Dr Tess Evans is a Specialist Intensivist at Royal Melbourne Hospital Intensive Care Unit, with specific expertise in clinical metagenomics of critically ill patients; an Early Career Researcher; a mid-candidature PhD candidate at the University of Western Australia and a Senior Clinical Lecturer at the University of Melbourne. After obtaining first class honours in her undergraduate degree (microbiology) she was awarded the MBBS Honours Prize. As a junior registrar, she sourced three seed grants (Spinnaker Health Research Foundation) and led the establishment of Prospective Observational Embedded Microbiome Study (POEMS): a live study platform which has leveraged usual care to amass more than 6000 admission and discharge microbiome samples to date from ICU patients at Fiona Stanley Hospital, Perth. As the largest known ICU microbiome biobank, the study has -within 2 years - attracted 400k (McCusker Foundation) to establish a high-throughput sequencing pipeline for translational science. Dr Evans' track record is far beyond her peers relative to opportunity, demonstrating multifaceted skills. She has been an invited national (ANZICS ASM 2023, CICM ASM 2024, Heidi forum 2024) and international (Critical Care Asia-Africa Datathon 2022) guest speaker. She has fostered collaborations across the country during her clinical time at Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, now an Honorary Research Fellow with the University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research and most recently in the post of Clinical Microbiome Research Fellow at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, developing key translational pathways and trials for novel applications of FMT. Dr Evans is a passionate leader, mentor, and educator: a state Trainee representative; research skills tutor at the University of Notre Dame; and supervisor two BSc Honours and an MD student - all with Q1 publications.

Dr Jessica Green MBBS MPM FRANZCP Cert Psychotherapy PhD is a Consultant Psychiatrist currently working in functional gut disorders at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne and youth mental health at Barwon Health. She has a sub-specialisation in structured psychotherapies, and provides gut-focused CBT to clients with Disorders of the Gut Brain Interaction. Dr Green also holds academic appointments as a Senior Research Fellow at Deakin University, and a clinical academic at Barwon Health. Her research is primarily focused on the gut-brain-axis. She led a trial investigating the use of Faecal Microbiota Transplants (FMT) for Major Depressive Disorder, and is a current investigator on two further trials of FMT (for Long COVID, and chronic pelvic pain). Dr Green is passionate about delivering holistic psychiatric care and conducting clinical research into novel treatments for mental health conditions.

Michelle Sy graduated from Curtin University in Western Australia with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Michelle has over eight years of experience working in the Endoscopy Unit at the Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospital Group. Fiona Stanley Hospital is one of the tertiary teaching hospitals in Perth, Western Australia. She began her career as a graduate nurse in general medicine. Then transitioned from the fast-paced wards to becoming a specialist in gastrointestinal care. The move to endoscopy was initially inspired by a desire for a better work-life balance and a way to avoid working night shifts. On call shifts was not overtly mentioned when she initially started working in endoscopy. Not long after starting in the endoscopy unit, Michelle soon discovered a genuine passion for the technical precision of endoscopic procedures. She particularly enjoys the challenging aspect of interventional gastroenterology procedures, such as ERCP and ESD. Michelle is committed to delivering world-class care within the WA health system, ensuring that every patient at FSFHG receives both technical excellence and compassionate care.

Shane Winzar is the Director of Strategic Programs at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood, which includes overall oversight of the Microbiome (FMT) program. A scientist by trade and with three decades’ experience in the regulated biologicals sector, Shane has, and continues to, successfully lead multidisciplinary teams and major projects, including operationalising ARTG-listed biologicals. Shane brings deep expertise in the production, testing and project management of blood components, starting materials for cell therapies, donated human tissue, human donor milk, and faecal transplants. As a TGA-listed Production Nominee for multiple licenses, Shane is skilled in managing unique cellular environments and navigating the complexities of biological therapeutics to meet the healthcare needs of Australian patients.