Speakers

Angus is a Pedorthist, Podiatrist and Director of Erina Podiatry and Coastal Orthotics and Pedorthics. Making custom and modified footwear solutions for patients on the Central Coast, NSW. He has worked in the Public and Private sectors as well as in education through the University of Newcastle. Learning footwear modifications from his father Gary and working with Pedorthists at his time with the Sydney Local Health District inspired him to go on further obtain his Bachelor of Pedorthics and become a certified Pedorthist Custom Maker.

David Sutton started life in the footwear industry in the late 1970's and is one of Melbourne's leading pedorthists and often runs training events for the allied health community on footwear, footwear modification and falls reduction through proper footwear.

David is also a clinical advisor to the Victorian state government fund S.W.E.P, clinical advisor to Tekscan and an active member of the PAA board.

Dr Andrew Knox is a specialist podiatric surgeon and is recognised as an international expert on minimally invasive foot surgery, having published the second largest study worldwide on outcomes from keyhole bunion surgery. He was the first surgeon to introduce keyhole bunion surgery to Western Australia in 2018 is now widely-recognised as the premiere provider of keyhole bunion surgery in Perth. Andrew provides specialist advice and surgical treatment for foot and ankle problems including bunions, hallux rigidus, arthritis, heel pain, morton’s neuroma, and revisional foot surgery.

Since commencing practice in 2011, Andrew has had extensive experience in providing both surgical and non-surgical treatment for foot and ankle conditions both locally and abroad. In addition to working in Australia, he has spent significant time overseas completing additional specialist training in both the United States and in China. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Podiatric Medicine and a Doctorate of Clinical Podiatry from the University of Western Australia, and is a Member of the Australasian College of Podiatric Surgeons (ACPS).

He has published several original research articles and has previously held teaching appointments at the UWA also, assisting with the training of both podiatrists and podiatric surgeons locally.

Associate Professor Ashad Kabir is an expert in data science and artificial intelligence in health care. He is the deputy leader of the data mining research group at Charles Sturt University. His research focuses on applying advanced technologies, including data mining, artificial intelligence, and smartphone apps, to solve problems in the domain of health and well-being while considering individuals’ privacy and system security.

A/Prof Kabir has published over 100 research articles and secured research grants with a total budget of over $1.5 million. As the lead and sole investigator, he successfully completed several industry-funded projects with excellent impact and quality publications. He is a recipient of the Vice Chancellor Research Excellence Awards 2022 in the category of "Researcher of the Year in the Faculty" for research achievements, including research publications, grants, research leadership, impact, significance, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Ashad is an editorial board member for several journals, including Frontiers in Digital Health and BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making. He has delivered keynotes at several conferences and been invited as a guest speaker to deliver talks at several prominent universities across the world, including the University of Maryland (USA), Texas A&M University (USA), the University of Toronto (Canada), York University (Canada), Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand), and Chandigarh University (India).

Associate Professor Williams is a clinical researcher and educator in the School of Primary and Allied Health Care at Monash University.

Cylie has extensive clinical experience in all health care settings, with a particular focus on paediatric lower limb conditions. She maintains a small private practice role, has over 150 peer reviewed publications and attracted over $8 Million in research grants.

Cylie has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Podiatry) from Queensland University of Technology, a Masters in Health Science (Health Promotion and Education) from Deakin University and a PhD from Charles Sturt University. She is also a certified Health Informatician (Australasia). Her ongoing research is focused on collaborative care, communication, use of data to guide care, and understanding the impact of strength and gait aids on mobility and foot problems in children.

Associate Professor Fred Holtkamp is the Chair in Health Innovation at Fontys University School of Allied Health Professions in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. He also holds a position as visiting professor at the University of Labour and Social Affairs (ULSA) in Hanoi Vietnam. He is a board member of the Sichting Erkenningsregelingen Medische Hulpmiddelen (SEMH), a foundation that monitors, maintains and improves the quality of medical device care in the Netherlands. He serves on the Accrediation Committee of the International Society of Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO) and is a consultant for the Netherlands Pedorthic Association.

Fred started his career in medical engineering and has now spent more than 20 year working in the field of Prosthetics & Orthotics (Orthopedic Engineering) and Pedorthics (Shoe-Technology). He is specialised in biomechanics, gait analysis and CAD/CAM systems.

He has a bachelor degree in mechanical engineering and in mechatronics and also a PGdip in gait analysis, biomechanics and orthotics. He received his Master of Science degree in Rehabilitation Engineering at Strathclyde University in Glasgow. In 2021 he is distinguished with the title of “Officer in the Order of Oranje Nassau’ for his work in education and research in orthopedic engineering and shoe technology, and awarded with the SIA-RAAK nomination of best research project in 2020. In 2019 he received with the research group the Emerald Literati Award for ‘Technology miplementation in delivery of healthcare to older people: how can the least voice in society be heard?".

Karl is CPed CM and practicing Pedorthics in Australia since 1988. He initially trained in Germany and worked some time in Pedorthics in Japan. Karl did further education in Australia to qualify for registration as a CPed CM. Karl initiated the Bachelor of Pedorthics program at SCU and is running it through its entire life cycle.

A large amount of his day-to-day work is about the Diabetic foot but a passion of his is the sensomotoric topic. A field with little pedorthic related research. A field where he has a dedicated patient base that is driven by word of mouth and tangible results.

Katrin Wegener commenced her training to become a qualified orthopaedic shoemaker and orthotic specialist in Germany in 1994.
Katrin received an award for second place in the 1999 State graduate competition. In 2006, she passed the supplementary exam at the state-approved Ralph GROTSTOLLEN School of Podology to achieve the status of a German state-certified Podologe (Podiatrist).

Katrin arrived in Australia in 2009 and qualified as an Australian Certified Pedorthist (CM). She has been involved in providing training as part of the Australian Pedorthic Certification Course Program. She has participated on the certification panel for the Australian Pedorthic Register and has published several articles for a German local newspaper as well as professional articles for a German pedorthic and podiatry magazine. She has presented at several national and international conferences and is the current President of the Pedorthic Association of Australia.

Katrin continues to reside in Australia while further developing her successful career with an established client base within the profession.

Markus Kerkering began his study in Germany in 2011 to become a licenced orthopaedic shoemaker and orthotic expert. He received his German Meister degree in 2018.

Markus has presented at national and international pedorthic conferences and has written professional articles for both a German Pedorthic and Podiatry journal and an English Pedorthic magazine.

He relocated to Australia in 2020 to further develop his career and currently works at Sydney-based pedorthic clinic, Footpower.