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OUR STAFF

Michael Janssen
 Chief Executive Officer

Michael Janssen, has over a decade senior management experience in health at both State and National levels. Michael comes from The Continence Foundation of Australia where he was Deputy CEO and responsible for managing a major Commonwealth awareness raising project and for establishing Australia's first nationally accredited vocational continence courses for health professionals. Previously, he has held the positions of Patient Advocate at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Principal Adviser for the Australian Divisions of General Practice, Executive Officer of the Australian Diabetes Professional Organisations and Community Relation Manager for Diabetes Australia - Victoria. Michael has also been a commercial sculptor, youthworker and minister of religion. Michael holds a Masters of Applied Science, a Bachelor of Theology, and recently completed a PHCRED Fellowship with the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne. Michael brings to the role of CEO experience and passion for both consumer and professional perspectives in health care across community, primary and acute sectors.
Ph: (03) 9479 5827
Email: m.janssen@healthissuescentre.org.au
Panayiota Romios
 Deputy CEO
Dr Panayiota Romios has worked ethnic and gender health policy advisory roles and as a researcher across a range of sectors, from community health organisations to government. Panayiota has also taught at tertiary level both sociology and anthropology within health sciences. Since commencing at Health Issues Centre Panayiota has been involved in a number of projects at Health Issues Centre including: Austin Health's groundbreaking Respecting Patient Choices (RPC) Project; the preparation of recommendations to the National Medical Health Research Council on involvement of consumers in the development of health advice; the North Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Services (NEMICS) research project looking into consumer experiences that cross both public and private cancer care. More recently Panayiota has been working on a study of consumer perspectives on potential workforce change. Dr Romios also has experience in participatory action research and evaluation.
Ph: (03) 9479 5824
Email: p.romios@healthissuescentre.org.au
Nicola Bruce
 Senior Project Officer
Dr Nicola Bruce has qualifications in Health and Community Development with Masters and PhD degrees in Health Science. Much of Nicola’s practice has been in the community health sector. She has considerable experience in health advocacy both from an academic and personal standpoint. Her thesis, Makers of meaning: Consumer participation in breast health and the role of women’s contribution in breast health knowledge, examined the role of consumer participation in the communication of knowledge. Nicola first came in contact with the Health Issues Centre when she was a consumer representative on the Optimizing Consumer Participation committee for the Southern Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Services (SMICS). Since commencing work at the Health Issues Centre Nicola has worked on literature reviews for the Cancer Australia Project and the Sax project, as well as working on a North Eastern Metropolitan Integrated Cancer Services (NEMICS) research project looking into consumer experiences that cross both public and private cancer care. More recently Nicola has worked on the oral health study ‘Was I still on the waiting list?’ a study about people waiting for public dental care and with consumer perceptions of changes to the health workforce.
Ph: (03) 9479 3520
 Email: :n.bruce@healthissuescentre.org.au
Tere Dawson
 Senior Project and Policy Coordinator
Dr Tere Dawson has qualifications in social sciences with Masters and PhD degrees in sociology and anthropology, as well as a Master of Public Health. Tere has an extensive research and academic background and has published widely. Since commencing work with Health Issues Centre, she has collaborated in several research projects including complaint processes, consumer participation in quality and safety activities, consumer participation in cancer services and consumer and carer perspectives on the Respecting Patient Choices Program® at Austin Health. Dr Dawson's other responsibilities at Health Issues Centre have included her work in primary health care, general practice integration, and the Primary Care Partnerships Strategy.
Ph: (03) 9479 3895
Email:t.dawson@healthissuescentre.org.au
Jackie Mansourian
 Senior Project Officer
Jackie Mansourian has been working as a community development worker for the past 21 years in Melbourne, London and in various parts of Mozambique, in all sorts of places and levels - including neighbourhood houses, local government, community health, university and international non-governmental organisations. Human rights and social determinants of health and wellbeing are values and understandings that underpin her practice. Jackie's position at Health Issues Centre is to support the ongoing development of Community Advisory Committees across 19 public health services in Victoria. Jackie has a Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Social Work from a long time ago and in 2006 completed a Diploma in Professional Writing and Editing.
Ph: (03) 9479 5870
 Email:j.mansourian@healthissuescentre.org.au
Nicky Barry
 Consumer Nominee Program
Nicky Barry is a community development worker with many years experience in the neighbourhood house sector. Nicky has worked closely with her local community to develop a diverse range of place based services and programmes for volunteers, CALD communities, adult learners, parents and carers. Nicky is also a member of the Moreland Disability Advisory Group and the Northwest Area Mental Health Action Plan Steering Committee. Nicky's position at Health Issues Centre is to Co-ordinate the Consumer Nominee Program.
Ph: (03) 9479 3222
 Email:n.barry@healthissuescentre.org.au


Souzi Markos
 Office Manager
Souzi Markos has been with Health issues Centre since the beginning, providing the vital administrative support necessary to keep activities at Health Issues Centre humming along. Souzi also ensures that enquiries, documents and people coming to Health Issues Centre find their way to the appropriate staff member.
Ph: (03) 9479 5827
 Email:s.markos@healthissuescentre.org.au