Macquarie University Research Centre for Agency, Values and Ethics

Ms Leanne Wells

CEO, Consumers Health Forum of Australia

Leanne is the Chief Executive Officer of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia. Previously, she has held executive positions in federal government and non-government organisations, and served as CEO of national peak and local service delivery organisations in the primary care sector. She is a health advocate and service executive with over thirty years’ experience in health and social policy, program and service development. Leanne has broad governance experience and is currently Board Director of Coordinare (South East New South Wales’ Primary Health Network), the Ozhelp Foundation, and the Australian Pharmacy Council, Independent Chair of Coordinare’s Community Advisory Committee and Chair of the ACSQHC’s Patient Advisory Group. She has several advisory appointments including the Commonwealth’s Primary Health Care Advisory Group, the National Preventative Strategy Advisory Committee and the OECD PaRIS Patient Advisory Panel. Leanne has tertiary qualifications in communications and business. She is a member of both the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Institute of Management.

Linda Beaver

Linda’s experience in the health sector is extensive and highly varied, from clinical practice to education and management in the public and private sectors as well as University and Non-Government Organisations. Linda’s goal is to empower health consumers to become more engaged, informed, confident and aware of what to expect when navigating the challenges of the health system, while being a support person, as required, or intermediary when necessary. Driving change from the consumer perspective can have an impact. The health consumer may be the bottom of the ‘pecking order’ however, these voices must be heard to influence the decision makers and facilitate change to truly reflect a person-centred health system.

Jahin Tanvir

Jahin is a commissioner at Wellbeing Health and Youth which forms the Centre of Research Excellence in Adolescent Health. From seeing the struggles of migrants and individuals of culturally linguistic background in his community faced when accessing health services, Jahin felt an innate responsibility to act and advocate for health and young people. Since graduating from school, he has been involved with youth-led and not-for-profit organisations such as the Red Cross, Headspace, World Vision and United Nations Youth. He is currently studying Optometry with ambitions in turning his career towards being a paediatric optometrist working in a hospital capacity.