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Invited Speakers
Dr Huppatz’s career reflects a strong commitment to legislative reform, systemwide improvement, and collaboration across government, industry and communities. A Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine, she has worked across most Australian jurisdictions and contributed to World Health Organization missions in the Pacific and Geneva. She is also deeply committed to improving Aboriginal health, with longstanding involvement in community-led programs across regional WA.
Emily Munro is an Acting Senior Program Officer in the Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus team at the Department of Health Western Australia. She has a background in public health strategy, health promotion, and research across government and non-government settings. Prior to her current role, Emily worked as a Project Officer in Mental Health Strategy at East Metropolitan Health Service, a Health Promotion Officer at North Metropolitan Health Service, and a Research Assistant at The Kids Research Institute Australia. She volunteers as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Royal Life Saving Society WA and is an advocate for young people and early career public health professionals. Emily holds a Master of Public Health and has contributed to initiatives focused on digital health and online safety, mental health, STI prevention, and local government public health planning.
Emeritus Professor Mike Daube AO
Mike Daube is Emeritus Professor in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Curtin University, where he was Director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute. Before this he was Director General of Health for WA and Chair of the National Public Health Partnership. He has held a range of senior positions in government, with other roles including President/ Chair of PHAA, ACOSH, and many other organisations and committees, including the Australian Government’s committee that recommended tobacco plain packaging. He has worked on public health issues including tobacco, alcohol and gambling nationally and internationally since 1973, has published widely, and has worked with WHO, governments and health organisations in c.40 countries. Among current committee roles, he is Chair of the Health Promotion International Editorial Board.
He is an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO), was Western Australian of the Year in 2018, and has received further awards from WHO, PHAA, AMA, ACOSH, Cancer Council, Heart Foundation, Thoracic Society, American Cancer Society, WFPHA and other organisations.
Associate Professor Daniel Demant
Associate Professor Daniel Demant is an award-winning public health educator and Course Director of Postgraduate Public Health at the University of Technology Sydney. His research focuses on sexual health and wellbeing, substance use, and health equity, with particular expertise in LGBTIQ+ populations and other priority communities. His academic leadership also encompasses curriculum design, research supervision, and the advancement of inclusive, evidence-informed teaching and learning. In 2025, he received the CAPHIA Teaching Excellence Award in recognition of his leadership in public health education and his contribution to strengthening student learning across undergraduate and postgraduate programs.
Associate Professor Demant’s teaching practice reflects a deep commitment to equity, innovation and real-world public health capability. Through curriculum leadership, student-centred pedagogy and a focus on contemporary public health challenges, he supports students to connect evidence, practice and lived experience. His keynote will draw on this experience to explore how public health education can better prepare graduates to practise with confidence, criticality and purpose in a rapidly changing world.
Senior Development Officer – Joseph Bin Omar
Joseph Bin Omar is a proud Aboriginal and Malay man from Broome in the Kimberley region. He now lives and works on Noongar Boodjar as a Senior Development Officer in the Aboriginal Health Policy Directorate at the WA Department of Health. Joseph also serves on the Board of the Polly Farmer Foundation, supporting educational pathways and opportunities for Aboriginal students.
Drawing on his cultural identity, lived experience, professional practice and academic journey, Joseph brings a unique perspective to discussions on health and equity. A Master of Public Health graduate from the University of Western Australia, he is passionate about strengths-based approaches grounded in culture and community. Working at the intersection of Aboriginal policy and public health, Joseph is committed to fostering meaningful change and strengthening connections between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.