Janelle Bowden, PhD, is a scientist by training and has 20+ years of experience working in and around clinical trial operations in Australia and overseas, for sponsors, sites, and as a consultant. Janelle has a passion for greater consumer participation and involvement in research, and improving the trial participant's experience. Janelle's social enterprise, AccessCR, provides services to organisations involved in the research sector to support clinical trials and improve patient engagement in research. This work funds our activities to support, build capacity in, connect and advocate for the needs of people looking for, taking part in and contributing to medical research and clinical trials - the Community and Consumer Research Workforce (CCReW).

David Young - Cancer Consumer Advocate and Educator David has been working as a Cancer Advocate since 2013 after being diagnosed with WM, a rare form of incurable Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2012. He works with the Cancer Council, NSW Cancer Institute, The Leukaemia Foundation, Lymphoma Australia, Cancer Australia, Cancer Voices NSW and other regional, state and national cancer organisations. As a cancer consumer advocate his advice has extended to policy development, training programs, web functionality and content, patient guidelines, survey design and content, ethical guidelines and the like. He is currently Head of WMozzies (the Australian patient support organization for WM in Australia) and in this capacity co-moderates a national online support group for WM patients and has worked as a consumer advocate on the national Optimal Care Pathway for WM. David sits on The NSWCI Community Advisory Panel, The LF Consumer Engagement Group and is a member of Health Consumers NSW and Consumer Health Forum of Australia. In 2021 David was officially recognised by the NSW Parliament Legislative Assembly for his work as a passionate Cancer Advocate and Educator David has also instigated the setup of 3 cancer support groups in the Northern Rivers of NSW with the support of The Cancer Council. He has co facilitated and managed the Byron Bay group for 7 years and he co facilitated the Ballina group for 4 years. He now sits on a regional cancer advocacy committee and has worked with the regional PHN and NNSWLHD as a consumer advisor.

ANZMUSC : Musculoskeletal Clinical Trials Network CONSUMER ADVISORY GROUP – ANNIE MCPHERSON - profile April, 2024 Annie McPherson, has been living with the Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) for over 55 years. This inflammatory arthritis condition affects her mobility and flexibility including her back, neck and peripheral joints. After complications from her AS, related osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, Annie was forced to retire aged 47 years. In 2005, Annie co-founded with like-minded patients, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Victoria Inc. peer support group and remains President. Annie has been a consumer representative with the ANZMUSC network for over 7 years. She is passionate about health advocacy, awareness and supporting people with Axial Spondyloarthritis (ax-SpA). She has been involved in health consumer representative, advocacy work, medical student education and research within the Musculoskeletal community in Australia for over 15 years. Including as a consumer representative on local and international health advisory committees, projects and seminar presentations for over 10 years.

Saba came to Australia to complete her Ph.D in Biomedical Sciences at Charles Sturt University with her young family in late 2011 and since then Wagga Wagga has become her permanent home. Living in a regional town has helped her in raising her family beautifully. To avoid social isolation and homesickness, she volunteered heavily in her local community and her efforts were recognized, regionally and nationally. She was the first international student to be elected on the University Council, winner of the 2014 NSW International Student of the Year Awards in the Higher Education category, Finalist at 2014 CROW Awards in the category “Young Professional Award” Business Chamber, NEMBC National Ethnic Broadcasters eChamp, Finalist in 2020 and 2022 India and Australia Business and Community Achievement Awards, Finalist in 2020 and 2021 NSW & ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards, 100 Australian Financial Review’s 2018 Women of Influence Awardee in the local and regional category. In 2019 she was the Riverina Volunteer of the Year Award winner and in 2020 induced in NSW Hidden Treasurer’s Honours Roll. In 2021, she was the recipient of one of NSW Rural Women Scholarship winner and was the International Alumni of the Year Finalist at 2021 Pie Awards representing Australian International Education sector. In 2022 she was selected as regional representative on NSW Volunteer Taskforce. 2023 was a special year for her as she was honoured with Medal of Order of Australia on King’s birthday for her exceptional service to community health, education and multicultural affairs and was inducted in COVID-19 Honour roll as well. She was also selected as an Australian delegate at Australia India Youth Dialogue visiting India to take part in the Dialogue. Based in Wagga, some of her volunteer roles including member of Regional Advisory Council (RAC) with Multicultural NSW, AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador, Riverina Councillor at NSW PandC Federation, Australia Day committee member, health consumer advocates on Health Boards, community representative on NSW Volunteering Taskforce, consumer representative on ACI Maternity and Neonatal Network, Board members at ethnic Boards, Member of the Wagga Wagga Electorate Women's Advisory Group, Publicity Officer at Wagga CWA branch and most recently she was appointed a Board member at Multicultural NSW, the only regional representative on the Board. As a health professional and a community driven person, she easily connects with people from CALD background and become the voice of the unheard in the governance and decision-making process. Her journey from an international student to a healthcare professional in Australia wasn’t easy but she was consistent in her approach. She always believes in hard work and determination and understand that failures are the pillars of success. She never changed herself for the sake of others or tried stepping in the shoes of others. She craves her own path. Her mantra in life is “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Keep trying and success will be yours.” She found volunteering is a way to engage locally and understanding different culture and traditions.

Trang is a purpose driven people-focused leader. A background in marketing and communications in Technology and Electrical as well leading NFP Boards has been built around her dynamic personal style and her deep commitment to building long-lasting relationships with clients, stakeholders and teams. Trang is a mum of 2, of which her youngest is currently participating in a clinical trial.