THANK YOU, Associate Professor Deanne Riddington
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Associate Professor Deanne Riddington as she steps down from the Her Heart Board, following her dedicated service as a Director and Deputy Chair.
Deanne has brought considerable experience, wisdom and commitment to Her Heart. Her distinguished career spanning more than 30 years in nursing, healthcare education and leadership reflects her dedication to improving health outcomes and creating opportunities for others, including supporting Aboriginal nurses.
I am deeply grateful for the time, expertise and care Deanne has given to Her Heart and our mission to improve the heart health of Australian women.
Deanne, thank you for being an important part of the Her Heart journey and for your contribution to our organisation and the wider health community.
I wish you every success and happiness in this next chapter.
– ❤️ Professor Linda Worrall-Carter
Our Board
Her Heart has an outstanding board of directors with diverse skills, experience and drive, to make heart disease in women a thing of the past.
Professor Linda Worrall-Carter
Founder and CEO
Professor Linda Worrall-Carter is a recognised world leader in the field of cardiovascular disease in women. Prior to establishing Her Heart she held academic positions and was the Inaugural Director of 3 research centres. During that time, she was successful with over 8 million dollars in government funding and authored more than 100 publications. However, Linda felt strongly that research alone would not save women’s lives, reduce the economic and societal burden on the Australian healthcare system, nor drive changes in attitude and behaviour. Recognising that a different approach was needed, Linda established Her Heart in order to drive change through creating awareness of heart disease, educating and empowering women with knowledge so they can learn more about how to initiate change.
Professor Patricia Davidson
Chair & Director
She is Vice Chancellor’s Distinguished Fellow and Co-Director of the International Centre for Future Health Systems at UNSW Sydney. Previously, she served as Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Wollongong and Dean of the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing.
Professor John Beltrame
Director
Professor John Beltrame is a Senior Consultant Cardiologist with clinical, research and teaching roles. He is the Michell Professor in Medicine and the Discipline of Medicine Lead at the University of Adelaide, as well as the Director of Research for the Central Adelaide Local Health Network. He has strong clinical and research interests in coronary heart disease, particularly in relation to coronary artery spasm and coronary microvascular dysfunction, which especially afflicts women. Professor Beltrame also co-founded and co-chairs COVADIS (Coronary Vasomotion Disorders International Study group).
Our Advisors
Our advisors bring distinct areas of expertise and provide crucial strategic advice for Her Heart.
Cardiology Advisers
Dr Noel Bairey Merz MD
Appointed 2015
Dr. Bairey-Merz is Professor of Medicine and holds the Women’s Guild Chair in Women’s Health. She is also the director of both the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center and the Preventive and Rehabilitative Cardiac Center at Cedars-Sinai’s Heart Institute in Los Angeles. She is a pioneer in the study of women’s heart health and preventive cardiology, and a global authority on women’s heart health.
Dr. Karen Phillips
Advisor
Dr Karen Phillips is a Specialist Cardiologist and one of the leaders of AF Interventional procedures in Australia, including performing Catheter Ablation for AF and implantation of Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Devices for stroke prevention. Dr Phillips underwent specialised training at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic America’s Number One rated Cardiac Hospital in the procedures in 2006-2007 under the mentorship of Dr Andrea Natale a recognised world leader in AF Ablation.
Since 2008 she has established one of the largest single-operator AF ablation services in Australia at Greenslopes Private Hospital with published results and complication rates on par with recognised centres of excellence in Australia and world-wide.
Dr Karen Phillips is the leading user of Intracardiac echocardiography in Australia and has helped pioneer its application to Interventional Cardiology and Electrophysiology procedures in Australia. Furthermore, she is a leading implanter and clinical researcher of left atrial appendage occluder device for stroke prevention in Australasia.
A/Prof. Monique Watts (MBBS BMedSci)
A/Prof. Monique Watts is a Melbourne based cardiologist who trained in advanced heart failure and cardiac transplantation at the Alfred Hospital. A/Prof. Watts developed an interest in Women’s Cardiology after collaborating with international colleagues about complex cases involving conditions which disproportionately affect women. She has worked with the Alfred Cardiology Department to establish Victoria’s first Women’s Heart Clinic at the Alfred and is a passionate champion of Women’s Heart Health
Prof. Aziz Rahman
Professor Rahman is an experienced academic, a medical doctor, and a public health professional. He has worked in public health research and teaching for over 20 years in Australian and international settings. He has published 200+ papers with 130,000+ citations and has contributed to the funding success of over $13 million. He has extensive international research collaborations and has successfully led several multi-country research projects with significant outputs. He has been ranked consistently amongst the world’s top 2% scientists for the last five years (2020-24). He is currently working as the Professor of Public Health and Associate Dean of Research at the Institute of Health and Wellbeing at Federation University Australia. He is also the Vice President of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA). He has been working as the Research Adviser for Her Heart since the beginning of its journey.
Business & Other Advisors
Dr. Susan Alberti AC
Appointed 2017
Dr. Alberti is one of Australia’s pre-eminent philanthropists, having donated millions of dollars to medical research and other charitable causes over her successful business career. She is a role model and mentor to many young women and recognised for her long and outstanding contribution to medical research institutions. In 2016, Susan was awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia, Melbournian of the Year in 2017 and Victorian of the Year in 2018 in recognition of her eminent service.
James Hutton
Advisor and former Director and Deputy Chair
James Hutton is a partner with MinterEllison and has practiced for over 25 years in corporate and commercial law. MinterEllison provides Her Heart with pro bono legal advice and assistance under its partnerships program and as part of its purpose to create lasting impacts with its clients, people and communities. James was an Inaugural Board member & Director from 2015-2020 and has also previously held the position as Deputy Chair.
Cassandra Kelly AM
Advisor and former Chair & Director
Cassandra Kelly AM is a global thought leader, speaker and coach to corporate and political leaders and Chair of the Treasury Corporation of Victoria. She previously co‑founded The Glass Elevator, an initiative that connects, engages and inspires women in industry and government. Cassandra was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours List. Cassandra has previously held the position as Chair of the Her Heart Board and an Advisor since 2016.
Bill Stavreski
Advisor
Bill is a health economist and has worked in cardiovascular and public health for over 20 years across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors. Bill’s previous roles have included leading medical research funding programs, delivery of clinical and lifestyle programs, clinical and nutrition guidelines, and health and well-being governance programs. For over a decade, Bill has led campaign and research funding programs toward improving women’s cardiovascular health and eliminating the disparities in treatment and health outcomes. Since late 2021 Bill has worked with Her Heart and together with Dr. Worrall-Carter, Bill designed the world’s first women-only cardiovascular risk tool.
Carolina Fitzpatrick
Advisor
Carolina brings over 30 years of experience across the corporate, charity, and health not-for-profit sectors, with deep expertise in community engagement, strategic partnerships, and women’s health. With a proven track record in delivering high impact campaigns and events her work has supported major health initiatives. improves access to vital medical equipment, and raised significant funds for leading hospitals and charities. Recognised by health and community leaders, Carolina is passionate about creating meaningful change and building connections that drive results.
Aunty (Dr.) Vicki Wade
Advisor
Aunty Vicki is a proud Bibelem, Koreng and Menang Aboriginal woman, her traditional lands spread across the southwest of Western Australia. Aunty Vicki has been working in heart health for over 45 years she started out as a Clinical Nurse Consultant in Cardiology. Aunty Vicki is an Associate Professor at Menzies School of health research based in Darwin where she is the First Nations Senior Research Fellow. She has held many senior positions at a state and national level including an Area Manager of Aboriginal health, Manager of Aboriginal Vascular health across NSW, First Nations lead in the Heart foundation and director of RHDA. Aunty Vicki has influenced and lead nationally First Nations policy, health delivery and research throughout her career. Aunty Vicki is driven by her passion to close the heart health gap for First Nations people in particular First Nations women.
She has received two prestigious awards for her efforts the Sidney Sax Medal where she was the first Aboriginal person to receive this and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand contribution to heart health cardiac award. Aunty Vicki has been on a number of National committees for her leadership and expertise in Rheumatic Heart Disease including the newly established Ministerial appointed Women’s CVD expert advisory committee. Aunty Vicki is a mother of 4 and Nanna to 11, she hopes that her efforts can help her grandchildren and their children experience a better life than she had free of racism, discrimination and equal health care.