MND Research Collective Board

Associate Professor Cathy Blizzard

Chair, Discovery Research Driving Team

Associate Professor Cathy Blizzard is a discovery MND researcher at the Tasmanian School of Medicine of the University of Tasmania. Her research interests are focussed upon understanding the sequalae of neurodegenerative events that occur in neurons of the corticomotor system in MND and developing novel therapeutic strategies to prevent this neurodegeneration.

Phil Camden

Chair, Lived Experience Research Advisory Panel

Phil is Chair of the MND Collective Lived Experience Research Advisory Panel and possesses 12 years of lived experience, having received his MND diagnosis in early 2013.

Phil actively engages in many initiatives including administrator of the Australian MND group Facebook page, “Connect, Share, Support,” which has amassed 1,400 members. He is on the panel for The Australian MND Guidelines and The MND Australia Lived Experience Network Approval Panel. Pil is also on the Non-Invasive Ventilation Stakeholder Advisory Group, The Community of Practice for MND Care and is the Bairnsdale FightMND DIY Fundraiser Ambassador.

Dr. Patricia Geale

Dr. Patricia Geale and her brother Murray, who lived with MND for 5-years, jointly served on the Board of The MND Collective in 2022. She holds an MBA and a PhD in Corporate Governance. Together with her academic qualifications, Patricia had a thirty-year career in strategic management and marketing, primarily in the travel and tourism industry. She has been on the academic staff at Griffith University, Bond University, James Cook University, Central Queensland University and Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles. She lived and worked in the USA for 13 years. Patricia continues Murray’s legacy by ensuring People Living with MND are the central focus of The MND Research Collective and organisations dedicated to MND Research.

Dr Anne Hogden

Dr Anne Hogden is a researcher and senior lecturer with the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW. She has a clinical background in MND care as a speech pathologist, assisting people with MND and their families to manage communication, saliva and swallowing concerns. She is the author and developer of the Australian MND patient decision tools (https://mnddecisiontools.com/) supporting people living with ALS/MND to make decisions for their care and quality of life. Anne has collaborated widely with MND clinics and researchers in Australia and internationally for decision tool development and models of care and service delivery to people living with MND.

Kate Johnson

State MND Association representative

Kate has been CEO of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association of Victoria since April 2019. Prior to that Kate enjoyed over 20 years’ experience in leadership and the strategic development of not-for-profit organisations. Kate’s previous roles include General Manager St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria (Service Development) and General Manager Carer and Community Services at Carers Victoria. Kate has a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Genetics and Psychology), a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology and recently graduated with an MBA and Master of Leadership. Since arriving at MND Victoria, Kate has facilitated the development of the strategic and business plans, the re-architecture of the organisation’s IT infrastructure and the selection and implementation of a new client and customer management system.

Kate ensures that people living with MND in Victoria and Tasmania are well supported, informed and have access to services, including palliative care, throughout their MND journey. Under Kate’s leadership, MND Victoria supports, promotes and delivers research into better care, identifying causes, treatments and ultimately a cure for MND. Since 2021 Kate has also been a Board member of Palliative Care Victoria and chairs PCV’s engagement committee.

Associate Professor Susan Mathers

Susan Mathers is a neurologist at Monash Health, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University and Clinical Director of Neurology at Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Melbourne. Her clinical and research interests focus on the management of progressive neurological diseases, clinical trials and models of care. She is a member of the scientific committee of Motor Neurone Disease Research Australia, the Fight MND CURE Sub-Committee and a chief investigator on the MiNDAUS project: Motor Neurone Disease: Patient centred care for a progressive neurological disease— evidence driving policy.

Jane Milne

MND & Me Foundation 

Jane joined The MND and Me Foundation in July 2018 and took over the role of CEO in February 2020. An experienced communicator, event manager and marketing professional, Jane has held events, marketing and fund raising roles in education, sporting and political organisations. Jane has extensive communications and fundraising experience as well as a wide range of event management experience including roles as State Architecture Awards Director and coordinator of a number of State and National sporting events. Jane has a B.Bus in Integrated Marketing Communications and a proven reputation for both strategic planning and hands-on execution of events.

Jane’s first exposure to MND came when the Founder of MND and Me was diagnosed and started recruiting participants for events at the local primary school where her children attended. Jane participated and volunteered in MND and Me events before finally becoming employed in 2018. Her biggest reward is seeing first hand the difference that funds raised can have for people living with MND that she deals with daily.

Dr Peter Raisbeck

Dr Peter Raisbeck is an Associate Professor of Architectural Practice at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne. Since 2006 he has been teaching Architectural Practice, Design Activism and Architectural Archives. In September of 2018 he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Since this diagnosis he has become increasingly passionate about disability inclusion in architecture. He has published three books including the most recent, Architects, Sustainability and the Climate Emergency: A Political Ecology, published in November 2022.

Dr Bec Sheean

FightMND representative

Bec is the Director of Cure Research and Programs at FightMND and has been working in the MND sector for 17 years. She has a PhD in Neuroscience, specialising in MND and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research. Bec oversees all FightMND’s Cure Research portfolio, which supports pre-clinical and clinical MND research projects throughout Australia and internationally, as well as FightMND funded Clinical Trials. Through her role she liaises with all aspects of the research sector including researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, and Government to develop large scale, collaborative MND research projects. Bec has a passion for science communication and building connections within the research community including people with lived experience of MND.

Dr Salma Charania

Chair, Clinical Care Driving Team

Dr. Salma Charania is a dedicated speech pathologist and researcher with a PhD from the University of Queensland, where her thesis examined the impact of dysarthria in individuals with motor neurone disease (MND). She also holds a Master of Speech Pathology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology. Currently a Lecturer at Central Queensland University, Dr. Charania has made educating her students on MND a priority and continues to actively contribute to research in the field. She recently served as Assistant Guest Editor for the MDPI Health Care journal’s special issue, Improving Care for People Living with ALS/MND, and has been an active member of the MND Collective Clinical Care Expert Driving Team (CCDT) since its inception. Now serving as Chair of the CCDT, Dr. Charania leads a national team of MND care experts, driving collaboration and innovation to advance best practice care for people living with MND. She is also a member of the Research and Policy Maker Advisory Group for the Australian MND Guidelines project. Her relevant clinical experience includes developing and establishing the MND Queensland Speech Pathology Service and Voice Banking Clinic, as well as working within the aged care sector. Dr. Charania is passionate about improving the quality of care for people living with MND and their loved ones, with a strong commitment to promoting holistic, person-centred approaches to care.

Laura Birks

MND Australia representative 

Laura joined the MND Australia team in November 2018 and manages the research grants program.

Laura has a background in science and environmental law and a masters in education. In her role at MND Australia, Laura oversees the research grants program. She is passionate about lived experience involvement and about communicating with the community on all aspects of MND.