Abiola (Abi) Akinbiyi is an award-winning Healthcare Professional and Community leader with a special interest in gerontology and mental health. With a career spanning over two decades in different healthcare settings, she is passionate about educating, training, and empowering people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to pursue successful careers and provide culturally appropriate care in nursing, mental health, and aged care. In the realm of aged care, Mental Health, and healthcare services, her work and approach emphasize a holistic and person-centred- model that prioritizes compassion, dignity, a safe workplace, and quality of life. Her research and advocacy have played a pivotal role in shaping policies and practices to address the unique challenges faced by the aging population and healthcare workforce. Abiola is a lifelong learner with undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in Nursing, Gerontology, Mental health, Mathematics, and information system. Abi began her career in aged care as a Personal Care Attendant and a nurse before leading clinical education for some of Australia’s most prominent residential and community aged care providers. Her profound impact extends to mentorship, where she dedicated herself to nurturing the next generation of compassionate and highly skilled nurses. Through her mentorship program, Abi has empowered many nurses, students, allied health professionals, and other profession, fostering leadership in young women with a culture of excellence and compassion in the community. She established Changepreneurs, a non-for-profit organization that focus on mentoring young women of colour to achieve their career goals and aspire to leadership. Abiola is a recipient of many awards, and she sits on many boards, including the Northwestern Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) , Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria (ECCV), as well as being a Commissioner on the Victorian Multicultural Commission.

Lindsay Bent is a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) Paramedic and has worked with Ambulance Victoria for more than 34 years, where he currently holds the role of Clinical Lead, Communications Centre. Mr Bent was the Operational Lead to develop the Southern Hemisphere’s first mobile stroke ambulance – Melbourne Mobile Stroke Unit - in collaboration with the Royal Melbourne Hospital and the Stroke Foundation. He also introduced Ambulance Victoria’s Motorcycle Paramedic response model. He was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2022 to research dementia friendly ambulance services in the UK, and was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal (ASM) in the 2024 national honours for distinguished service to Ambulance Victoria. He was also admitted as Officer of the Order of St John (OStJ) for sustained loyalty, commitment, and volunteer service to St John Ambulance Australia.

Olivia Geary is a graduate of Deakin University with a Bachelor of Psychological Science, majoring in Organisational Studies. She has spent the last seven years working in customer service, obtaining numerous awards for hospitality and leadership. Three of her grandparents have suffered with dementia and she seeks to assist in prevention and awareness.

Fallon Forbes is the Manager of Dementia Training Australia’s Environments education and training services. With a background in Psychology, Fallon is passionate about creating supportive and meaningful environments for people living with dementia, and developing accessible training and resources that bridge the gap between research and practical application.