Co-Chairs

Dr Margaret Sherburn 

Margaret is currently a Senior Fellow in the Physiotherapy Department, in the School of Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, and a clinician in private practice. Her main areas of research and clinical practice are the conservative management of pelvic floor dysfunction in women with pelvic pain, prolapse or incontinence, the use of real-time ultrasound as a rehabilitation and measurement tool, and the role of exercise for women’s health. Until three years ago, she headed up the Postgraduate Certificate in Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation in the Department of Physiotherapy, University of Melbourne. She is a Continence and Women’s Health Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist, a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists, and is former Head of Physiotherapy department at the Royal Women’s Hospital. She is also a past Editor of the Australian and New Zealand Continence Journal and is currently a reviewer for the Journal. 

Dr Vivien Wong

Dr Vivien Wong is a urogynaecologist and is the clinical lead for Urogynaecology and Queensland Pelvic Mesh Service at Gold Coast Health. During the course of her subspecialty training, Dr Wong acquired expertise in the use of pelvic floor ultrasound to evaluate women with urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic mesh related complications and bowel dysfunction.  She completed her PhD in the evaluation of mesh use for prolapse repair and is an honorary Associate Professor at Bond University. 

Committee

• Chris Myers: Christopher (Chris) Myers is a Lecturer within the Physiotherapy discipline at James Cook University (JCU). As a physiotherapy graduate of JCU in 2014, he has gone onto complete his physiotherapy Honours in 2017, being awarded first class. Chris is a registered physiotherapist in Australia since 2015, with his current role spread across teaching neurological physiotherapy subjects, clinical education, physiotherapy discipline marketing and research. 
  
  
• Prof. Russ-Chess Williams: Russ Chess-Williams is Professor of Pharmacology and Director of the Centre for Urology Research at Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia.  His main interests are the characterisation of the receptors within the lower urinary tract and the changes that occur during disease.  In recent years his studies have focused on the sensory role of the urothelium (inner lining of the bladder), its role in maintaining normal bladder function and changes occurring in conditions such as the overactive bladder.
  
  
• Julie Westaway: Julie is a Nurse Practitioner Urogynaecology at Continence Darling Downs Health. Julie has extensive nursing experience including Midwifery, Lactation Consultancy, Child and Adolescent Health Nursing, Continence Advisor and initiating the Urogynaecology Nurse Practitioner role. She has provided a unique model of care, initiated inaugural and innovative Nurse Led Speciality clinics in rural domains. Julie is passionate about nursing practice, nurturing and mentoring numerous health professionals. In 2021 Julie was recognised nationally for her dedication to women’s health as a finalist for the Australian Health Minister’s Award for Nursing Trailblazers and the Women’s Healthcare Medal of Distinction.
  
  
• Angela Khera: Angela is a pelvic floor physiotherapist pelvic floor physiotherapist with a special interest in chronic functional bowel disorders, in particular idiopathic constipation & defaecation disorders. Currently Angela is a senior clinician working in the Functional Gut Clinic at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne, and a private Gastroenterological practice with Professor Michael Kamm and his team.  Angela completed a PhD focused on the management of functional gut disorders and post-surgical bowel dysfunction in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Angela is currently researching the outcomes of proctocolectomy and ileoanal pouch surgery for ulcerative colitis, with a randomised controlled trial comparing physiotherapist intervention to usual care.
  
  
• Rebecca Khan: Rebecca Khan is a Paediatric Occupational Therapist with a special interest in the area of Paediatric Continence and Toileting Skill Development. She has been working in developmental paediatrics for 22 years, across public health and private practice. She is the Director of Kids That Go Therapies, an allied health practice in Brisbane which focuses on developing life skills - including toilet independence - with children and families. In 2011, Rebecca wrote the Conquering Wees & Poos clinician learning package for Queensland Health. She frequently presents professional development for other clinicians across Australia. Personally, Rebecca lives with Inflammatory Bowel Disease and has facilitated the Crohns and Colitis Association's Brisbane support group for 10 years.
  
  
• Dr. Kathy Sloots: Dr Kathryn Sloots is a Registered Nurse with a science degree and PhD who has worked for 18 years in the areas of bowel and bladder continence (including anorectal biofeedback, urodynamics, research and education). She has published several papers on bowel continence and presented at continence conferences. Kathryn is passionate about promoting bowel and bladder continence, increasing awareness and information for health professionals and the public, and improving access to continence care.

• Elizabeth Dally: Dr Elizabeth Dally is a highly experienced, Australian-trained urological surgeon and paediatric urologist. Liz has been practicing urology in the Illawarra and South Coast region for the past 10+ years and has significant experience in both paediatric and adult urological surgery. Liz graduated from Newcastle University with a Bachelor of Medicine (BMed) in 1999. She then went on to complete Masters Degree in Advanced Surgery (MASurg) with a focus on uro-oncology at Macquarie University. She also holds a Diploma in Child Health (DCH) and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology (PGDipEpid).