ABA Health Professional Seminar Series - 2025 speakers

Dr Treasure McGuire 

PhD, BPharm, BSc, GradDipClinHospPharm, GCHEd, FACP, FPS, FANZCAP (Edu, ObsGynae), MSHP 

Treasure is a medicines information pharmacist, educator, and researcher in reproductive health. As Assistant Director of Pharmacy, she regularly presents for GP credentialing with Mater Mothers’ Hospital, Brisbane and consults on complex cases assessing medication safety in pregnancy and lactation. She holds appointments as: Assoc/Prof of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University, and Assoc/Prof Clinical, School of Pharmacy, University of Queensland.

Karen Graham

RD, CDE 

Karen is a population health, public health dietitian with Interior Health, a government health authority in British Columbia, Canada. She is a large project coordinator, passionate about improving outcomes for mother and child through best practices in hospitals, clinics, and communities. She is the innovator and coordinator of a series of breastfeeding projects, 2013 to 2025, done jointly with a non-profit organization, Kelowna Community Resources (KCR). These projects are powered by foundation grants of AUD$900,000 from various organizations including the Vancouver Foundation, and inputs from hundreds of lactation consultants, midwives, doctors, nurses and other health care providers and mothers. These projects include the Breastfeeding Art Expo, Breastfeeding Journey Mapping and Breastfeeding Systems Change Project (BFSCP). Karen coordinated the production of a ground-breaking resource, Physician Breastfeeding Guide. Karen is also a published award-winning diabetes author and engaging public speaker.

Dr Jennifer Hocking

PhD, MMid, GradDipMid, BN, BA, RM RN, FACM

Jen worked as a midwife in the Australian public maternity system for 20 years before undertaking a PhD – a focused ethnographic study of lactation consultant practice which she completed in 2020. She worked as a lecturer in, and course coordinator of, the Bachelor of Midwifery program at the Australian Catholic University (Melbourne) from 2018 to late 2023. Jen was awarded a fellowship of the Australian College of Midwives in 2023 for her work in the profession and the College and has been ACM Victorian Branch Chair since 2018. Jen commenced work at the Australian Breastfeeding Association in December 2023 as professional engagement lead and coordinator of the ABA WHO Code Advocacy project.

Dr Rowena Ivers 

FRACGP PhD

and the Marri Gudjaga team

The Marri Gudjaga team is based on Dharawal country, at the University of Wollongong and in Aboriginal maternal and child health services across NSW, including AMIHS services and an Aboriginal community-controlled health service. The Marri Gudjaga project is funded to evaluate Aboriginal Peer Support Workers to support breastfeeding. With one of the participating services (Gadhu), the Australian Breastfeeding Association and an Aboriginal videography team we have also developed breastfeeding videos and plan to discuss resources to support breastfeeding. Our team presenting includes Rose Johnson (Aboriginal research assistant), Lakayla Dickson (Peer Support Worker), Beck Thorne (project manager and dietician) and Rowena Ivers (GP).

Dr Nishamanie Karawita

MBBS, MSc, Cert IV Leadership and Management, 10961NAT Community Breastfeeding Mentoring

Nisha is an experienced public health practitioner currently working as Health Promotion Coordinator at cohealth, one of the leading community health organisations in Melbourne, Victoria. In her current role Nisha oversees cohealth’s Breastfeeding Promotion Program. Nisha has worked in varied positions related to public health and health promotion nationally and internationally including maternal and child health and infant and young child feeding. Nisha’s previous experience includes working as the National Program Officer for UNICEF, Country Office Sri Lanka and Primary Health Care in Australia. Nisha has worked extensively with diverse populations in Australia and internationally to empower communities to increase control over their health and wellbeing.

Dr Catherine Chamberlain

PhD, MScPHP, MPH

Professor Catherine Chamberlain is a Palawa Trawlwoolway woman (Tasmania), Director of Onemda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing and Head of the Indigenous Health Equity Unit at the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne.  A registered midwife and public health researcher, her research aims to identify perinatal opportunities to improve health equity across the lifecourse. She is the inaugural Editor-In-Chief of First Nations Health and Wellbeing Lowitja Journal and Principal Investigator for two large multi-disciplinary projects – Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future – which aims to co-design support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents experiencing complex trauma; and Replanting the Birthing Trees, which aims to transform intergenerational cycles of trauma to cycles of nurturing and recovery.

Nicola Kett

BHealthSc

Nicola has worked as a Health Promotion Officer at the Australian Breastfeeding Association since 2021. She majored in Health Promotion and Nutrition at University and has experience promoting healthy eating and skill development in a community kitchen setting. In her current role, Nicola coordinates ABA’s online education offerings for expectant and new parents.

Dr Melissa Morns

PhD, MPH, BHSc Naturopath 

Melissa Morns has dedicated her research to understanding and supporting breastfeeding women. She has published several papers on breastfeeding challenges and breastfeeding aversion response, including findings from two national surveys. Her work reveals that while most women face challenges, appropriate support enables a positive experience. Melissa aims to empower women and healthcare professionals with her research.