Strategic Advisory Board


  • Professor Sandra Eades AO

    Chair, Strategic Advisory Board

  • Paul Stewart

    Strategic Advisory Board Member

  • Janine Coombs

    Strategic Advisory Board Member

  • Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Paine

    Strategic Advisory Board Member

  • Britt Walker

    Poche family representative and Strategic Advisory Board Member

    • Professor Sandra Eades AO

    Deputy Dean, Indigenous and Rowden White Chair in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, and Chair of the Strategic Advisory Board, Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health

    Professor Sandra Eades AO (BMed, PhD, FAHMS) is Deputy Dean Indigenous and Rowden White Chair in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Sandra is a Noongar woman from Mount Barker, WA, and is a recognised leader in Aboriginal health. Sandra was Australia’s first Indigenous person trained in medicine to be awarded a PhD. Professor Eades is an Initiating Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

    Professor Eades’ awards and recognition include the Lowitja Institute Inaugural Award for Leadership in Aboriginal health research (2015), the Medical Journal of Australia Research Publication Award (2013), and the NSW Public Health Association award (2007). In 2006 she was named the NSW Woman of the Year in recognition of her research contributions to Aboriginal communities, and in 2014 was recognised as one of 100 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women living or deceased who have contributed positively to their communities in the Centenary of International Women’s Day.

    Paul Stewart

    CEO, Lowitja Institute and Member of the Strategic Advisory Board

    Paul Stewart is a proud Taungurung man from central Victoria. He has 20 years’ experience working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, Aboriginal employment, sport and education, and has extensive experience in community engagement.

    Paul holds a Master of Public Health and has been a Research Fellow at the University of Melbourne. More recently, Paul held leadership roles with Cricket Australia and as Assistant Director at Rail Projects Victoria.

    Janine Coombs

    BGLC Aboriginal Corporation, Cultural Advisor and Member of the Strategic Advisory Board

    Janine Coombs is a Wotjoboluk woman, Cultural Advisor at the Barengi Gadjin Land Council (BGLC).

    Associate Professor Sarah-Jane Paine

    Research Director, Growing Up in New Zealand and Member of the Strategic Advisory Board

    Sarah-Jane is an Associate Professor in Māori Health at Te Kupenga Hauora Māori (the University of Auckland) and the Research Director of the Growing Up in New Zealand longitudinal study - Aotearoa’s largest contemporary cohort study following the lives of more than 6,000 children since before they were born. She holds science degrees from the University of Otago and a PhD in Public Health from Massey University. Sarah-Jane is a an experienced Kaupapa Māori health researcher and epidemiologist who has led several projects investigating ethnic inequities in health and the determinants of health across the life course. She is member of several research advisory and governance groups including the Health Research Council of New Zealand Māori Health Committee, the National Trauma Registry Data Governance Group, the NHS Race and Health Observatory International Experts Group and the Lancet Commission on Racism and Child Health. Sarah-Jane is also an experienced teacher, supervisor and mentor of Indigenous students and early career researchers/academics.

    Britt Walker

    Poche family representative and Member of the Strategic Advisory Board

We appreciate the contributions and support of previous Board Members and Governance Fellows

  • Bobby Maher, Melbourne Poche Indigenous Health Leadership Alumni and Strategic Advisory Board Governance Fellow (2024)
  • Professor Fiona Stanley AC, Leading Australian epidemiologist and child and maternal health researcher (2018-2022)
  • Professor Papaarangi Reid, Tumuaki and Head of Department of Maori Health at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, New Zealand (2015 - 2024)
  • Uncle Kevin Coombs OAM PLY, Wotjobaluk Elder and cultural advisor (2015 - 2020)
    Vale Uncle Kevin (1941-2023)
  • Emeritus Professor Glenn Bowes, Chair of the Strategic Advisory Board (2015-2022)
    Vale Glenn (1948-2025)
  • Reg Richardson AM, Co-founder of Poche Indigenous Health Network (2015 - 2020)

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