CO-CHAIR

Dr Francis is child mental health researcher and holds a postdoctoral research fellow position at the Black Dog Institute and University of New South Wales. She is also an honorary postdoctoral research fellow at Macquarie University. Dr Francis was awarded her PhD in 2020 and holds a Master of Clinical Neuropsychology, Master of Research, and Bachelor of Psychology (Honours). Her research experience has involved development of a reading anxiety test to assess anxiety in children with reading difficulties, and development of a new treatment for this population. Her current research spans the fields of Clinical Psychology, Clinical Neuropsychology, and Cognitive Science. She is currently developing the world’s first digital treatment for children with anxiety and learning difficulties and is testing this in a clinical trial in partnership with Westmead Children’s Hospital and the Centre for Effective Reading. She is also a psychologist (clinical neuropsychology registrar) working in private practice.

CO-CHAIR

Dr Boulton is a Research Fellow at the University of Sydney, in the Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research. Her research interests are in paediatric neurodevelopment, with a specific focus on how digital technology can be used to uplift the capacity of clinical services and embed research into clinical practice. Dr Boulton conducts research with services across the Sydney Children's Hospital Network to integrate research with clinical practice and identify and respond to transdiagnostic needs in children and families accessing these services. This work has led to the establishment of the Australian Child Neurodevelopment Research Registry and the Sydney Child Neurodevelopment Research Registry, both of which have become cornerstones of research integrated clinical practice.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Dr Laura Roche is a senior lecturer in Education at the University of Newcastle with a background in developmental neuroscience and psychology. Her research program focuses on enhancing communication participation in young children with rare genetic syndromes and supporting social competence in young adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Her research is applied, whereby she adopts single case experimental designs to explore the social-communication profile of those with rare syndromes, and to test the efficacy of behavioural interventions to support these unique individuals. Laura’s research extends to supporting neurodiverse University students, assessing the impact of screen time on sleep and language development, and partnering with industry to explore socially meaningful ways of supporting mental health for young adults with social differences and difficulties.

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Lauren is a provisional psychologist and PhD candidate in Clinical Neuropsychology at Monash University and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI). In her role as Research Officer at Monash University, she coordinates the Neurodevelopment Research Program in the School of Psychological Sciences and works as a Teaching Associate in the Undergraduate Bachelor of Psychology, having taught across each level of the program, from first year to Honours. She is also a research assistant with MCRI, providing developmental follow-up assessments for children across the Royal Women’s Hospital and Monash Health.

Her research explores executive function outcomes at school age in children who were born moderate-to-late preterm. Lauren has a strong interest in early intervention and identifying the structures which can be put in place to support the development and well-being of children, across whichever early life challenges they may be facing.

SECRETARY

Kaitlyn is a final-year PhD candidate (Clinical Neuropsychology) at Monash University and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. Her PhD research is investigating trajectories and profiles of academic achievement in children born preterm, as well as parent perspectives of preterm birth and its impact on educational decision-making.

Kaitlyn is passionate about understanding and supporting individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and acquired brain injury through both clinical practice and research. She aspires to provide paediatric assessment and intervention that is family-centred, person-driven and meaningful. She has a particular interest in contributing to translational and implementation research, ensuring that findings can be effectively used to enhance clinical practice and policy for children and their families.

SECRETARY

Zi Yan is a PhD (Clinical Neuropsychology) candidate at Monash University and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI). Her PhD research is focused on investigating the developmental trajectories of executive function from childhood to early adulthood and their neurobiological correlates in individuals born very preterm, and sits within the Victorian Infant Brain Studies (VIBeS) group. Zi Yan is also a provisional psychologist, and her clinical interests span neurodevelopmental conditions, neurological conditions, and brain injury and rehabilitation. She is keen to pursue both clinical and research roles in paediatric neuropsychology, and aspires to contribute to translational research and engage in evidence-based and person-centred clinical practice to support the development and well-being of children and adolescents.