Show Notes
Joep Van Agteren, Monique Newberry and Matthew Iasiello are a trio of people dedicated to building community wellbeing through the practical application of research innovation.
They've each experienced their own mental health struggles throughout their lives and have been inspired to create a toolkit that can be used by anyone to proactively build wellbeing.
Together they lead the team behind Be Well Co, SAHMRI's first spin-out company, translating mental health research into practical interventions aimed at helping people cultivate awareness and happiness.
Building Be Well Co from the ground up has been a rollercoaster ride of success and frustration that's led Joep, Mon and Matt to where they are now, at the forefront of bringing wellbeing to the workplace.
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Dr Stephen Blake is an immunologist specialising in cancer immunology and immunotherapy at SAHMRI, where he focuses on understanding how the immune system and the gut microbiome influence cancer treatment response and side effects. His work sits at the intersection of laboratory discovery and future clinical care, aiming to make treatments more effective and less harmful for patients.Outside the lab, Stephen's a busy dad of two who values family time as a circuit breaker from the pressures of research.
Tom Symonds is the Executive Director of Health Translation SA (HTSA), leading the work of connecting SAHMRI, the state's universities, hospitals and government to turn research into real-world impact. Spending much of his younger life in the UK before moving to Australia, Tom has built his career across health service management, research strategy, primary care leadership and government innovation.Outside of work he’s a keen muso, a long-suffering Nottingham Forest fan, and an underrated chef.
Dr Ben Lewis has a PhD in skin cancer biology and molecular pharmacology but discovered along the way that he loved talking about science more than doing it. His curiosity and creativity has taken him from the lab to stage shows, documentaries, journalism and now to SAHMRI, where he helps researchers sharpen their skills in writing, presenting and sharing their work with the world. Whether he's editing grant applications or running workshops on communication and public speaking, Ben's passionate about helping scientists find the best story in their research to connect with any audience.
Dr Ilaria Pagani is a cancer researcher hailing from Corteno Golgi, a small town in beautiful Northern Italy. She migrated to Australia a decade ago in pursuit of her career and has become a key member of SAHMRI’s Blood Cancer Program, where she's working to transform the way chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is treated and managed.Since arriving in Australia, Ilaria's had to overcome the challenge of English being her second language. She's stuck at it and become an excellent science communicator in both English and Italian, dedicated to mentoring young researchers and sharing her work with the wider community.Beyond the lab, she has her on show on Radio Italia Uno, is a competitive rower, and is now launching her own charity, CML Australia, to support patients and families across the country.
Professor Odette Pearson and Associate Professor Kim Morey are trailblazers in Aboriginal health research and Co-Leads of the Wardliparingga Aboriginal Health Equity Theme at SAHMRI.Prof Pearson is a Kuku Yalanji woman with expertise in Indigenous health policy and systems. Her career began in the Torres Strait, where she helped implement a diabetes recall system that significantly reduced preventable amputations.A/Prof Morey, of Anmatyerre and Eastern Arrernte descent, brings over 25 years of experience in Aboriginal health and community services. She leads a highly translational research program focused on improving care for Aboriginal people with chronic disease.Together, they’re guiding a passionate team working to ensure Aboriginal communities are not just involved in research — but leading it.