Diabetes Australia Research Steering Committee Diabetes Australia is taking a transformative approach to research that includes centralising lived experience throughout the entire research process. This will ensure our funded research delivers meaningful outcomes that address the needs of the diabetes community to increase impact by improving the lives of people living with and at risk of diabetes. In 2025, through a nationally competitive process, a highly credentialed Research Steering Committee has been appointed consisting of health professionals, researchers and most importantly, people living with diabetes. The Committee will help review and assess research applications for our Diabetes Community Priorities Grants and Project Grants to ensure the projects we fund have the greatest potential to reduce the impact diabetes on people, health systems and society. Dr. Peter W Clark PhD, M.Sc., M. Nutr & Dietetics Peter is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian, an Advanced Sports Dietitian, and an Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (USA) member. He established Healthier You Pty Ltd, a private dietetic consulting practice in Port Macquarie, NSW which he sold in 2023. Peter has over 18 years of clinical experience, providing nutritional advice to more than 11,000 clients. Alongside his practice, Peter completed his PhD at Griffith University in 2023. His thesis established the first evidence-based data standards for Australian Primary Care dietitians. Prior to becoming a dietitian, Peter had a 17-year career in the pharmaceutical industry. He held various leadership roles, including Marketing Director Australia and New Zealand for Eli Lilly. Before that, he worked at the Corporate Headquarters in the United States and held roles in Global Marketing and Primary Care Strategy. Peter currently works as a National Dietetic Adviser to the Department of Veterans Affairs and consults to the Bond University and Griffith University nutrition programs. For the last 12 years, he has been a Member of the Bond University External Advisory Committee, providing advice on their nutrition program. He previously served two terms on the New South Wales Mid North Coast Regional Development Board, directly advising the Minster and the State Government on regional investment opportunities. On his involvement in the Diabetes Priorities Communities grant scheme, Peter says, “It’s unique. This is the first time that a talented group of lived experience experts, healthcare professionals and researchers have joined forces with a common goal – to identify the highest quality research that leads to longer, healthier and happier lives for people living with diabetes. Individually, we have each achieved a lot. I’m excited that together, we will achieve so much more. And the winner will be the people, and their families, living with diabetes.” Professor Amanda Salis Amanda has a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of Western Australia and a PhD from the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Professor Salis (nee Sainsbury) leads research at the University of Western Australia that aims to help people to attain and maintain an optimum body weight and composition throughout life, thereby helping to reduce the risk of diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, sarcopenia, osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. In the quest to find safe and effective treatments for overweight and obesity, Amanda’s research has spanned fundamental studies in conditional transgenic mice to understand brain pathways controlling hunger, randomised controlled weight loss trials in adults, qualitative studies to understand consumer experiences, systematic reviews with meta-analyses, and multi-national epidemiological studies to investigate long-term associations between weight change and health outcomes. Amanda says “I wanted to be part of the Diabetes Priorities Communities grant scheme because of the strong focus of the scheme on research that is likely to have a clearly defined benefit – whether that be a benefit in the advancement of fundamental knowledge, or a benefit in the advancement of a pathway of care, etc. I believe that this focus will encourage researchers to think more deeply about their research during the planning stages, and to get serious – not box-ticking – consumer and community involvement from the outset, thereby improving the value of the research.” Emeritus Professor Julianne Reid Emeritus Professor Julianne Reid recognises the power of research and the significant difference it can make to the lives of people with diabetes, through her personal experience living with Type 1 diabetes for 53 years, over which time the treatment and management of diabetes has improved dramatically because of research. Julianne herself has considerable experience as an academic researcher focussing on novel therapeutic strategies to treat diabetic complications. She recently retired from academia as Associate Provost at Curtin University, with significant leadership experience in university governance, strategy, and learning and teaching at both RMIT and Curtin Universities. Throughout her career, particularly over the past 10-15 years, Julianne has been a strong supporter of early-career academics, gender equity and students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Julianne is excited to be part of this initiative, especially because of “its focus on consumer and community involvement in the research journey, and on equity considerations recognising the importance of supporting disadvantaged populations such as First Nations peoples and people from low socioeconomic areas”. Dr Steven Trawley Steven has a PhD in Psychology and has over two decades of experience researching human behaviour. Over the last twelve years, Steven has focused primarily on understanding ways to improve diabetes care. He contributes regularly to clinical trials of new treatment technologies, providing a behavioural research perspective to their design and interpretation. He has published extensively on diabetes healthcare and is enthusiastic about bringing a practical, patient-focused lens to diabetes research. “I’m excited about my role on the Research Steering Committee because I believe that research needs to be based on tangible, real-world outcomes. These outcomes need to be directly related to making daily life easier for Australians living with diabetes.” ~ Dr Steven Trawley George John With three decades of experience as an Academic & Health Professional in Pharmacy and Medical Science across Africa, Asia, and Australia, George brings extensive knowledge and skills to the Diabetes Australia Research Steering Committee. His active involvement in community health advocacy and personal journey with type 2 diabetes in a regional town have fueled his passion for raising awareness and support, aligning with Diabetes Australia’s vision to reduce the impact of diabetes and promote healthier living. As Chair of the Local Health Advisory Committee and a consumer representative on various boards, George has championed community health priorities and advocated for health literacy. His commitment to inclusivity and evidence-based solutions drives his dedication to improving wellbeing. George is passionate about the Diabetes Priorities Communities grant scheme and said, “These awards are crucial in advancing diabetes research, ensuring innovative solutions to enhance patient care and outcomes. Being part of this grant scheme allows me to contribute to a future reducing the impact of diabetes and promoting healthier living”. Inspired by the Wiradjuri phrase “yindyamarra winhanganha” (the wisdom of respectfully knowing how to live well in a world worth living in), he looks forward to bringing his expertise and experience to the committee. Michelle Hogan Michelle Hogan is a dedicated and passionate registered nurse and credentialled diabetes educator with extensive experience in a wide range of settings, most recently in regulation and governance, and the residential aged care and home care settings. She specialises in clinical governance, leadership, education, clinical research and clinical care with a focus on diabetes management and support. She holds a Master of Nursing in Diabetes Education and Management and an Associate Degree in Dementia Care. In 2022 she was awarded the James and Jessie Brown Memorial Prizes in Aged Care and Gerontology. Michelle actively participates on a number of advisory committees and was previously a practitioner member of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia. She has published and co-authored in relation to the care of an older person, including diabetes management, skin assessment, continence, quality use of medicines in aged care, and the lived experience of older people living with dementia. Michelle is currently working as a Senior Clinical Director at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and casually at university. Michelle says “I am honoured to join the Diabetes Australia Research Steering Committee. I am passionate and dedicated to the focus of identifying diabetes research that has a clear focus on consumer involvement. I look forward to collaborating with committee members to identify and support initiatives that tackle the challenges and unmet needs of individuals living with diabetes, as well as their carers”.
