Scientific Committee

Margaret’s distinguished career in palliative care began as a clinical nurse caring for people in their own homes and includes establishing and managing services, as well as education and research roles. She was honoured with an Order of Australia in 2005 for her contribution to the development of palliative care in Australia; and she received a Churchill Fellowship in 2018 to study aspects of palliative care and voluntary assisted dying in many countries. Margaret was inaugural Professor of Palliative Care Nursing at Monash University, where she remains as Emeritus Professor, contributing to teaching and, research. Her research addresses service delivery and workforce issues in many settings, including aged care. She has held numerous roles advocating for people’s rights as they approach the end of their life, including President of Palliative Care Australia, and foundation member of the World Palliative Care Alliance. Margaret is a Board Director of Catholic Healthcare Ltd, a large aged care provider, and Chair of Palliative Care South East, a home-based palliative care service in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

Dr. Elsa Sanatombi Devi is a distinguished nursing educator, researcher, and healthcare leader serving as Professor of Medical-Surgical Nursing at the Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), India. She currently serves as Director of the MAHE FAIMER International Institute for Leadership in Interprofessional Education (M-FIILIPE), Deputy Director of the Centre for Continuing Education and Interprofessional Development, and President of the Gerontological Nursing Association of India. With a PhD in Nursing, an MBA in Healthcare Services, multiple FAIMER fellowships, and extensive expertise in interprofessional education, wound care, geriatric nursing, dementia care, and health professions education, Dr. Devi has made significant contributions to nursing research and academic leadership. She is the recipient of the prestigious National Florence Nightingale Award and has authored several books, book chapters, and numerous high-impact research publications. Her work focuses on advancing collaborative healthcare education, patient safety, wound management, and elderly care through innovative research and global partnerships.

Dr. Gireesh G. R., PhD (Nursing) is a Professor at Yenepoya Nursing College, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangaluru, Karnataka, India. He has more than 19 years of teaching and academic experience in nursing education and research. His areas of expertise include Oncology Nursing, Palliative Care, Psycho-Oncology, Nursing Education, Mindfulness-Based Interventions, and Evidence-Based Nursing Practice. He has served in various academic leadership roles, including Head of Department, NAAC Coordinator, and IQAC Coordinator. Dr. Gireesh has guided postgraduate research, published extensively in national and international journals, and actively contributes to academic quality assurance and faculty development initiatives.

I am Mrs. Shereen Senarathne, a Senior Nurse Educator with over three decades of dedicated experience in nursing practice and education. Holding a BSc in Nursing and an MSc in Nursing, I currently serve as a lecturer at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Colombo. My teaching portfolio includes imparting essential skills for nursing such as communication, paediatric nursing, adult health nursing, and women's health nursing. Throughout my career, I have been honoured with awards such as Best Teacher and Best Presenter, recognizing my commitment to excellence in education. My research focuses on health communication and cultural competence of nurses, particularly enhancing interactions between nurses and patients to elevate patient outcomes. Currently pursuing a PhD in health communication, my studies aim to develop innovative training sessions addressing these critical areas. I am deeply committed to continuous professional development, advocating for culturally competent care in diverse healthcare settings. With extensive experience bridging clinical practice and education, I am passionate about advancing nursing education, improving patient care through effective communication, and contributing to cutting-edge research in nursing.