Dr. Claire Ashton-James

Dr. Claire Ashton-James (PhD) is a social psychologist and Senior Lecturer at the Pain Management Research Institute (The University of Sydney), where she researches clinician-patient communication, social aspects of pain, and clinician wellbeing. Dr. Ashton-James teaches clinician communication and emotion handling skills to clinicians through interactive small group workshops, webinars, and 1:1 coaching. Dr Ashton-James is the founding chair of the Social Aspects of Pain Special Interest Group (SocSIG) of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) and regularly presents her research on clinician communication and social aspects of pain and pain management at national and international conferences. Dr. Ashton-James' current research focuses on clinician wellbeing and she is passionate about providing pain clinicians with practical skills training to improve their ability to manage emotionally challenging patient encounters.

Prof. Fiona Blyth

Fiona Blyth is a Professor of Public Health and Pain Medicine at the University of Sydney where she is currently Head of the Faculty of Medicine and Health’s Concord Clinical School at Repatriation General Concord Hospital. A public health physician, pain epidemiologist and medical educator, She is internationally recognised for her conceptual and empirical work in characterizing the burden of chronic pain conditions within populations.

Prof. Debra Jackson

Debra Jackson is Professor of Nursing at UTS and holds a number of international roles including Professor of Nursing at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust (UK), Visiting Professor at Aga Khan University (East Africa), Bournemouth University (UK), and Auckland University of Technology (NZ). She is a Fellow of the Australian College of Nursing, a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, and Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy. She leads research programs in patient safety and harm-free care, with a particular focus on pressure injury; and workforce development and adversity, particularly leadership and workplace culture.  She is passionately concerned with health equity and social justice, and a key objective of her work is to enhance the safety and well-being of people in the care of health services through the development of sustainable and culturally sensitive supportive interventions. She is Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Clinical Nursing and sits on the Editorial Boards of Journal of Child Health Care, International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, Nursing Inquiry, and Nursing and Health Science. 

Prof. Andrew McLachlan

Professor Andrew McLachlan is a pharmacist, academic and researcher with experience in clinical pharmacology and the quality use of medicines. He is Head of School and Dean at The University of Sydney School of Pharmacy. Andrew is also the Program Director of a NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Medicines and Ageing. He has served as the chair of a human research ethics committee and serves on Australian government committees related to medicines policy, evaluation, regulation and antidoping. He became a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to pharmacy as a researcher, educator and administrator, and to professional medical and scientific organisations. 

Dr. Regina Schultz

Dr Regina Schultz is a Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Neuropsychologist, with more than 10 years experience in chronic pain management. In 2008, Regina established the Reboot Pain Management Program at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, and in 2017, the St Vincent’s Pain team and colleagues at the Clinical Research Unit for Anxiety and Depression developed the Reboot Online Pain Management program – an online multi-disciplinary pain management program. Regina completed her PhD, examining neuropsychological recovery following severe traumatic brain injury, in 2015 and she is now working for the Agency for Clinical Innovation developing resources and services for people who experience chronic pain following moderate to severe TBI.

Dr. Swapnil Sharma

MBBS, MD (Psychiatry), MMED (Pain Mgmt), Cert Psychotherapies, FRANZCP
Dr Sharma works as a Senior Staff Specialist Psychiatrist with the Departments of Pain Medicine and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry at Prince of Wales Hospital. His other appointments include Conjoint Senior Lecturer, University of New South Wales and Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist at the Amaranth Centre. Dr Sharma has post-graduate training in psychological medicine, pain management and psychodynamic psychotherapy. He teaches undergraduate and post-graduates and involved in research projects at Prince of Wales Hospital.

Dr. Paul Wrigley

Paul Wrigley is a Senior Specialist Pain Medicine Physician, Royal North Shore Hospital and Conjoint Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. His clinical, academic and advocacy work aims to improve the quality of life of people suffering from chronic pain. His translational research spans from the clinical neurophysiological assessment of pain to interventions improving pain management at a state-wide level.