Dr Akbar is a senior lecturer at the School of Public Health, specialising in advocacy, First Nations and Public Health within medical education training. Dr Akbar is a Fellow of Higher Education and Associate Fellow for Health Education (Indigenous Knowledges) and brings over 30 years of experience in community development research with a focus on health inequity using community participatory action research and Indigenous methodologies to inform social policy change that translates to equitable health outcomes for First Nations, Māori and Pasifika and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in Australia and internationally.

Matthew Cooke is a proud Aboriginal and South Sea Islander from the Bailai (Byellee) people in Gladstone, Central Queensland. Matthew has a background in serving the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Sector as both a Director and CEO over the past 15 years. Mr Cooke is currently the Chief Executive Officer for the Gladstone Region Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service Limited t/a Nhulundu Health Service and Executive Chairperson of the First Nations Bailai, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng, Taribelang Bunda People Aboriginal Corporation. Matthew is actively involved in all aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs at national, state, regional and local levels. In 2007 he was named Young Leader in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, in 2008 received the Deadly Vibe Young Leader Award and in 2011 received the Australian Institute of Management 2011 Young Manager of the Year Award - Gladstone. Mr Cooke is also a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Director of the Institute for First Nations Governance Professionals.

Dr Mataroria Lyndon (MBChB, MPH, PhD) Ngāti Hine, Ngāti Wai, Ngāti Whātua, Waikato Dr Mataroria Lyndon is a clinician, academic, and governance leader. He is a co-founder of Tend Health, one of Aotearoa’s largest primary healthcare providers, and serves as a Senior Lecturer in Medical Education at the University of Auckland. Dr Lyndon has held key governance roles, including Deputy Chair of the Health Promotion Agency and board member of both Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority and the Northland District Health Board. He currently serves on the boards of Te Tira Tū Iwi Māori Partnership Board, Pūtahi Manawa Centre of Research Excellence for Heart Health, and the Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Foundation. He holds a Master of Public Health from Harvard University as a Fulbright Scholar and his PhD focuses on medical education. He was also awarded the Deloitte IPANZ Young Professional of the Year.