Alfred Deakin Professor Anna Peeters, PhD, is Director of the Institute for Health Transformation and Professor of Epidemiology and Equity in Public Health at Deakin University. She is Principal Research Translation Investigator at Western Alliance, an NHMRC Investigator Grant fellow, Board Member for the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth), and Western Health, and Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society. Anna is Chair of the Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research Advisory Board and a member of the World Cancer Research Fund’s Policy Advisory Group. She is internationally recognised for her work building the evidence for effective and equitable policy and practice to improve health outcomes. Anna has overseen a number of large programs of research focused on food and health system transformation including an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Food Retail Environments for Health (RE-FRESH, for which she is Director). Anna has published over 250 research papers. She was the recipient of the prestigious World Obesity Federation Andre Mayer Award (2014) for research excellence and a Churchill Award (2014) for innovative work in equity and population prevention. 

Michael Connelly is a seasoned Managing Director with over 25 years of experience leading CPR Group, a company dedicated to empowering not-for-profit organisations through effective planning, training and mentoring of volunteers. His passion for helping organisations achieve their best results and creating a positive impact in the community has made him a go-to expert for clubs, associations, Councils, government and universities seeking to grow their membership and increase revenue and profit. 
 
Michael is committed to driving innovation in not-for-profit governance, ensuring long-term sustainability and viability in a transforming community sector. As an advisor, facilitator, club mentor and trainer, he brings high-energy and entertaining governance seminars that effect change and are embraced by participants. With his expertise, Michael has helped literally thousands of organisations achieve first-class governance, making them more efficient, resilient and fun! 

Tarah has successfully managed/led volunteer programs at all levels of development, from grassroots organisations to well-established programs of Foodbank Queensland. A lifelong volunteer, she understands how vital it is for organisations to acknowledge the gift of time and understand volunteer motivations. Her multidisciplinary career in volunteer management, fundraising, visitor experience, public programming, and events across the arts and nonprofit sector has informed her insightful approach to attracting and retaining volunteers. 

Denise is an Advanced Accredited Dietitian with many years of experience in public and private hospitals, lecturing at university and running a private consultancy business. While foodservice dietetics is her current area of expertise, Denise has had significant experience in the public health sector establishing the first Qld School Tuckshop project jointly funded by health & education. This role involved working with food industry to champion healthier options for schools, providing resources for tuckshops and P&Cs and establishing the first Tuckshop Expos.

Denise was also part of the group that established QAST and served as the first President. In addition, Denise worked on the first iteration of the ABC Healthier Food & Drink supply for Queensland Health hospitals, supporting the then Project Officer in implementation and supporting sites.

Currently, Denise heads up Statewide Foodservices for Queensland Health which hosts the current ABC Project Officer and continues to champion food industry to provide healthier products for all Queenslanders.

Dr Eleanor Glenn co-directs Common Cause Australia, an organisation that helps social change agents to put values at the heart of their work. Eleanor is a researcher and communications expert, with a PhD in climate change communications and engagement. She provides tailored training and advice to a range of cause-based organisations on strategy and communications for social change. She has led the development of evidence-based message guides on a range of health topics, including health equity, walking and bike riding, COVID vaccination and healthy workplaces. 

Dr Paul Wilkinson is a Dietitian with over 25 years’ experience. Originally qualified in the UK he came to Australia in 2007. He has worked in research, regulation, publication and leadership positions across various local, national and international projects. Paul is a previous chair of the DNSC and a current member of the Health Practitioner Research Advisory Group. He is currently the Director of Allied Health Services at Bundaberg Hospital in the Wide Bay and continues to work clinically when time allows.  

Alastair McLeod is a chef, television personality, ambassador and corporate host with unbridled enthusiasm for all things food. Bestowed with the gift of the gab and a quick wit, Alastair is a popular master of ceremonies and guest speaker who brings his unique humour and professionalism to any event. Best known for his roles on Channel Seven’s Great Day Out and Network 10’s Ready Steady Cook, Alastair also has a recipe column in the Brisbane News and his Irish brogue is frequently heard on ABC and 4BC radio.  

He travels around Australia on a regular basis to host large corporate functions, food shows and outdoor events. Alastair was the national MC for the Good Food and Wine Show for over 10 years and continues to present at a large number of festivals and events around the country, including the Noosa Food and Wine Festival, Bundy Flavours, Regional Flavours and City Good Food Month. Alastair has worked with the Lockyer Valley region for a number of years and is responsible for hosting media functions, attending regular events and raising awareness for the region dubbed ‘The Salad Bowl of Queensland’.  

His Australian tenures have included roles as executive chef at the Brisbane stalwart Baguette which, under Alastair’s stewardship, won back-to-back Restaurant and Caterer awards and saw the restaurant inducted into the hall of fame. After a lengthy spell at Brett’s Wharf, he established Tank Restaurant and Bar in Brisbane’s CBD that was named in Australia’s hot 50 restaurants two years running, achieved 17/20 in the Courier Mail, 4/5 in The Australian and a coveted chef’s hat. More recently, Alastair launched Al’FreshCo; his own business that provides small and large scale catering to private and corporate clients. 

Sporting super-mum Gretel Bueta established herself as the leading goal attack in Australian netball after a stellar first full campaign following the birth of son Bobby. 

The Queensland Firebirds star made her return for the Australian Diamonds in quad series in England at the start of 2022, going on to claim the player of the tournament and player of the final honours as Australia defeated the hosts to win the series. 

Bueta continued her fantastic form for the remainder of the Firebirds’ Suncorp Super Netball season during which she reached her 100-game milestone in the number one netball competition in the world and ended as the top-ranked goal attack. 

That form made Bueta a lock for Australia’s 12-strong squad for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, during which she featured in all seven of the Diamonds’ matches on their way to gold. 

Bueta ended that tournament with 253 goals at 96.2 per cent accuracy including 37 from 37 in the gold medal match against Jamaica. 

The 29-year-old, whose brothers Kurt and Joel both played AFL, is currently taking a break from playing after announcing in January she and husband Niko are expecting their second child.