The MND Research Collective Board

Associate Professor Cathy Blizzard is a discovery MND researcher at the Tasmanian School of Medicine of the University of Tasmania. Her research interests are focussed upon understanding the sequalae of neurodegenerative events that occur in neurons of the corticomotor system in MND and developing novel therapeutic strategies to prevent this neurodegeneration.

Dr. Patricia Geale and her brother Murray, who lived with MND for 5-years, jointly served on the Board of The MND Collective in 2022. She holds an MBA and a PhD in Corporate Governance. Together with her academic qualifications, Patricia had a thirty-year career in strategic management and marketing, primarily in the travel and tourism industry. She has been on the academic staff at Griffith University, Bond University, James Cook University, Central Queensland University and Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles. She lived and worked in the USA for 13 years. Patricia continues Murray’s legacy by ensuring People Living with MND are the central focus of The MND Research Collective and organisations dedicated to MND Research.

Dr Anne Hogden is a researcher and senior lecturer with the School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW. She has a clinical background in MND care as a speech pathologist, assisting people with MND and their families to manage communication, saliva and swallowing concerns. She is the author and developer of the Australian MND patient decision tools (https://mnddecisiontools.com/) supporting people living with ALS/MND to make decisions for their care and quality of life. Anne has collaborated widely with MND clinics and researchers in Australia and internationally for decision tool development and models of care and service delivery to people living with MND.

Kate has been CEO of the Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association of Victoria since April 2019. Prior to that Kate enjoyed over 20 years’ experience in leadership and the strategic development of not-for-profit organisations. Kate’s previous roles include General Manager St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria (Service Development) and General Manager Carer and Community Services at Carers Victoria. Kate has a Bachelor of Science (majoring in Genetics and Psychology), a Post Graduate Diploma in Psychology and recently graduated with an MBA and Master of Leadership. Since arriving at MND Victoria, Kate has facilitated the development of the strategic and business plans, the re-architecture of the organisation’s IT infrastructure and the selection and implementation of a new client and customer management system.

Kate ensures that people living with MND in Victoria and Tasmania are well supported, informed and have access to services, including palliative care, throughout their MND journey. Under Kate’s leadership, MND Victoria supports, promotes and delivers research into better care, identifying causes, treatments and ultimately a cure for MND. Since 2021 Kate has also been a Board member of Palliative Care Victoria and chairs PCV’s engagement committee.

Susan Mathers is a neurologist at Monash Health, Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University and Clinical Director of Neurology at Calvary Health Care Bethlehem, Melbourne. Her clinical and research interests focus on the management of progressive neurological diseases, clinical trials and models of care. She is a member of the scientific committee of Motor Neurone Disease Research Australia, the Fight MND CURE Sub-Committee and a chief investigator on the MiNDAUS project: Motor Neurone Disease: Patient centred care for a progressive neurological disease— evidence driving policy.

Jane joined The MND and Me Foundation in July 2018 and took over the role of CEO in February 2020. An experienced communicator, event manager and marketing professional, Jane has held events, marketing and fund raising roles in education, sporting and political organisations. Jane has extensive communications and fundraising experience as well as a wide range of event management experience including roles as State Architecture Awards Director and coordinator of a number of State and National sporting events. Jane has a B.Bus in Integrated Marketing Communications and a proven reputation for both strategic planning and hands-on execution of events.

Jane’s first exposure to MND came when the Founder of MND and Me was diagnosed and started recruiting participants for events at the local primary school where her children attended. Jane participated and volunteered in MND and Me events before finally becoming employed in 2018. Her biggest reward is seeing first hand the difference that funds raised can have for people living with MND that she deals with daily.

Dr Peter Raisbeck is an Associate Professor of Architectural Practice at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne. Since 2006 he has been teaching Architectural Practice, Design Activism and Architectural Archives. In September of 2018 he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. Since this diagnosis he has become increasingly passionate about disability inclusion in architecture. He has published three books including the most recent, Architects, Sustainability and the Climate Emergency: A Political Ecology, published in November 2022.

Bec is the Director of Cure Research and Programs at FightMND and has been working in the MND sector for 17 years. She has a PhD in Neuroscience, specialising in MND and a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research. Bec oversees all FightMND’s Cure Research portfolio, which supports pre-clinical and clinical MND research projects throughout Australia and internationally, as well as FightMND funded Clinical Trials. Through her role she liaises with all aspects of the research sector including researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical companies, and Government to develop large scale, collaborative MND research projects. Bec has a passion for science communication and building connections within the research community including people with lived experience of MND.

Dr Nicole Sheers is the Chair of the MND Collective Clinical Care Driving Team. She has 25 years of clinical experience working with people living with neuromuscular conditions, and has worked as a respiratory physiotherapist with the Victorian Respiratory Support Service - the specialist state-wide home ventilation team - for the past 17 years. Nicole's research aims to improve sleep, breathing and cough function for people living with a neuromuscular disease, and she conducted a clinical trial that tested the effect of a particular breathing exercise as part her PhD; completed in 2021. She is an early career researcher and postdoctoral research fellow at The University of Melbourne and Institute for Breathing and Sleep at Austin Health.

Jane spent 20 years working with Australian and Global corporations to identify improvement opportunities within their policies and procedures. Jane has been invited to speak at both International and national conferences. Jane started her own business and in 2019 won Xero’s Best Small Australian business.
Jane’s husband Robert was diagnosed with MND in February 2021 and he died 10 months later. Since then, Jane has become involved with Fight MND and MND Australia to try and make a difference to those with MND and their carers. Jane is the Chair of the MND Research Collective Lived Experience Expert Driving Team and is host of the podcast “Let’s Talk MND”

Dr Gethin Thomas has been the Executive Director, Research at MND Australia since 2019. He oversees the MND Australia research grant program and manages national and international partnerships. A key aspect of this role is providing a conduit between research programs and the wider MND community through MND Australia and the affiliated State Associations. Gethin is also on the Board of the International Alliance of ALS MND Associations.