Contact Us

Phone
Alison Hey-Cunningham +61 2 9515 6651    

Email
alison.hey-cunningham@sydney.edu.au

Address
Centre of Research Excellence in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Respiratory Medicine and Sleep Unit
Level 11, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Camperdown NSW 2050

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Consumer Advisory Group

 

Julie Allan 

Julie was introduced to Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) when her husband, Trevor, was diagnosed early in 2013.  Since then she has been keen learn about the illness and ways of supporting him to have a good quality of life despite the impacts of IPF.  As a couple they have enjoyed several overseas ‘bucket-list’ trips and they continue to enjoy time with each of their 14 grandchildren. Julie is a retired Psychologist and has been involved in both clinical practice and research in a number of areas including the management of anxiety disorders, mood disorders, chronic pain conditions, drug and alcohol dependence, rehabilitation and work-life adjustment issues. Julie has taught in tertiary Psychology and other courses and worked as a Trainer focusing on mood disorders with the Black Dog Institute.  She also has extensive experience working cross-culturally with a range of people from non-English speaking backgrounds. She appreciates the value of communicating research findings in ways that have practical application to everyday life.


Trevor Allan

Trevor Allan was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis in 2013 and became a patient at the RPA Pulmonary Clinic. He has been taking Nintedanib since July 2014, and his lung function has remained stable since that time. Trevor is married to Julie, they have 6 children and 14 grandchildren. Trevor was medically retired from his role as the Head of Student Equity, Welfare & Disability Services at the University of Western Sydney [UWS) IN 2013. He was the Director of the Disability Services Centre at the Australian National University {ANU) from 1999 to 2007. Prior to this, he was the Regional Disability Liaison Officer for Northern NSW, the Community Educator for Headstart Community Access Program, the inaugural NSW Brain Injury Awareness Week Coordinator, ran his own video production company and was a High School English/History/Media Studies Teacher for 14 years. He was awarded Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence awards at both ANU and UWS and a Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning at UWS. He was made the first Honorary Life Member of the Australian Tertiary Education Network on Disability (ATEND) in 2014. In all these roles, Trevor has been actively involved in research and development of initiatives to provide enhanced practical outcomes for people. As a person who has personally benefitted from the research and clinical trials conducted by others, he is keen to contribute however he can to future research and development in this field.


Marcia Hooper 

I am retired and live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. I enjoy pursuits like knitting and reading and see friends regularly (physically/electronically). I have 2 beautiful daughters and 2 gorgeous and entertaining grandchildren. I drive to Brisbane each week to look after them for the day. I worked as a Deputy Principal in a state primary school until mid-2016 and was fortunate to share my days with some talented teachers and students. My IPF journey began in 2013 with an undiagnosed persistent cough. This worsened over time until I was finally sent for a chest X-ray and CT scan in 2017 which showed widespread fibrosis. A lung biopsy in November 2018 proved the diagnosis of IPF and I was able to start on Perfenidone. Unfortunately my liver disliked this drug and so I was referred on to a team with access to trial drugs. I began 2 months of Nintedanib - a prerequisite to entering the Galapagos trial. I was accepted into that trial 12 months ago and my lung capacity seems to have improved from my base line data of 2019. I take a reduced dose (200mg daily) of Nintedanib as the side effects are otherwise too intrusive. I am still able to complete all my chores - although I do have to pace myself and physical activity is limited. Being a member of this PACT Consumer Advisory group allows me to reach out to other IPF patients. Hopefully by sharing our thoughts and concerns as we embark on this journey will lessen the stress and isolation of a little known and little understood disease. While everyone’s experience is unique, sharing concerns may assist in helping to reduce stress about the unknown. Raising awareness of this disease is also important if we are to win both understanding of, and funding for, future research of IPF.


Tania Hyde

Tania is a strategist, connector and consultant with over 20 years’ experience in consulting and operations. She is simultaneously optimistic and pragmatic and passionate about connecting people and driving change. She is keen to make a difference in supporting those impacted by chronic illness to enable them to live their best lives. She runs her own consulting business advising clients in strategy and communications, before which she was the Chief Operating Officer of a boutique advisory firm, which has a focus on transport infrastructure and cities. She began her career as an electrical engineer in the Royal Australian Air Force after graduating from the Australian Defence Force Academy. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an Asia Society Asia 21 young leader (2013) and is on the Asia Society’s Global Council.


Jeffrey Kerr

Jeff is 55 years old from Queensland and lives in the semi rural region of Samford which is about 40 minutes outside of Brisbane. He first encountered IPF when his father was diagnosed with the condition in 2010 and while nothing prepares you for the prognosis he had some insite into the disease when he was diagnosed 2019. Jeff has been amazed at the advances in treatment since his Dads passing in 2014, particularly with the availability of anti fibrotic medication in recent times and this has inspired Jeff to participate in a current clinical trial.  He is passionate about the pursuit of improvements in treatment, patient & clinical information and other elements that combine to improve the quality of life for people with IPF, as the medical and patient community progress the quest for a cure some day. From a professional perspective, most of Jeff’s career has been focussed on the design, development and implementation of Human Services programs to support vulnerable people in our community. This has included management and executive roles in areas such as Housing & Homelessness, Disability Services, Aged & Community Care, Veterans Health,  Child Safety, Domestic Violence, and most recently Rural Health. Jeff has undergraduate and post graduate qualifications in Business, Social Science, and Procurement but rates common sense above all else. Jeff has served on a number of boards and committees and hopes to make a contribution to the PACT Consumer Advisory Group. In his personal life Jeff shares a busy home with Dea-Ann, his wife of 27 years and their three wonderful adult (or almost) daughters. It is spending time in this setting that Jeff values above all else. His other interests include most sport but particularly cricket, rugby league and rugby which up until a few years ago he was still playing in the very social golden oldies league. These days he prefers to exercise by going for a walk or a quiet paddle in his kayak, as well as a boxing training regime.