LEAN Executive

Natalie has been a perinatal consumer representative since 2015, after the birth of her premature twins at 29 weeks. She holds or has held, a number of consumer advisory positions providing consumer advice for professional societies, health services, and research networks.
In 2022, she co-founded the NICU Lived Network which focuses on opening the door between the work happening within neonatology and those who want to share their experiences for positive change. As part of the NICU Lived Network, she interviews NICU families and health professionals about various topics, including current research trials, the importance of consumer representatives and the networks behind the NICUs.
Prior to this, she worked for Miracle Babies Foundation, providing peer-to-peer support to families with babies receiving care in the NICU at Royal Darwin Hospital.

Kelly is a mum of 3 children….two that walk with her hand in hand and one that lives within her heart. In 2013 Kelly completed her post-graduate studies in Counselling, specialising in trauma, grief and loss, complimenting her undergraduate degree in Psychology. Kelly has over 10 years experience working with bereaved families through her private practice and bereavement charities. In 2012 she commenced working with Bears of Hope Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support as their support services coordinator.  Kelly spends her time equally between supporting bereaved families and advocating for bereavement care within hospitals through education talks and in-services.

Kylie Facer is mother to Daughter Anika, a survivor of neonatal stroke. In 2017 Kylie co-founded Little Stroke Warriors Australia (LSW). Kylie has been actively involved in advocating for education, awareness and funding for research into Neonatal and childhood stroke. A major achievement has been the development of the “My Family Stroke Journey” resource in collaboration with the Stroke Foundation as well as the awarding of $4m in funding for the PACS (Paedatric Acute Code Stroke) Study through the MRFF.  In 2018 in her capacity as co-founder of LSW, was awarded the Improving Life After Stroke award and in 2022 was awarded the Stroke Foundation Presidents Achievement award.

Over the last 7 years Kylie has been actively involved in the support of the Cerebral Palsy Alliance and continues to advocate for equality in care for those in rural and regional areas. 2023 saw the successful delivery of an intensive therapy camp in Muswellbrook for children that would otherwise not have access to these services.

In 2020 Kylie served as a consumer representative on the NSW Paediatric Rehabilitation Services Model of Care project. In 2021 Kylie joined the Neostem trial as Parent Investigator and addressed the World Stroke Congress to highlight the importance of Lived Experience in the delivery of services, resources and when developing research framework.

Kylie also sits on the Lions 201N3 District Cabinet.

Melinda Cruz is mother to 3 premature babies and a prominent parent-advocate. In 2005, after having her second son at 27 weeks, she founded Miracle Babies Foundation and, although no longer affiliated, led the organisation for 17 years.
In 2012, Melinda received an Honorary Research Associate (University of Sydney) and became the first parent Associate Investigator (LIFT Trial) and Chief Investigator (WHEAT Trial) on NHMRC-funded neonatal studies. She won the inaugural ACTA Consumer-Involvement Award for contributions to the TORPIDO30/60 Trial. Using her lived-experience, she has contributed to 10 multi-centred trials, including as lead parent investigator for the Family Integrated Care (FiCare) Trial, and has co-authored 19 peer-reviewed publications.

She holds key advisory board/committee positions, including the PSANZ LEAN, LifeBlood MilkBank Advisory Board, PLATIPUS Trial Lived-Experience Committee (Chair), SurPre Trial Working Group (Co-Chair), and wamM Trial Central Parent-Partner. She co-founded NICU Lived Network, a social platform highlighting research, advocacy, and CPI.

Alex is a postdoctoral research fellow, physiotherapist, lived experience advocate and mother. Her research is focused on developing and optimising new therapies, so that children with disabilities can spend less time in therapy and more time doing the things they love. Alex’s passion is working with families and people with lived experience of disability to ensure their experience and priorities guide research. Alex completed her PhD at the University of Sydney, picking up the University Medal, three scholarships, three children and a Thesis Excellence Prize along the way. Alex mentors high school students in STEM and is passionate about promoting gender equity in STEM.

Ahlia Griffiths is a passionate advocate for ensuring the voice of Lived Experience is championed at state, national and international levels. Ahlia uses the terminology of Lived Experience Expert (LEE) as opposed to Consumer and Community (CCI) due to community feedback over preferred language. Ahlia Joined Monash University Health and Social Care Unit (2024-current) where she heads a national team tasked to develop and embed the voice of Lived Experience in Implementation Science, this works stems for a lens of embedding equity.

Melissa is a bereaved mum to Leo, who died shortly after birth in 2022, and a proud mum to his little sister Lucy. She is deeply passionate about improving care for families through meaningful partnership with those who carry lived experience of baby loss.
Melissa works as the Parent Engagement Coordinator Research Assistant at the Stillbirth Centre of Research Excellence (CRE), where she supports national initiatives to connect bereaved parents with research. She co-chairs the Bereaved Parent Advocacy Committee and leads the Stillbirth Research Involvement Registry.
Alongside her work with the CRE, Melissa contributes as a consumer representative across several neonatal and maternity care initiatives. She is especially focused on improving the way mothers and families are supported – through inclusive, trauma-informed, and compassionate systems of care that centre the voices of those most impacted.