The following are the Committee for the Viral Hep Conference 2026
MBBS MRCP(UK) DTM&H FRACP PhD
Prof Jane Davies MBBS MRCP(UK) DTM&H FRACP PhD Co-Director Infectious Diseases Royal Darwin Hospital Principal Research Fellow Menzies School of Health Research Prof Jane Davies is a Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Menzies School of Health Research and Co-Director of Infectious Diseases at Royal Darwin Hospital.
Her research focuses on understanding and optimising care for viral infections with a focus on First Nations peoples in the Northern Territory of Australia. She leads the Hepatitis B PAST program, a holistic model of care co-designed with First Nations Australians to deliver care on country for viral hepatitis and liver cancer screening. Prof Davies works clinically as an Infectious Diseases and General Medicine Physician at the Royal Darwin Hospital and leads the clinical Viral Hepatitis Service .
Strategist, Senior leadership across medical research institutes
Sally Castle is an internationally recognised strategist with more than two decades of senior leadership across medical research institutes, health charities, and national peak bodies, with a career distinguished by her ability to align organisational growth with measurable health and social outcomes.
Since her appointment in 2022, Ms Castle has led the Foundation through a transformative period of growth, positioning it as a trusted voice for people living with liver disease and liver cancer.
Ms Castle’s leadership is guided by an unwavering focus on inclusion, collaboration, and impact. She has strengthened partnerships between clinicians, researchers, patients, and policymakers to ensure that patient perspectives drive national liver health priorities. A core part of her work is advancing equity for populations disproportionately affected by liver disease, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and those facing socioeconomic barriers.
Clinical Epidemiologist
A/Professor Behzad Hajarizadeh is a clinical epidemiologist and an NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow in the Kirby Institute (UNSW). His main areas of research include epidemiology and clinical management of viral hepatitis, particularly in prison, and among people who inject drugs.
Lived experience peer worker at PBHR WA
Peta has been a lived experience peer worker at PBHR WA for 10 years and also sits on the AIVL board. Currently, Peta’s main roles are Overdose Prevention & Peer Naloxone Project Officer, and she manages PBHR WA’s Communications.
Currently, Peta’s main roles are Overdose Prevention & Peer Naloxone Project Officer, and she manages PBHR WA’s Communications.
Gastroenterologist and hepatologist
Dr. Thompson is a gastroenterologist and hepatologist and Professor-Director of Gastroenterology at St. Vincent’s Hospital and the University of Melbourne (2014+), and Honorary Adjunct Assistant Professor of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center (NC).
Dr. Thompson is a Board Member and President of the Gastroenterology Society of Australia (GESA); co-Deputy Chair of the National Prisons Hepatitis Network in Australia and past Executive Council Member of the Asia Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL).
Dr. Thompson is a leading Australian clinician researcher, with international recognition for his research in relation to hepatitis C and hepatitis B. He has made significant academic and clinical contributions to the development of models of care for hepatitis in people who inject drugs, including people in prison. He was the clinical lead for the development of the state-wide hepatitis program in Victorian prisons under contract to the Department of Justice and Community Safety, demonstrating the efficacy of a nurse-led decentralised model of care for hepatitis. This clinical model was awarded an Innovation Award by the World Health Organisation in 2016. Dr. Thompson has been a principal investigator in phase 3 clinical studies demonstrating the efficacy of sofosbuvir-based regimens for genotype 3 hepatitis C, now standard of care and recommended by international guidelines. In the laboratory, Dr. Thompson’s work has led to a number of important translational breakthroughs. CIThompson was a clinical lead for the GWAS that identified IL28B polymorphism as the key host determinant of outcome of interferon treatment for hepatitis C. CI-Thompson continues an active translational research program in hepatitis B.
Dr.Thompson led the development of the Australian Consensus Statement on the Management of Hepatitis C, has been a Steering Committee Member for the development of Australian Recommendations for the Management of hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma. He has published widely in journals including Nature, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Gut, and Journal of Hepatology, including more than 200 original articles which have been cited 30,397 times (Google scholar, 11,959 since 2019). His h-index is 71 (Google scholar, 49 since 2019). He has presented > 40 invited lectures at international/national meetings. He is currently an Associate Editor of the journal Hepatology.
Clinic Coordinator and HepLink Officer
Ali Lori is the Clinic Coordinator and HepLink Officer at HepatitisWA. With over a decade of experience, Ali has contributed in diverse capacities, including facilitating the Hip Hop program within WA prisons, NSP and volunteer coordination, and Hepatitis B program delivery with CaLD communities.
For the past five years, Ali has specialised in clinical service delivery.
Hepatology and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
Adam Gregson is a Hepatology and Primary Care Nurse Practitioner based in Perth, Western Australia with a special interest in Hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV.
Adam’s significant experience in viral hepatitis and blood-borne viruses is broad, having worked in various settings including UK and Australian hospitals and prisons, sexual health and HIV NGOs as well as contributing to both state and national policy and strategy.
Adam is leading a revolutionary WA-based project, the Hep B Hub WA, with a focus on transforming approaches to chronic hepatitis B care and supporting GPs and NPs to provide this care in the local community without the need for onward referral.
Peer Based Harm Reduction WA’s Nurse Practitioner Candidate
Julie is Peer Based Harm Reduction WA’s Nurse Practitioner Candidate; working across both the Perth & Bunbury fixed sites as well as conducting outreach in the greater Metropolitan and beautiful South West WA regions. She is passionate about equitable access to healthcare and the peer-based team model of care
Communications and Partnerships Manager
Grace Hogan is the Communications and Partnerships Manager at Hepatitis Australia. She brings nearly seven years’ experience working in hepatitis communications and partnerships, including delivery of major national initiatives such as World Hepatitis Day in Australia, The Juice and the New You campaign.
Grace has significant expertise in executing communications, social media strategy, event management, media and health literacy strategies. Her deep understanding of community research and engagement methods is bolstered by her qualifications in anthropology and sociology.
Infectious Diseases Physician
Dr Sushena Krishnaswamy is an Infectious Diseases Physician in Naarm with an interest in infections (including blood borne viruses) in pregnancy.
Registered Nurse
registered nurseJacqui Richmond is a registered nurse with a PhD working at the Burnet Institute in the Eliminate hepatitis C Australia partnership.
Jacqui is recognised for her expertise in developing and implementing nurse-led models of care for marginalised communities. A recurring theme of her work is highlighting the role of nurses in viral hepatitis testing and treatment, and the importance of workforce development and interprofessional collaboration in achieving viral hepatitis elimination.