packed conference hall with OTX branding on large screen

Keynote Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Tina Champagne

Wednesday 21 June 2023, 9.55am

Caught in a grassfire while competing in a 100km ultramarathon in 2011, Turia suffered full-thickness burns to 65% of her body. But surviving is the least of her achievements.

One of Australia’s most admired and widely recognised people, Turia has gone on to become a bestselling author, two- time Ironman and humanitarian - raising well over a million dollars for not-for-profit Interplast. Through her online presence, books and online programs, Turia has inspired millions to live with more confidence, drop their fears and smash epic goals.

Senator Jordon Alexander Steele-John

Thursday 22 June 2023, 9.00am

Leeanne is Professor of Occupational Therapy at La Trobe University and Founding Head of the Neurorehabilitation and Recovery research laboratory, Florey Institute. Her program of stroke research focuses on: stroke recovery; brain function and plasticity; restorative rehabilitation; and knowledge translation. Professor Carey has led several major cohort, intervention, and implementation clinical trials.

She has developed a successful, neuroscience-based approach to help survivors of stroke regain a sense of touch so that they can use their hands more effectively in daily activities. She has also investigated the impact of depression and cognition on stroke recovery. An important focus has been to translate these discoveries into clinical practice and better outcomes for survivors of stroke.

Professor Carey teaches in evidence-base neurorehabilitation and leads a multidisciplinary team of experts, emerging researchers, and Master and PhD students in the Neurorehabilitation and Recovery research laboratory. She is a research fellow of the American Academy of Occupational Therapy and the Occupational Therapy Australia Research Academy. Leeanne is inspired by the emerging researchers, research students and therapists she works with.

Caleb Rixon

Thursday 22 June 2023, 9.00am

Passionate about increasing awareness around invisible disability and mental health, Caleb’s stories are featured on Huff Post, JOY FM, Channel 7’s "House of Wellness", SBS Insight “Cheating Death”, ABC Melbourne “Homespun”, ABC Radio National, ABC News Breakfast and ABC Art Works. 

Keynote presentations include Hunter Medical Research Institute, National Disability Insurance Agency, STROKE 2018, Occupational Therapy Australia (OTA), Australasian Society for the Study of Brain impairment, BUPA, L’Oréal Australia, Health Informatics Conference 2020 and Australasian Institute of Digital Health - Digital Health Summit. 

He has written publications for ABC News and Brain Impairment (ASSBI).

Caleb has presented events for research, education & healthcare sectors including La Trobe, ACU & Monash Universities, Stroke Foundation, Florey Institute of Neuroscience & Mental Health and "Fresh Voices in Brain Impairment” for the 6th Pacific Rim Conference (ASSBI, INS, CCN). 

As the MC, he has hosted ‘Will2Walk’ for Stroke Association Victoria, plus facilitated expert panels for OTA & ASSBI Online Webinar Series and genU's special event 'TOGETHER' for International day For People With Disabilities. 

For more, visit www.calebrixon.com

Invited Speakers

Danielle Bull

Danielle Bull is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with 20 years clinical experience.  The past decade, Danielle have been working with Associate Professor Tim Mavin (Griffith University) and his Aviation research team in order to determine and better understand the difficulties experienced by pilots in the aviation setting. This experience led to her Master’s dissertation.

Danielle Bull

Danielle Bull is a highly experienced Occupational Therapist with 20 years clinical experience. The past decade, Danielle have been working with Associate Professor Tim Mavin (Griffith University) and his Aviation research team in order to determine and better understand the difficulties experienced by pilots in the aviation setting. This experience led to her Master’s dissertation.

Danielle completed her Master’s dissertation in 2020 which explored the applicability of occupational therapy in pilot assessment using a case study approach. The aim of her study was to provide airlines with greater layers of intervention when performance issues arise with pilots. Her assessors deemed it to be innovated and pioneering research, and her findings provided potential solutions for airline’s long-term struggles with pilot recruitment and training. As a result of this Danielle enrolled into a PhD to further pursue this area of investigation.

With her research findings Danielle has presented workshops to Virgin Airlines, Mount Cook Airlines, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regarding her work with pilots who have been experiencing occupational performance challenges. Her work also includes being involved in developing and delivery training programs for flight examiner instructors in how to best identify and work with pilots with performance challenges.

Hear from Danielle in Session 1A (Innovative Practice in Occupational Therapy) at 11:30am on Wednesday 21 June 2023.

Genevieve Pepin

Associate Professor Genevieve is a passionate mental health occupational therapist and the Higher Degree Research Director at Deakin University. Genevieve joined Deakin 15 years ago after having worked across diverse mental health services and taught at Laval University, Sherbrooke University, and McGill University in Canada.

Genevieve Pepin

Associate Professor Genevieve is a passionate mental health occupational therapist and the Higher Degree Research Director at Deakin University. Genevieve joined Deakin 15 years ago after having worked across diverse mental health services and taught at Laval University, Sherbrooke University, and McGill University in Canada.

She is an established MOHO scholar. Her research focuses on understanding the impact of mental illness on engagement in meaningful occupations and advancing occupational therapy practice, education, and research in mental health. She is particularly interested in understanding the impact of eating disorders on function and the daily occupations of those with an eating disorder and their family, and the development of innovative interventions promoting best health outcomes.

Genevieve is a strong advocate for occupational therapy in mental health and for the unique role occupational therapists can play in mental health recovery. Genevieve is the research lead of the co-design and lived experience stream of the newly funded Australian Eating Disorders Research and Translation Centre. She has exciting international partnerships, several publications, and presented her work around the world.

Genevieve is a strong believer in multidisciplinary approaches, best practice, and emerging and co-designed knowledge that support occupation-based and client-centred interventions in the mental health sector.

Hear from Genevieve in Session 5A (Eating Disorders and Advocacy) at 1.55pm on Thursday 22 June 2023.

Charmaine Bernie

Charmaine is a senior paediatric occupational therapist, lecturer and researcher with over two decades of clinical and research experience across community, tertiary hospital and university settings.

Charmaine Bernie

Charmaine is a senior paediatric occupational therapist, lecturer and researcher with over two decades of clinical and research experience across community, tertiary hospital and university settings.

She completed her PhD on supporting children and families on the pathway to autism diagnosis with the University of Melbourne in 2022. Charmaine explored a participation-focused coaching intervention with families waiting for diagnostic services, Occupational Performance Coaching, which she now trains others to incorporate into clinical practice, in addition to other occupation-based interventions.

Her special interests include identifying strengths and barriers to supporting function and participation for children with Developmental Coordination Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and other developmental vulnerability, while ensuring families are accessing the right support at the right time, across health and education settings.

Charmaine is currently a senior research fellow with the Early Years Research Lab at Southern Cross University on the Gold Coast.