Nicolette is an advanced practice pharmacist with proven skills and experience in strategic planning, leading and managing large scale projects and delivering innovative policy and governance reform. She has a professional and personal experience with chronic pain, both working closely supporting clients with chronic pain and her wife who lives with endometriosis. Nicolette is a seasoned communicator, media commentator, Key Opinion Leader and developer of healthcare education, with experience presenting to a variety of health practitioners, and health consumers. She is passionate about improving access and affordability to high-quality chronic pain management teams for those Australians who live with chronic pain.

Fiona is a Pain Management Clinical Nurse Consultant with the Hunter Integrated Pain Service NSW, Australia and has worked in all aspects of pain service delivery over the last 25 years. Fiona was also President of the Australian Pain Society from 2017 to 2019. She actively continues to participate and promote widely the need for co-designing models of care in pain and research with consumers who have the lived experience.

Fiona is a longstanding Chronic Pain Australia board member for over 12 years and has a passion for advocating for people experiencing pain which includes some of her family and friends. This is evidenced by her ongoing clinical and consumer representation on various peak national and state-based pain-related committees, working parties and task forces.

Jennifer Maher is a finance executive with over 20 years of experience, including more than ten as a CFO for medium-sized companies. 

Donna originally studied Fashion Design/Business, and after battling chronic health conditions, she studied Holistic Nutrition and Homeopathy and is now a Master of Research Candidate. Donna is the Co-founder and Board Director of Endometriosis Australia.

In 2018, Donna was named in the Australian Financial Review’s 100 Women of Influence. In 2019, she was Blackmore’s Women Wellness – Change Being and, in 2021, a finalist for NSW Women of the Year Awards – Community Hero and an Australia Day Ambassador.

Donna is a member of the Federal Government’s Endometriosis Expert Advisory Group. Donna is a national and international speaker and co-authored research publications.

Kellie Jade Ellis is a strategic and results-driven executive with over fourteen years’ experience. She has worked across various sectors including consumer health, pharmaceuticals, government, not-for-profit, and FMCG, executing innovative and transformative marketing strategies and campaigns.

With a very personal experience living with endometriosis and a passion for preventative health, Kellie is excited to bring her diverse experience and expertise to her role at Chronic Pain Australia.

Katherine is a dietitian and early career researcher with the University of Newcastle and Hunter Integrated Pain Service, NSW, Australia. Katherine is interested in bridging the gap between nutrition and pain and completed her PhD in 2019 which explored the role of nutrition in pain management.

Through her own experiences of chronic pain, Katherine has an understanding of what it is like to live with pain. Katherine is passionate about ensuring that the pain research undertaken in Australia is genuine and meaningful for people living with pain. Katherine also holds several leadership and advocacy roles on various national committees and interest groups, for example she is also a board member of the Australian Pain Solutions Research Alliance.

Emeritus Professor Ken Donald AO has had a lengthy and illustrious career of over 40 years in medical practice, health policy and medical education. His academic contributions consisting of more than 100 published journal articles and textbooks, demonstrate his ongoing commitment to the development of research and education across a number of fields including pathology, social and preventive medicine and veterans health. Professor Donald’s work with AIDS control and Veteran’s health will long stand as his greatest achievements. He also represented Australia in rugby union from 1957 to 1960 and went on to manage the Australian Wallabies from 1979 to 1981.

Professor Donald’s loyalty and commitment to the health of Australians is unrivalled and this work continues today, beyond his official retirement. Professor Donald was the Director of Pathology at the Royal Brisbane Hospital and Deputy Director-General of Queensland Health. His long standing contribution was acknowledged when he was awarded the titles of Emeritus Professor at the University of Queensland and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University’s School of Medicine,

Recognised as a Queensland Great and awarded an Order of Australia in 2012, Professor Donald is very familiar with pain through a number of different roles, including his work with the Australian Cancer Society, his work in the battle against AIDS, his role with the NHMRC and long involvement with Veteran’s health matters. He continues to play an active role in a range of health areas.