and Aitutaki and has made Wellington her home for the past 12 years.

Dr Esther Willing (Ngāti Toarangatira, Ngāti Koata, Ngā Ruahine) is a Senior Lecturer in Hauora Māori and the Director of Kōhatu Centre for Hauora Māori. Her research interests include health policy and health systems research and she is passionate about improving Māori health outcomes and addressing health inequities in Aotearoa.

Esther is currently involved in research on immunisation uptake and coverage for hapu māmā and tamariki, guidelines for prioritising intensive care resources to support equity and discourse and framing of Māori health.