Meet the 2025 Leadership Cohort

The Melbourne Poche Indigenous Health Leadership Program aims to elevate and progress Indigenous leadership in health by fusing Indigenous knowledges and values, with political and social theories to develop Fellows’ confidence, self-efficacy, motivation and sense of purpose.

It's an exciting opportunity to explore leadership potential, affect change in Indigenous health and expand ideas on leadership and networking. This year, we welcome ten new Fellows to the program.

Tracey Brand

Tracey is an Eastern Arrernte and Arabana woman born and raised on Mparntwe country (Alice Springs), now living and working on Noongar Boodjar in Perth. Tracey is the Deputy Executive Director with the Coalition of Peaks.

Steph Thow-tapp

Steph is a Pennemuker and Ngati Porou woman, and Executive Manager of Aboriginal Health Promotion at VACCHO.

Jessie Barnes-Hill

Jessie is a proud Wiradjuri woman, with family originating from Trangie in NSW, and for the past 27 years, has been living and working on Yorta Yorta Country (Shepparton).  Jessie is the Project Coordinator in the First Nations Health team at the Department of Rural Health, University of Melbourne.

Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse

Khwanruethai is a proud Wiradjuri, Ngemba Wayilwan, and Thai PhD candidate at Yardhura Walani, Australian National University. Their research focuses on improving the cultural safety of cancer care for LGBTQIA+ First Nations peoples, particularly in cervical screening.

Bernard Kelly-Edwards

Bernard is a Gumbaynggirr, Dhunghutti, Bungalung Man residing in the Gumbaynggirr Nation. Bernard is a creative artist and interpreter of cultural understanding, and a Cultural Advisor at the University of Melbourne.

Sharon Mongta

Sharon is a proud Monero Ngarigo woman. She is an Aboriginal Case Manager at Wadja Aboriginal Family Place and is part of the teaching team in the Master of Social Work Indigenous Peoples subject based at the University of Melbourne.

Shannon Tobler-Williams

Shannon is a Gweagal Dharawal Dunghutti woman from the Aboriginal Communities of La Perouse and Wreck Bay and share the same strong family lineage to the Aboriginal Community of Bellbrook. Shannon is the Education Support Manager (Indigenous) within the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of New South Wales.

Dan Carter

Dan was born in Gimuy and raised, living and working in Naarm. He has worked in Indigenous Health for 15 years and is the Chief Aboriginal Health Adviser at Monash Health.

Nakkari Smith

Nakkari is a Mununjarli, Bundjalung woman from Beaudesert, Southeast Queensland on her mother’s side and has Bajan (Barbadian) heritage on her father’s side. She is the A/g Strategic Engagement Manager at the Australian Digital Health Agency.

Maddie Hudson-Buhagiar

Maddie is a proud Wiradjuri woman. She grew up on Bundjalung Country and has lived on Wurundjeri Country for the past 11 years. Maddie is a clinical psychologist, working alongside adult community members at the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) in Preston. She is also a Senior Lecturer in the Wurru Wurru Health Unit at the University of Melbourne.

Find out more

Explore the program in more detail with the Program overview

If you would like to be part of the next cohort, express your interest in the 2026 program.