OUR TEAM

We are a group of experienced doctors, local health workers and Aboriginal leaders who have been working alongside communities for decades on rheumatic heart disease. We are delivering the Deadly Heart Trek together with the Project Team which includes a mix of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and in consultation with communities.  Many within the project team have been working together for years.

Community Engagement and Cultural Advisors

VickiHeadShot

Vicki Wade

Aboriginal Cultural Advisor – National Lead

Geoffrey ‘Jacko’ Angeles headshot

Geoffrey ‘Jacko’ Angeles

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Officer – QLD Trek

thumbnail_image

Noeletta McKenzie

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Officer – NT Trek

Deadly Heart Trek Kellie Kerin - team page

Kellie Kerin

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Officer – Central Australia Trek

oeclipseDHT-22

Greg McAdam

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Officer – Central Australia Trek

Rose Deadly Heart Trek team

Rose Nean

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Engagement Officer – Central Australia Trek

Deadly Hearts Limited Board

VickiHeadShot

Vicki Wade

 Aboriginal Cultural Advisor
Co-Chair

Bo Remenyi

Dr Bo Remenyi

Paediatric Cardiologist, Northern Territory

dr rob justo

Dr Rob Justo

Paediatric Cardiologist, Queensland

IMG_0308

Dr Gavin Wheaton

Paediatric Cardiologist, South Australia

Georgina Byron Headshot 2022 (1)

Georgina Byron

CEO, The Snow Foundation 
Co-Chair

KarenIles-headshot

Karen Iles

VioletCo, Aboriginal social justice lawyer and advisor

The Senior Paediatric Cardiologists leading the delivery teams:

Bo Remenyi

Dr Bo Remenyi

NT lead & National co-lead

dr rob justo

Dr Rob Justo

QLD lead & National co-lead

IMG_0308

Dr Gavin Wheaton

Central / SA lead

Ben Reeves

Dr Ben Reeves

QLD

The Project Team 

Includes a mix of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people:

  •   All cardiologists listed above
  •   Vicki Wade – First Nations Cultural Advisor
  •   Georgina Byron (Chair) and team – The Snow Foundation, project management, resourcing, communications, PR
  •   Karen Iles – VioletCo, Aboriginal social justice lawyer advisor, risk mitigation
  •  RHD Control Programs for each state/territory
  •  The project team collaborates with Land Councils, AMS’s, peak affiliates 

QLD Delivery Team – September 2022

  •   Dr Ben Reeves – Cardiologist
  •   Dr Rob Justo – Cardiologist
  •   Dr Bo Remenyi – Cardiologist
  •   Dr Gavin Wheaton – Cardiologist
  •   Erin Ferguson – Paediatric Rheumatic Heart Disease CNC – Cairns Hospital
  •   Dr Erica West – Gidgee Healing
  •  Kylee Gibbons – Clinical Nurse – Queensland Children’s Hospital 
  •  Carl Francia – First Nations patient coordination – Prince Charles Hospital 
  •  Tania Cahill – RHD QLD Register and Control Program
  • Amy Richer – RHD QLD Register and Control Program
  • Carolyn Burley – Sonographer – Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Services
  • Dr Rosh Samuel – Paediatric Cardiologist – Townsville Hospital
  • Geoffrey ‘Jacko’ Angeles – First Nations Community Engagement Officer (QLD Trek)
  • Georgina Byron – The Snow Foundation

 

Central Australia Delivery Team – March 2023

Aboriginal Guides:

  • Vicki Wade
  • Kellie Kerin
  • Greg McAdam
  • Rose Nean

Cardiologists:

  • Dr Bo Remenyi
  • Dr Gavin Wheaton
  • Dr Ben Reeves
  • Dr Peter Riley
  • Dr Ida Whiteman
  • Dr Jackie Bellette
  • Dr Ari Horton

Sonographers:

  • Alex Kaethner
  • Sheena Foskett
  • Jacqui Williamson

Medical/Skin Checks

  • Dr Victoria Cox
  • Dr Eliza Kurth
  • Dr Sze Tay

Education and co-ordination

  • Georgina Byron
  • Melissa Van Leeuwen
  • Sally Grimsley-Ballard
  • Le Smit

 

Alice Springs – February 2024

  • Corinne Toune
  • Dr Ari Horton
  • Georgie Byron
  • Karen IIes
  • Vicki Wde
  • Roy Farmer
  • Ben Jones
  • Dr Ben Reeves
  • Dr Bo Remenyi
  • Hilary Hardefeldt
  • Gabrielle (Gaby) Nihill
  • DR Gavin Wheaton
  • Greg McAdam
  • James Dowler
  • Melissa Van Leeuwen
  • Sheena Foskett
  • Jess O’Brien
  • Dr Angus Baumann
  • Kellie Kerin
  • Sally Grimsley-Ballard
  • La-Toniya Norris
  • Timor Svraka
  • Cassandra Daniels
  • Bethanie Dhumbilirr Gondarra
  • Jess Ford
  • Naomi Walters
  • Bronwyn Silver
  • Dr Shoba Selvanathan
  • Stephanie Nesbit
  • Brianna Todd
  • Ella Huber
  • Naoemi Wong