CONFERENCE WORKING GROUP
AIDA’s 2026 Conference Working Group is formed by the following board members and AIDA members:
Dr Vinka Barunga (Co-Chair)
Dr Vinka Barunga is a Worrora woman from the Kimberley. Her Country runs along the north west coast of Western Australia and includes Walcott Inlet, Buccaneer Archipelago, Montgomery Reef and Prince Regent River. Her people are saltwater people, and along with Ngarinyin and Wunumbal language groups, they live in Mowanjum Community, and are united as custodians of Wandjina lore.
She was born and grew up in Mowanjum Aboriginal Community and the town of Derby. Growing up among her family and culture had a significant impact in shaping and inspiring her dreams – igniting her desire to help her people and pursue medicine.
Dr Alicia Veasey (Co-Chair)
Dr Alicia Veasey, a proud Torres Strait Islander woman who grew up on the mainland, is an Obstetrician & Gynaecologist with a subspeciality fellowship in Paediatric & Adolescent Gynaecology, with over twenty years experience working throughout the health system. She works clinically within Northern NSW LHD on Bundjalung Country, Lismore and surrounding area. Alicia is an inaugural co-chair of Queensland Health’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Clinical Network, where she provides leadership on systemic cultural safety and health system reform that centres Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.
Recognising early on in her medical career the need for health system reform to address the racism and inequity, Alicia completed a Master of Public Health and a Master of Health Management and is a RACMA Associate Fellow since 2024. As a Global Atlantic Fellow through the prestigious Atlantic Fellows for Social Equity, she has also completed a Master of (Indigenous) Social Change Leadership, culminating in a dissertation exploring Indigenous knowledges and sovereignty within the acute care health system. Alicia’s commitment and leadership was recognised with a University of Queensland 2023 Alumni Award for Indigenous Community Impact.
As a passionate, experienced and sought-after health leader, Alicia provides input into local, state and national health policy, strategies and reform, as well as being a senior advisor to media, research projects and non-government organisations. She is currently a Board Director for the Australian Commission on Safety & Quality in Health Care, and Advisory Board member for the Australian Health Review journal. She has served as a non-executive Director for the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association in 2010-11 (Student Director) and 2012-14 before rejoining the Board in 2024.
Dr Brodie Seymour
Brodie is a final-year medical student at Griffith University and currently serves as a Director for the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA). He grew up on Kalkadoon Country in Mount Isa and is a proud Balarnu man. Staying connected to Country and learning how mob celebrate culture has always been central to who he is.
As he prepares for internship, he is deeply committed to rural and remote healthcare, with particular interests in oncology and ophthalmology. His goal is to use his medical training to improve health outcomes for Communities most in need, while continuing to uphold and celebrate the strength of First Nations knowledge, sovereignty and resilience.
Dr Annalyse Crane
Dr Crane is a Gamilaroi woman with family from Moree in NSW. She is a specialist GP, supervisor and practice owner in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. Anna is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Sydney in 2011, and member of AIDA since 2008.
Her goal is to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into tertiary education and health careers. Education empowers people and changes lives. Sitting on the AIDA board is an opportunity to make a difference and work cohesively with peers and stakeholders.
Gari Watson
I am a proud Gurang Gurang, Biri Gubba, and Gangulu man. I am a qualified dentist with ten years of clinical experience, one of the earliest Indigenous graduates in dentistry from James Cook University, and now a third-year Doctor of Medicine student at The University of Queensland.
Becoming the third Indigenous dentist to graduate from JCU was both a privilege and a responsibility. Since then, I have worked across community health, remote services, and private practice, where I witnessed the resilience of our people alongside the structural barriers to accessing culturally safe and timely care. These experiences deepened my commitment to advocating for equity and representation.
I also acknowledge the leadership of our Elders and pioneer Indigenous medical doctors who paved the way for AIDA and for our presence in medicine. Their courage created the pathways students like myself now follow, and I carry that legacy with responsibility and pride.
I have served as President of the Indigenous Dental Association of Australia (IDAA), representing Indigenous voices nationally and working with peak stakeholders including AHPRA and universities, which strengthened my governance and advocacy skills. Earlier in my journey, I helped establish an Indigenous student network at JCU Cairns to provide belonging and peer support. These experiences taught me the importance of connection, mentorship, and cultural identity — lessons that continue to guide me in medicine.
Dr Simone Raye
Dr Simone Raye is a proud Bardi Jabbir Jabbir woman whose family is from the Dampier Peninsula in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. She was born and raised on Larrakia Country in Darwin and continues to live and work in the Northern Territory.
Dr Raye is a General Practitioner in Darwin and a Medical Educator in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). She currently serves as the Deputy Regional Director of Training for the Northern Territory, supporting the development and supervision of the next generation of GPs.
She is the Immediate Past President of the Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association (AIDA), having led the organisation in advancing Indigenous leadership, advocacy, and cultural safety
within the medical profession nationally. Dr Raye continues to work closely with the AIDA Cultural Safety team to deliver cultural safety workshops across Australia, supporting health services and practitioners to embed culturally safe and responsive care.
In addition to her clinical and educational roles, Dr Raye is a Board Member of the Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NTPHN) and serves on the Advisory Group for Cancer Australia. She is the former Chair of the Indigenous General Practice Trainee Network (formerly IGPRN) and continues to contribute to strengthening Indigenous medical training pathways.
In recognition of her leadership and commitment to community, Dr Raye was honoured by her colleagues as the Northern Territory RACGP GP of the Year in 2025.
Dr Raye is deeply committed to improving workforce structures and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander doctors and is passionate about creating anti-racist and culturally safe spaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients and healthcare staff. Her work is grounded in community, cultural integrity, and a strong belief in the power of Indigenous leadership to shape a more equitable health system.
Dr Tamika Ponton
My name is Tamika Ponton, I am a proud Ballardong Noongar yorga from Goomalling in Western Australia. I was extremely privileged to grow up on Noongar boodja in Boorloo, so am excited to be a part of the Working Group for the 2026 AIDA Conference being held on Noongar boodja.
I graduated from UWA, working as an intern at Royal Perth Hospital before moving across to the east. I’m currently based on Giabal Country, at Toowoomba Base Hospital as a Orthopaedic unaccredited registrar. Prior to that I was based in Gimuy at Cairns Hospital.
I’m looking forward to this year’s conference to be able to meet and share on the beautiful Noongar boodja.
Allysha Jensen
Kaya, my name is Ally Jensen and I am a proud Wiradjuri person. I am a final-year medical student at the University of Notre Dame Australia, Walyaup (Fremantle). I was born on Dharawal Country (Campbelltown) and grew up on Yuggera Country (Murphy’s Creek/Toowoomba).
I have worked as a nurse and midwife for the past 15 years across Queensland, Western Australia, and internationally in Nepal and India. I came to medicine with the support of my family, friends, and community.
I am passionate about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and encouraging mob to consider medicine and related health careers, and making it through their studies. A proud moment of this for me, has been seeing my younger sister now also on the medical school journey. I am currently the AIDA Western Australia Student Representative and have been involved in student support and advocacy at Notre Dame for the past four years.
As I prepare to enter the medical workforce, I am committed to culturally safe care, community-led approaches, and supporting the next generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals.
Sharn Avery
Sharnell Avery is a medical student at Curtin Medical School and an experienced health educator, facilitator, and board member with a strong focus on Indigenous mental and physical health, prevention, and culturally safe practice. She has held senior leadership roles with Yogazeit and the Act Belong Commit campaign, where she led community outreach, educator professional development, and capacity-building initiatives, including the Deadly Minds Indigenous Youth Mindful Movement program.
With over two decades of experience across health promotion, sports medicine, remedial therapy,
education, and governance, Sharnell also brings extensive leadership in elite and community sport, including AFLW coaching and youth development. Her work is grounded in trauma-informed, community-led approaches, with a strong commitment to equity, collaboration, and strengthening culturally safe pathways for the future Indigenous medical workforce through her involvement with AIDA.
Contact Us
Contact the organisers: AIDA@spinifexevents.com.au
Contact AIDA: Conference@aida.org.au
#AIDAConference26
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge and pay our respects to the Whadjuk Nyoongar people as the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters where we will gather.
We acknowledge and respect the Whadjuk Nyoongar people's cultural, spiritual and physical connection with their land, waterways and community, and pay respect to Elders past and present.