Council

Executive Committee

President: Prof Paul Young
Paul Young is Professor of Virology at the University of Queensland Brisbane, Australia. He completed his basic science degree at UQ and Honours at QIMR before moving to the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine UK, where he was awarded his PhD in 1986 for studies on the arenaviruses. He began his WHO supported dengue research program at the LSHTM, initially in the area of vaccine development. He returned to Australia in 1989 and joined the staff of UQ in 1991. His laboratory’s current interests are in the molecular virology, diagnosis, vaccine and therapeutic control of the flaviviruses, dengue and West Nile virus as well as the pathogen of early childhood, respiratory syncytial virus. His group is also studying the engagement currently being enacted in the wild between a novel retrovirus and its host, the koala, and what this can tell us about cancer induction and viral evolution.

Paul is a member of the UQ Academic Board and the Australian Government's Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee (GTTAC). He first became a member of ASM in 1976 and was the Virology SIG convenor from 1997-2002 and the Chair of Division 2 from 2002-2004.

Past President: Prof John Turnidge
Dr Turnidge completed his training in Infectious Diseases and laboratory Microbiology at the Flinders Medical Centre in Adelaide, South Australia . He subsequently undertook research with William A Craig, MD, in Madison, WI, on the early stages of development of the science of antimicrobial pharmacodynamics. He spent eight years at Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne before returning to Adelaide as head of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, and then as chief of the Laboratory Medicine division at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

For the last 3 years he has been Clinical Director of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases for SA Pathology, while continuing to be based at the Women’s and Children’s. His research career has led to over 250 publications and a range of editorial boards and leadership positions. He has chaired the Australian Joint Expert Technical Advisory Committee on Antibiotic Resistance and the Expert Advisory Group on Antimicrobial Resistance. He is currently a member of the Subcommittees on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing and Veterinary Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute, and chairs the NHMRC’s Antimicrobial Resistance Advisory Committee. John was president of the Society from 2010-2012.

Vice President, Scientific Affairs: Dr Charlene Kahler
Charlene Kahler is a senior lecturer in the School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Western Australia. She was awarded her PhD from the University of Queensland in 1995 and has worked at Emory University (USA) and Monash University. She has an active research interest in molecular biology of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. She has a research group currently examining the pathways for outer membrane biogenesis in Gram- negative bacteria, with particular emphasis on the endotoxin and protein oxidation/isomerisation pathways. Apart from her role at ASM, she organises public conferences for the Amanda Young Foundation, a not-for-profit charity, to raise awareness of meningococcal disease in the community.

Vice President, Corporate Affairs: Ms Cheryl Power
Cheryl Power is a senior lecturer and teaching specialist in the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne where she has worked for over 20 years. She has taught microbiology to students enrolled in many different degrees, including Medicine, Dental Science, Optometry Chemical Enginering and Science.

Cheryl has been a member of ASM since 1987 and for many of those years was the Convenor of the Education special interest group (EDSIG)

Cheryl is a board member of University College, University of Melbourne, and the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC).

Branch Representatives 

Queensland Branch Delegate: A/Prof Mohammad Katouli

Western Australian Branch Delegate: Dr Charlene Kahler
Charlene Kahler is a senior lecturer in the School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Western Australia. She was awarded her PhD from the University of Queensland in 1995 and has worked at Emory University (USA) and Monash University. She has an active research interest in molecular biology of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. She has a research group currently examining the pathways for outer membrane biogenesis in Gram- negative bacteria, with particular emphasis on the endotoxin and protein oxidation/isomerisation pathways. Apart from her role at ASM, she organises public conferences for the Amanda Young Foundation, a not-for-profit charity, to raise awareness of meningococcal disease in the community.

Victorian Branch Delegate: Mr Brendon Mainey
Growing up in Northern NSW Brendon always had an interest in Science, In 1993 He moved to Armidale, NSW where he attended the University of New England graduating with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Microbiology, Biochemistry and Genetics. It was whilst studying that he first joined the ASM in 1995 as a student after seeing the need for continual education post University. In 2001 Brendon was granted full membership of the ASM when he obtained his MASM. Since leaving University Brendon has worked in Microbiology Laboratories in various Hospital Pathologies including Kempsey, Sydney, London and Melbourne.

In a move to give something back to the ASM, Brendon joined the Victorian Branch Committee in 2005 where he has served as the Newsletter editor and has been the Chair since 2009. He has also been an active member of various conference organising committees including the Melbourne 2008 Local Organising Committee (LOC) and is the Deputy Chair of the Melbourne 2014 LOC.

Recently Brendon has moved out of working in Laboratories, and is instead pursing a career as a Health, Safety and Environment Consultant where he continues to work as a practising Microbiologist managing the risks posed by Biological Hazards.

New South Wales Branch Delegate: Prof Ruth Hall

South Australian Branch Delegate: Dr Heather Rickard
Heather has a B. Sc. (Hons) degree from Adelaide University and a Graduate Diploma in Medical Laboratory Science from the South Australian Institute of Technology. After working in hospital diagnostic laboratories for a number of years after graduation, Heather joined SAIT in 1984 as a tutor. UniSA was then formed from SAIT and she was able to undertake a PhD while working. Heather is mostly associated with the Laboratory Medicine program but teaches into many other courses and programs. Her research interests include antibacterial resistance, antibacterial products from natural sources, and biofilms. Heather is currently collaborating with several other groups within UniSA, including Materials Science groups, developing antibacterial coatings on medical devices which prevent biofilm formation.

Heather has been a member of ASM for many years, since graduation in 1977, and was scientific meetings co-ordinator SA Branch for approx. 10 years, also a member of the LOC for Adelaide 2007, and the LOC for Adelaide 2013, chairperson from 2012-2014. Member of Education and Antimicrobials SIG’s.

Tasmanian Branch Delegate: Dr Louise Roddam

Standing Committee Representatives

Chair, National Scientific Advisory Committee: Dr Charlene Kahler

Chair, Workforce Standing Committee: Mr Rodney Bowman

Chair, National Examinations & Qualifications Board: Prof Peter Timms

MASM Officer, National Examinations & Qualifications Board: Dr Tuckweng Kok

Chair, Editorial Board: Dr Chris Burke

Chair, Standing Committee on Clinical Microbiology: Dr Stephen Graves

Chair, Standing Committee on Biosafety and Biosecurity: *Under Review*