Dietitians Australia National Conference 2027

Lisa Urquhart, PhD, AdvAPD, is a researcher and educator with the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health. Living and working on Gumbaynggirr Country in Coffs Harbour, her research focuses on First Nations health, health equity, and the rural health workforce. Lisa brings extensive experience across clinical, private practice, and community nutrition and dietetics settings. Her work aims to support equitable health outcomes for rural and regional communities.

Dr Jorja Collins is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian and academic at Monash University in Melbourne, recognised for her expertise and leadership in foodservice and food systems. Her past experience working as a hospital foodservice dietitian sparked her commitment to transforming the quality and sustainability of healthcare food systems.

Her team's research explores, advocates for and implements solutions to food waste, local food procurement, plant based menus and sustainable hospital foodservice broadly. She leads teaching and placement experiences in foodservice in the Master of Dietetics and is passionate about inspiring students to be advocates for sustainable food systems and quality food and mealtime experiences.

Jorja is an active member of Dietitians Australia, contributing to CAL courses and webinars, being part of committees and regularly attending Dietitians Australia conferences. Jorja is pleased to have the opportunity to shape the 2027 Dietitians Australia conference to be welcoming, informative and inspiring for everyone in our modern and diverse profession.

Emily Monro is the Senior Clinical Dietitian overseeing Gastoenterology, Surgical and Oncology at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, NSW. She is an Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian with Dietitians Australia, and a Clinical Associate Lecturer with the University of Sydney.

She works in Advanced Scope of Practice in the management of gastrostomy tubes and the management of complex IBD and surgical patients. She oversees the nutrition services for the advanced GI surgery program at RPAH, which encompasses pelvic exenteration, peritoneal malignancy, sarcoma and upper GI.

Emily holds a range of leadership positions including Co-Chair of the Agency for Clinical Innovation Gastrostomy Expert Working Group, Executive Member for the ACI Home Enteral Nutrition Network, dietitian representative for the NSW Statewide IBD Meetings for Gastroenterologists, and lead for the GI DREAM EEN/PEN Clinical Practice Toolkit. She developed the Western Sydney LHD Gastrostomy Capability Program to train staff in management of gastrostomy tubes.

She has led a range of QI and research projects including evaluating TPN use for patients with altered GI function, EEN pilot study in Crohn's Disease, CDED group session program for Crohn's Disease patients, pilot study of a dietitian-led gastrostomy tube service, and digital platform creation for patient gastrostomy-tube education.

Emily is the Consumer Education Portfolio Lead of GI DREAM, Gastrointestinal Dietitians in Research Education and Mentoring, which is a non-profit organisation advancing the practice of GI nutrition globally.

Nicole Saxby is an Accredited Practising Dietitian who is passionate about supporting people with chronic health conditions. She currently leads the Tasmanian Statewide Paediatric Cystic Fibrosis Service, working closely with children, families, and an interdisciplinary team to improve care. Her experience spans clinical practice, education, and service development across urban, regional, and remote settings in Tasmania, Queensland, and Western Australia.

Nicole’s PhD examined self-management in young people with chronic conditions, and she is keen to turn evidence into practical improvements. Her work has included leadership of initiatives such as the NHMRC-endorsed Nutrition Guidelines for Cystic Fibrosis in Australia and New Zealand, the Tasmanian Moving on Up Transition Framework, the Tasmanian Paediatric Model of Care, and Australia's first postgraduate course in diabetes education and management designed for allied health professionals.

In addition to her project work, Nicole has served as a Board Member of Dietitians Australia and as Convener of the Cystic Fibrosis Interest Group. After taking time to raise a family and lead in broader allied health roles, she is delighted to reconnect with dietetics as part of the 2027 Conference Organising Committee.

She still remembers her first Dietitians Association of Australia conference in Hobart in 2007, just after moving to Tasmania as a new graduate. That year’s theme, ‘Crunch Time: Nutrition in a changing environment’, captured the profession’s need to adapt and grow. The energy, friendships, and opportunities at that event left a lasting impression. Now, two decades later, she is excited to see the 2027 Conference centre on a similar theme, ‘Evolve: Dietetics for a Changing World’. Nicole hopes this year's conference leaves attendees with new ideas, new connections, and a renewed sense of possibility as they enable each other, empower communities, and elevate the profession for the future.