Meet our board
ASHM prides itself on a diverse board with representatives from various states and territories, as well as New Zealand. Read our board members’ biographies and learn about their collective experience and skills. The ASHM Board is an independent board of non-executive directors. Rules for nomination and elections of its directors, together with their powers are contained within ASHM’s Constitution.
Dr Nicholas Medland (VIC) is the ASHM President, a senior researcher and NHMRC research fellow with the Surveillance, Evaluation and Research Program of the Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales. He is a sexual health physician and specialises in addressing important public health questions using large data sets. Dr Medland has extensive clinical experience in HIV and sexual health medicine, has worked in international/regional HIV programs in Asia, and chaired the ASHM COVID-19 Asia Pacific Regional Advisory Group in 2020.
Penny Kenchington (QLD) is the ASHM Vice President and a Sexual Health Nurse Practitioner with extensive knowledge in BBV nursing, reproductive health, genital dermatology, and forensic nursing. Penny sits on multiple committees and subcommittees at ASHM, and she is committed to lobbying for fairer sexual and reproductive health care in rural and regional communities.
Dr James McMahon (VIC) is the ASHM Vice President and a highly experienced Infectious Diseases clinician and researcher. He is the Head of Infectious Diseases Clinical Research at the Alfred Hospital and an ID physician at Monash Medical Centre. His research focuses on clinical trials aimed at HIV cure, HIV treatment, the cascade of HIV care and COVID-19.
Dr Sam Elliott (SA) is a specialist General Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in rural and urban General Practice, and over the past 22 years, he has worked in HIV, viral hepatitis and sexual health medicine. Dr Elliott is an active educator and supervisor who is dedicated to primary care research.
Prof Charles Gilks is a renowned HIV/AIDS expert with over 30 years of experience in the field. He conducted formative trials of disease prophylaxis and antiretroviral therapy, led treatment and prevention scale-up, generated all treatment and prevention guidelines for resource-limited settings, and published the landmark Lancet modelling study that sparked Treatment as Prevention. He is currently the Head of the School of Public Health at The University of Queensland and the first Queensland Professorial chair of HIV and STls.
Dr Rupert Handy (NZ) is an Infectious Diseases Physician with expertise in HIV medicine, infections of the immunocompromised host, and antimicrobial stewardship. Rupert is a member of several professional organisations and currently serves as a member of ASHM’s Guidelines Sub-Committee.
Robert Monaghan (NSW) is the Managing Director of Monaghan Dreaming, a 100% Aboriginal-owned consultancy firm. He is of Bundjalung and Gumbaynggir descent and has worked within the health sector for 25 years. He is currently involved in research projects at UNSW Kirby Institute and has a Master of Public Health and a PhD in Novel initiatives to enhance Indigenous people’s engagement in health services. With his diverse range of lived experiences and a passion for equality for Aboriginal people and culture, Robert brings innovation, management, research, and technical expertise to his role on the ASHM board.
Dr Jason Ong (VIC) is a sexual health physician and academic with joint appointments at Monash University, University of Melbourne, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Dr Ong is committed to ensuring access to comprehensive sexual health services to all who need it through his research in Australia, China, and sub-Saharan Africa. He also holds committee commitments with various organizations and is the Special Issues Editor for Sexual Health and an Associate Editor for BMJ’s Sexually Transmitted Infections and BMC Infectious Diseases.
Dr Catriona Ooi (NSW) is a sexual health physician and staff specialist at Royal North Shore Hospital. Her work focuses on sexual health medicine, including HIV, STIs, viral hepatitis, and transgender care. She is also a Senior Lecturer with the University of Sydney Medical School, has contributed to textbooks in sexual health medicine, and has an interest in education and furthering the engagement of primary care professionals in the field of HIV and sexual health.
Dr Jacqui Richmond is a registered nurse with 20+ years of experience in viral hepatitis. She’s the National Workforce Development and Health Service Delivery Project Manager for the Eliminate hepatitis C Australia partnership at the Burnet Institute, building the health workforce’s capacity to test, treat, and manage viral hepatitis patients. Jacqui is also the Chair of the ASHM Nursing Board Committee, a member of the hepatitis B Board Committee, and teaches in the ASHM hepatitis B and C nursing courses.