Queensland Advisory Board

The National Heart Foundation of Australia values the commitment of the Queensland Advisory Board, which forms an essential component of our national arrangements, allowing the Heart Foundation to connect strategy, local community engagement and external stakeholder expertise.

Professor Gita Mishra FAHMS, PhD, CStat (Chair)

Professor Mishra is an NHMRC Leadership Fellow and Director of NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Women and NCDs at the School of Public Heath, University of Queensland. She is also Director of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’ Health (ALSWH), a national cohort study running since 1996, that has informed development of policy related to women’s health.

Professor Mishra is internationally recognised for her research on life course epidemiology and women’s health. Her work focuses on the links between reproductive factors, from menarche to menopause, and the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cardiovascular disease. She initiated and led InterLACE a major international collaboration on women and NCDs, that now has individual data from more than 800,000 women in 14 countries.

She has over 450 peer-reviewed scientific papers and book chapters. In 2017, she was presented an honorary membership of Sigma International, a global nursing organisation, for her contribution to women’s health. In 2022, she was presented with RANZCOG Excellence in Women’s Health award.

Tabetha Bozin

Tabetha Bozin is a pioneering technologist, recognised for her transformative contributions to higher education, and the Australian energy and robotics sector. With a background deeply rooted in technology, transformation, and business models, she has successfully bridged the gap between traditional teaching methods and innovative digital solutions. Tabetha's career began in broadcast media, where her passion for education and her forward-thinking approach quickly distinguished her as a leader. She has played a pivotal role in integrating technology into educational pedagogical approaches. Her work has not only enhanced learning experiences but also set new standards for educational practices and technology transformation globally. Tabetha has held many Senior Director roles and is currently an Director of Information Technology Services, Higher Education at the University of Queensland.

Samantha Clark

Samantha brings her extensive expertise in customer relations, branding, marketing, and communications to the Queensland Advisory Board. She is deeply committed to contribute to advancing The Heart Foundation's goals of enhancing heart disease prevention, detection, and support across Australia.

Samantha holds an MBA and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. As a Certified Practicing Marketer and Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute, she has amassed over 20 years of experience in executive roles within diverse sectors including corporate services, media, consumer goods, healthcare, sports, travel, arts, and non-profit organizations. Her career spans both internal leadership and consulting, focusing on strategy development, customer experience, stakeholder engagement, brand management, marketing operations, and communications on local, national, and international scales.

Michelle Byard

Michelle Byard is a Senior Social Worker with the Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Unit at The Prince Charles Hospital, where she has worked for the past 16 years. With a career spanning 33 years in social work, Michelle has extensive experience supporting individuals and families through some of the most complex and challenging health journeys.

Throughout her career, Michelle has been committed to providing holistic care, helping patients navigate the emotional, practical and social impacts of serious cardiac illness. Her work within advanced heart failure and transplantation has given her deep insight into the lived experiences of people affected by heart disease and the importance of patient-centred care.

Michelle is passionate about contributing to initiatives that focus on community education, prevention and early intervention. She is particularly keen to support efforts that help reduce the burden of heart disease before people reach the acute stages of illness, ensuring healthier outcomes for individuals, families and communities across Queensland.

Tess Bishop

Tess Bishop is the Chief Executive Officer of Local Government Managers Australia (Queensland), the peak professional association representing leaders and managers across Queensland's 77 councils. She is a highly experienced executive and Non-Executive Director with a career spanning health policy, public administration and sector leadership.

Tess contributed to national health reform as a senior executive in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and has held senior roles with Queensland Health and the Victorian Department of Health, giving her deep insight into the health system and the policy settings that shape it. Her work sits at the intersection of government, community and workforce, with a strong focus on leadership, governance and building healthier, more resilient communities.

Tess brings to the Heart Foundation's advisory board a practical understanding of how national policy translates into outcomes at the local level, and a commitment to improving heart health for all Australians.

Melissa Riedy

Melissa Riedy is the Co-Founder and Operations Lead of Regional Research Institute, where she is committed to improving equitable access to clinical research and innovative cardiovascular care for Australians living in regional and rural communities.

With more than 20 years' experience across healthcare as a registered nurse, project and change management consultant, and healthcare leader, Melissa has dedicated her career to translating strategy into meaningful health outcomes. Drawing on both her professional expertise and lived experience of inherited heart disease within her own family, she is a passionate advocate for improving heart health, reducing inequities in access to care and research, and ensuring that where a person lives does not determine the quality of healthcare they receive.

Melissa is driven by a vision of bridging the gap between metropolitan and regional healthcare, creating opportunities for all Australians to benefit from advances in cardiovascular research, prevention and treatment.

Dr Sean Leow

As an Internal Medicine Physician practising in regional QLD, Sean is deeply passionate about promoting equitable access to health care for all individuals. A dedicated advocate for "Closing the Gap," he regularly visits First Nations communities across the Torres Strait and Cape York region, ensuring the delivery of high-quality and culturally appropriate care closer to home. Recognising the high prevalence of cardiovascular and metabolic burdens within the populations he serves, Sean joined the Advisory Board with a determination to value add and contribute to the organisation’s initiatives aimed at improving overall health outcomes.

Sean is active in the medical education and training space. As a fellow, he currently serves as the Deputy Chair of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Bi-national Learning Series Committee, where he oversees the delivery of high quality, curated educational materials for physician trainees. In addition to this, he holds a Full Academic Title (FATH) as a Senior Lecturer with the College of Medicine and Dentistry at James Cook University.

Sean retains a strong interest in medical leadership and clinical governance. In his current roles as Clinical Director of Medical Assessment Unit and as a member of the Cairns Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) Clinical Council, he champions continuous improvement and supports care models that are contemporary, sustainable and workplace safe. Sean is also an Associate Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Medical administration (AFRACMA) and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).

Adrian Penny

Adrian Penny is an executive leader and experienced non-executive director who is passionate about improving the lives of individuals and strengthening communities. With more than 20 years of leadership experience across government and the private sector, he brings expertise in strategy, governance, financial oversight, risk management and stakeholder engagement. Adrian holds a Master of Business Administration, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As former Vice President and Non-Executive Director of PlayAbility, Adrian helped guide the organisation through strategic planning, governance, financial sustainability and organisational change, always with a focus on creating better opportunities and outcomes for people living with disability and the communities that support them. He believes strong governance is ultimately about enabling organisations to make a meaningful and lasting difference in people's lives.

Motivated by the impact cardiovascular disease has had on family and friends, Adrian is honoured to serve on the Heart Foundation Queensland Advisory Board. He is committed to helping improve heart health outcomes, reduce health inequities, and support initiatives that empower people to live healthier, longer lives. Through collaboration, advocacy and community engagement, Adrian is passionate about helping build healthier, more connected communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.