6th Australasian Occupational Science Symposium
6-7 December, 2012
Ann Harding Centre, University of Canberra
Bruce, ACT, Australia
Introducing the speakers
Professor Anthony Capon
Professor Anthony Capon is the head of the Discipline of Public Health in the Faculty of Health at the University of
Canberra. He is a public health physician with expertise in health promotion and environmental health. His
research focuses on urban health and sustainability and he is currently working with the International Council for
Science (ICSU) to develop a new global interdisciplinary science program on systems approaches to health and
wellbeing in the changing urban environment. Tony has held NHMRC and WHO fellowships and has extensive
experience in public health leadership positions in Australia and internationally.
Professor Gail Whiteford
Professor Gail Whiteford is Pro Vice Chancellor (Social Inclusion) at Macquarie University. Within this role she is
responsible for Equity and Diversity; for outreach programs in rural, indigenous, refugee and disadvantaged
communities; indigenous strategy and also oversees international development projects. She has been an invited
facilitator on two EU programs respectively in Bulgaria and Turkey, and has given keynote and invited
presentations in 13 countries. She was honoured by the Canadian Occupational Therapy Association with an award
for outstanding international contribution and last year received a national award for her contribution to social
cohesion by the Affinity Intercultural Foundation.
Gail’s recent initiatives include the development of the Building Inclusive Communities Awards in conjunction with
the Ethnic Communities Council which are presented at NSW Parliament, and a mentoring program for refugee
and CALD students with SBS. She has numerous publications to her credit and her new book Occupational Science:
Society, Participation and Inclusion was launched by the SA state Minister for Social Inclusion in 2012.
Dr Andrew Leigh
A father of two sons, Sebastian and Theodore, Andrew lives with his wife Gweneth in Hackett. Prior to being
elected in 2010 as the federal member for Fraser, Andrew was a professor of economics at the Australian National
University. Andrew has written extensively on a range of subjects, including education, taxation and social policy.
He also writes regularly for the Australian press. Andrew holds a PhD in public policy from Harvard, having
graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours in Law and Arts. He has previously worked as a
lawyer (including a stint as associate to former High Court Justice Michael Kirby), and as a principal adviser to the
Australian Treasury.
Andrew is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, and in 2011 received the 'Young Economist
Award', a prize given every two years by the Economics Society of Australia to the best Australian economist under
40. Andrew has been a member of the Australian Labor Party since 1991. When not in the office, Andrew enjoys
spending time with Gweneth and the boys. His favourite activities include jogging around the lake with Theodore
in the stroller, and taking Sebastian along to play soccer.
Dr Paul Tranter
Paul is an Associate Professor in geography in the School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences at
UNSW Canberra (the Australian Defence Force Academy), where he has been the recipient of three teaching
awards. His research and teaching interests are in the areas of transport geography and global change. Paul has
made a pioneering contribution to the academic literature in areas of child friendly environments, active transport
and healthy and sustainable cities. He has forged new areas of research by combining hitherto unlinked research
topics (e.g. children’s rights and peak oil), or by applying innovative concepts to urban transport (e.g. “effective
speed”, a concept that considers the total time costs associated with any mode of transport). An important theme
in his research is how child-friendly environments can make cities more resilient in the face of challenges such as
energy stress. This issue is examined in a recent book Paul co-authored with Claire Freeman – Children and Their
Urban Environment: Changing Worlds.
Associate Professor Susan Thompson
Associate Professor Susan Thompson has worked as a planner in Australia for over 30 years. She joined the
University of NSW in 1991 after holding positions in both state and local government. Susan is currently Director of
the Healthy Built Environments Program which focuses on planning, designing and building environments that
support people’s health and well-being as part of everyday life. Susan was Head, Planning and Urban Development
Program (2005-2008) and Presiding Member of Faculty (1999-2003). She has made significant contributions to the
continuing professional education program of the Faculty and the development of qualitative methods in built
environment research. She has also had key roles in establishing a mentoring scheme in the Faculty and greater
cultural awareness in classroom practices and curriculum development. As Head of the Planning Program she
initiated a Student Advisory Committee, a mentoring scheme for year one students and directed the 40 th
anniversary celebrations for the Planning Degree in 2006. Susan continues to maintain strong links with the
profession, bringing currency to both research and teaching. She is a frequent contributor to professional practice
forums on different issues including healthy urban planning, cultural diversity and community safety. Her
contributions have had significant impacts in urban planning policy, tertiary education, professional development
and the advancement of closer links between the disciplines of urban planning and health.
Penelope Coombes
Penelope has over 50 years of rich and rewarding experience as an occupational therapist in clinical, leadership
and academic roles. She is Founder and Managing Director of The People for Places and Spaces (PPS) – a specialist
consultancy undertaking complex and politically sensitive place-based major change projects throughout Australia
and in New Zealand, Asia, Europe and USA for private and voluntary sector and all levels of government, including
the United Nations and WHO. PPS consultancies are people-centred, with a focus on enhancing quality of life.
They help to guide cities, towns, neighbourhoods, parks, streets, health facilities, cultural and civic centres to
realise their potential as healthy and people-centred places that offer a high quality of life to all who use them.
Prior to founding PPS, Penelope was Head, School of Occupational Therapy, Cumberland College (now University
of Sydney). Penelope trained as an occupational therapist in Sydney and the United States where a Fulbright
Scholarship and WHO Fellowship enabled her to study at centres of excellence in the United States and the United
Kingdom. She holds a Master of Health Professional Education (Organisational Change), is a Fellow of the
Australian Institute of Management, and is a member of the International Downtown Association, USA, and the
International Association of Public Participation. She is currently a Board Member, Australian Institute of Urban
Studies (NSW). Penelope is happily married to Warwick Coombes, a Psychiatrist.
For more information:
Click on this link http://www.otaus.com.au/professionaldevelopment/event/sixth-australasian-occupationalscience-symposium
or contact alison.wicks@canberra.edu.au
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