PANEL

First Nations and dementia: A voice for spiritual and cultural well-being

BIO

Dr. Makarena Dudley, (Te Rarawa, Te Aupōuri, Ngati Kahu), is a Clinical Neuropsychologist and Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology at the University of Auckland. She has worked as a clinician for 20 years. She is currently involved in a number of research projects involving Māori, the Indigenous people of Aotearoa, and mate wareware (dementia). Her projects include the development of a Māori-appropriate diagnostic tool, a mate wareware website, and a mate wareware app. She is also leading the adaptation of Cognitive Stimulation Training to be culturally appropriate with Māori.

Makarena is passionate about working with kaumātua/pakeke (elders) to help minimise the impact of mate wareware in a rapidly growing older population.

Makarena also supervises Māori students who are conducting research in other areas of Māori health.

PLENARY

Changing the game: Minimising head trauma in sport

BIO

Dr. Chris Nowinski is a social entrepreneur leading a global conversation on concussions, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and the future of sports.

An All-Ivy Harvard football player-turned WWE professional wrestler-turned neuroscientist, Chris discovered the concussion crisis the hard way when a 2003 kick to the chin in a WWE match ended his promising career, causing post-concussion syndrome. At the time, Chris had already been the youngest Hardcore Champion in the history of the WWE and had been named 2002 Newcomer of the Year by WWE Magazine.

His experience was the spark that inspired Chris to commit his life to serving patients and families who share similar experiences and ensuring a safer future for the next generation of athletes. 

PANEL

Changing the game: Minimising head trauma in sport 

Tony Armstrong grew up in rural NSW and is a proud Gamilaroi man. He played AFL for Adelaide, Collingwood and Sydney, where he played alongside one of the Aboriginal men who inspired him as a child, Adam Goodes.

In 2019 Tony became the first Indigenous person to call live action Aussie Rules Football on commercial radio. He also appeared on the Marngrook Footy Show and became a regular panellist on the online panel show The Colour of Your Jumper. In 2020, Tony became the co-host of the Indigenous comedy football chat show Yokayi Footy for NITV, SBS On Demand and via the AFL channels. He then co-hosted ABC Melbourne breakfast radio with Sammy J. In the same year, he joined the ABC, presenting sport on the ABC News channel, commentating for Grandstand AFL on ABC Sport and hosting the 2020 summer series of Offsiders.

In 2021, the ABC announced Tony as the full-time sports presenter on News Breakfast and it was for his work on this show, that he won the Graham Kennedy Award for Most Popular New Talent at the 2022 Logies. His other television credits include comedy segments on The Weekly with Charlie Pickering and regular appearances as a panellist on The Project and Fox Footy.

As well as being a rising star in Australian sports media, Tony is a talented writer/creator and he is currently developing a slate of television projects.

PLENARY

Cooking up a storm for change at the aged care kitchen table

BIO

Maggie Beer is not just an Australian food icon, she’s an essential ingredient in any discussion about food and flavour. Of all the highlights of Maggie’s career, it was being named Senior Australian of the Year in 2010 that led her on a new pathway. After giving a keynote speech at an Annual Conference of Aged Care Homes, Maggie visited many Homes and saw in so many a desperate need for change in the food and dining experience in the aged sector.

In April 2014 Maggie established the Maggie Beer Foundation with a Board of Industry Leaders, Professors, and Health Advisors, all with the belief that beautiful, seasonal food that gives pleasure and goodness is the key to wellbeing of residents in Aged Care.

From the outset, the Foundation’s strategy has been to advocate, educate, facilitate research, and share the latest knowledge and skills required with the Cooks and Chefs who are able to do so much to change the lives of the residents in their care.

Maggie, with her Foundation, has conducted educational Masterclasses for Cooks and Chefs Australia-wide and since the first in 2015 have influenced over 350 cooks and chefs, and over 160 CEO’s and Managers.

In 2021, The Maggie Beer Foundation in partnership with Altura Learning concluded filming 11 online education modules for cooks and chefs working in aged care, which are due for release in late March 2022.

Maggie feels it is our responsibility as a society to ensure health and happiness for every older Australian and that flavourful, nutritious, seasonal foods that bring pleasure and joy are a key to quality of life.