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Board, staff and advisors


Board of Directors

Andrew Harrison (Chair)

Andrew is an experienced company director and corporate adviser and has held a number of non-executive directorships with public and private companies including serving as the Chair of ASX-listed WiseTech Global and Bapcor Limited. He was previously CFO of Seven Group Limited and Landis & Gyr among other senior finance positions, and has worked internationally as an investment banker and Chartered Accountant. He holds a BEc from the University of Sydney and an MBA from the Wharton School. He is a Chartered Accountant and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Andrew has a child with arthritis. 

Ruth Colagiuri AM (Founder)

Ruth is an Honorary Associate Professor of the University of Sydney Menzies Centre for Health Policy, School of Public Health. She has worked in clinical care, health policy and health services research in the NSW hospital system, health department and academia, and led projects and commissioned work for AusAID, the World Health Organisation, the OECD. She is a former Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation, Diabetes Australia and served on national and international advisory committees. She has a grandchild with arthritis.

Stephen Colagiuri AO (Co-Founder)

Stephen is Professor of Metabolic Health, Director of the Boden Collaboration of Obesity, Nutrition, Exercise & Eating Disorders, and Solutions Domain Leader at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Centre. He is a medical specialist in diabetes and has worked in public and private health systems and universities. He advises the World Health Organisation, sits on the Health Minister’s National Diabetes Advisory Group and is a Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation. Stephen has a granddaughter with arthritis.

Tanya Dmitronow (Director)

Tanya recently returned to Australia with her husband and three children after nearly twenty years in New York and London. She was a partner at a leading New York law firm where she specialised in shareholder litigation, regulatory investigations and corporate governance. Tanya advised some of the largest public companies and
board directors in the healthcare, technology and financial-services sectors. She graduated from Bond University and New York University where she was a Fulbright Scholar. Tanya has navigated both the US and Australian health systems with her young child with arthritis.

Arti Brown (Director)

Arti has over 20 years of experience in public policy and advocacy, regulatory affairs, governance, risk management and organisational design. Having worked across mining, telecommunications and more recently, finance, Arti currently drives Line 1 Risk Strategy, Governance and Operations as a General Manager at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. Arti is a graduate of the University of Sydney, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Chief Executive Women. Arti has a daughter with Juvenile Arthritis.

Staff

Angela McKay (CEO)

Angela joined JAFA in late 2020. She has more than 20 years’ senior leadership experience spanning both the private and not-for-profit sectors. She has a wealth of experience in the area of disease-specific non-profits for children, having spent eight years as COO of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation Australia prior to joining JAFA.

Benjamin Laxton (IT Lead)

Ben joined JAFA in June 2021, bringing with him extensive experience and expertise in digital technology and communication in the private sector, the public health system and health non-profits.

Medical and Scientific Panel

JAFA is fortunate to have access to continuing advice and guidance on medical and scientific matters from four of Australia’s most prominent and highly respected paediatric rheumatology clinicians and researchers, and a rising ophthalmologist in the field of uveitis:

 

 

  • Dr Jeffrey Chaitow (Chair), Head, Paediatric Rheumatology, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
 
  • A/Professor Jane Munro, Paediatric Rheumatologist, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne

 
  • Professor Davinder Singh-Grewal, Paediatric Rheumatologist, SCHN

 
  • Dr Ben Whitehead, Director Paediatric Rheumatology, Queensland Children’s Hospital
 
  • Dr Sophia Zagora, Ophthalmologist and Uveitis Specialist, The University of Sydney

Pro bono support

JAFA is grateful for the following valuable pro bono contributions:
LEGAL AND GOVERNANCE
  • Garry Beath, MinterEllison, Sydney

 
 
MEDIA AND PUBLICITY
  • Felicity Moffatt, Founder and Principal MD Media

 
 
SOCIAL MEDIA AND DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY
  • Dr Shilo McClean and James Murty, experts in their field and parents of a child with arthritis

 
 
HEALTH POLICY
  • Associate Professor Christine Giles, Menzies Centre for Health Policy, The University of Sydney

 
 
STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
  • Lisa McDermott, Director EngageComms

Friends and allies

JAFA liaises closely with other existing national and state based arthritis not-for-profit organisations and has a strong and growing network of highly reputable friends and allies:

 

 

  • The Australian Paediatric Rheumatology Group (APRG) – the professional association of medical specialists treating and researching juvenile arthritis. JAFA values its relationship with and the ongoing support of the APRG and its individual members and relies heavily on its input to JAFA’s policies and positions on clinical health care and research issues.

 

  • The Uveitis Special Interest Group of the Royal Australia & New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists – the medical specialists treating juvenile arthritis eye disease. Members of the uveitis group have been unfailingly helpful and supportive of JAFA in all its attempts to raise awareness of juvenile arthritis and the need for improved access to medicines and services.

 

  • The (Federal) Parliamentary Friends of Child and Adolescent Health – co-chaired by Dr Mike Freelander (Member for Macarthur) and Dr Katie Allen (Member for Higgins). The support of the Co-Chairs has been central to the success of JAFA’s efforts to raise political awareness about juvenile arthritis.

 

Volunteers

JAFA is eternally grateful to the dedicated band of parent volunteers who have given their unwavering support since its inception. 

 

JAFA would not have flourished without their energy, input and conviction that change is possible.

 

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