Most women don’t know that heart disease is a health issue of concern for them.  Our Go Red for Women champions help to raise awareness that heart disease is the number one killer of Australian women and promote the healthier choices we can make in our everyday lives.

Deborah Thomas, Go Red for Women 2010 Champion	Jane Stephens, Go Red for Women Champion, Tasmania	Dr Lyn Roberts AM, CEO of the National Heart Foundation of Australia

Deborah Thomas
‘Knowledge is power and it’s important that all women know the facts about heart disease. The right information can save the life of someone you love - or even your own - so please put your heart in the right place by wearing red and spreading the facts about heart health on Friday 11 June.’  Deborah Thomas.

Together with the Heart Foundation, Deborah will spearhead the Go Red for Women campaign to raise awareness of heart disease as a women's health issue and will be involved in our fabulous Go Red activities throughout June.

Deborah Thomas Bio
General Manager, ACP Women’s Lifestyle Magazines, editorial projects, consulting editor, Australian Women’s Weekly.

One of the country’s most successful and experienced magazine editors, Deborah has been at the helm of Australia’s biggest selling magazine, The Australian Women’s Weekly, for a decade and editing our most popular women’s magazines for over 18 years.

After successfully editing magazines such as Cleo, Elle and Mode (now Harpers Bazaar), Deborah was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Women’s Weekly in September 1999.

In March 2005, she was promoted to Editorial Director of The Weekly, responsible for all aspects of this iconic brand including television programs, books and brand extensions.

In March 2009, Deborah was promoted to the role of General Manger ACP Women’s Lifestyle (magazines), editorial projects, working across the women’s lifestyle portfolio which includes, The Weekly, Woman’s Day, Cleo and Cosmopolitan.

Deborah is a sought-after speaker on many topics, including marketing to women, balancing work and family, as well as providing credible information on a range of topics, including health, family and community issues. She is also an entertaining and informative media commentator, with regular spots on the Today Show, A Current Affair and 20 to One. Also a regular on radio, Deborah co-hosts the weekly Health and Wellbeing Show on radio 2GB.

Outside work, Deborah is a wife and mother to seven-year-old Oscar, and is actively involved in many community fundraising projects. A former international model, she is passionate about fashion, art and photography.

Jane Stephens
To help the Heart Foundation in Tasmania dispel the myths about women and heart disease, Jane Stephens has become the Tasmanian Go Red for Women Ambassador.

 Jane has been surrounded by heart disease most of her life and her and her family are determined to do all they can to keep their hearts healthy.

 Jane’s personal connection with heart disease occurred when her grandfather died from a sudden heart attack. Then, Jane’s mother Henrietta died of heart disease complications at just 56 years of age. Just recently, a close friend of Jane’s underwent open heart surgery.

 Turning 45 this year, the mother of three has a busy schedule juggling many roles including Pharmacist, Fitness Instructor and business owner.

 A busy life doesn’t get in the way of Jane’s health. Her love for fitness and an active lifestyle came from her Dad who encouraged the Donaldson children to be physically active while they were growing up.

 Jane has committed to help the Heart Foundation in Tasmania raise awareness of women and heart disease in order to help other families who have been tragically affected like her own.

Dr Lyn Roberts AM
"In particular, women over 45 years should be concerned about their heart health just as much as they are about other important issues such as juggling family responsibilities. It's time to dispel some of the myths around heart disease and face the facts that heart health is a relevant issue for women. To deliver the facts about heart disease to more women, the Go Red for Women campaign urges women to start talking about heart health with their friends".

 Dr Lyn Roberts has been CEO of the National Heart Foundation of Australia since 2001.  She is a member of a number of expert advisory committees for the government and non-government sectors including the National Preventative Health Taskforce. She was Chair of the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance (ACDPA) from 1999 to August 2008.

 In 1997, Dr Roberts was awarded an Order of Australia (AM) for service to the community and to health, particularly in the fields of health promotion, cancer prevention awareness and lifestyle education. Dr Roberts was elected to the Board of the World Heart Federation (WHF) in 2006 and is Vice President of the WHF.