Conference Speakers
Professor Keith Hill
Director, Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre,
School of Primary and Allied Health Care,
Peninsula Campus, Monash University, Australia
Professor Keith Hill is Director of the Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre at Monash University. Keith is a physiotherapist and senior researcher, with over 40 years of clinical experience in rehabilitation and aged care, and an extensive track record in implementing and completing a broad range of research programs for older people in the community, hospital and residential aged care settings. Keith has particular research expertise in the areas of fall prevention, exercise, and ageing well, has a strong focus on inter-disciplinary research, and has current or recent research collaborations in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Canada, Sri Lanka, UK and Brazil. Recent and current projects Keith is involved in include improving the health and well-being of older carers of older people, outdoor exercise parks for older people, improving physical activity, mobility and safety for people living with dementia, assessment of physical performance and community participation, and impacts of covid-19 and covid-19 messaging, especially targeted at older people. Keith has been a Chief Investigator on 131 research grants totalling $48million and has published 390 peer-reviewed publications
Dr. Shiromi Maduwage
Public Health Specialist, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
Dr. Shiromi Maduwage is the President of the College of Community Physicians, Sri Lanka. She has extensive work experience in Public Health including the Elderly, because of that she engages in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public health programmes with a special focus on the elderly, and disabled at the National and Provincial levels in Sri Lanka. A researcher with skills in conducting elderly care research. Presentations and publications of research articles at the national and international levels. Experience in medical undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and supervising elderly research projects. Council member to the National Council of Elderly, Sri Lanka. Founder member of the Geriatric Association, Sri Lanka and a member of the Palliative care and end-of-life care taskforce, Sri Lanka. Council member and the Secretary 2016/2017 and the treasurer 2018/2019 of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka. Council Member of The International Institute on Ageing (Malta) Satellite Centre for SAARC Countries. Dr. Shiromi was a keynote speaker at the 4th International Longevity Conference 2023, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Dr Sean MacDermott
Dr Sean MacDermott is an Associate Professor and Director of the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research at La Trobe University's Rural Health School. His background is varied and includes post graduate qualifications in Management, Social Work, and Psychology. He has also worked in both the private and public sectors in Ireland, the UK, and Australia. Prior to joining La Trobe University, he was the National Manager for the Dementia Care in Hospitals Program as it was rolled out across Australia.
Dr MacDermott has a wealth of experience and expertise and has been actively involved in rural ageing research for two decades. He has made significant contributions to understanding of the unique challenges faced by older adults living in rural communities where his work has focused on the intersection of social, economic, and environmental factors that impact the health and wellbeing of rural older adults. He has worked with over 50 health services in areas of program implementation and health service redesign. Research projects have included work in dementia, cognitive decline, intergenerational care, suicide, aged-care workforce, palliative care, end-of-life planning, and ageing in place.
Dr MacDermott has also been involved in developing innovative solutions to address the challenges confronting older people especially those in rural areas. These include community-based approaches and the use of technology. This innovative approach extends to education where he maintains an active teaching load which includes the development of an age-specific subject on Working With Older People. This is designed to equip graduates with skills to work in the aged-care sector.
As Director of the John Richards Centre, Dr MacDermott is at the forefront of La Trobe Rural Health School's efforts to advance research, policy and practice in rural health and ageing. In this role, he works closely with researchers, policymakers, and community partners to advance the centre's mission of promoting healthy ageing in rural communities. He leads the development and implementation of research programs, engages with stakeholders to translate research findings into practice, and provides leadership and mentorship to a team of researchers and students.
Professor Keith Hill
Director, Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Peninsula Campus, Monash University, Australia
Professor Keith Hill is Director of the Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living Research Centre at Monash University. Keith is a physiotherapist and senior researcher, with over 40 years of clinical experience in rehabilitation and aged care, and an extensive track record in implementing and completing a broad range of research programs for older people in the community, hospital and residential aged care settings. Keith has particular research expertise in the areas of fall prevention, exercise, and ageing well, has a strong focus on inter-disciplinary research, and has current or recent research collaborations in Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Canada, Sri Lanka, UK and Brazil. Recent and current projects Keith is involved in include improving the health and well-being of older carers of older people, outdoor exercise parks for older people, improving physical activity, mobility and safety for people living with dementia, assessment of physical performance and community participation, and impacts of covid-19 and covid-19 messaging, especially targeted at older people. Keith has been a Chief Investigator on 131 research grants totalling $48million and has published 390 peer-reviewed publications
Dr. Shiromi Maduwage
Public Health Specialist, Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka
Dr. Shiromi Maduwage is the President of the College of Community Physicians, Sri Lanka. She has extensive work experience in Public Health including the Elderly, because of that she engages in the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of public health programmes with a special focus on the elderly, and disabled at the National and Provincial levels in Sri Lanka. A researcher with skills in conducting elderly care research. Presentations and publications of research articles at the national and international levels. Experience in medical undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and supervising elderly research projects. Council member to the National Council of Elderly, Sri Lanka. Founder member of the Geriatric Association, Sri Lanka and a member of the Palliative care and end-of-life care taskforce, Sri Lanka. Council member and the Secretary 2016/2017 and the treasurer 2018/2019 of the College of Community Physicians of Sri Lanka. Council Member of The International Institute on Ageing (Malta) Satellite Centre for SAARC Countries. Dr. Shiromi was a keynote speaker at the 4th International Longevity Conference 2023, held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Dr Sean MacDermott
Director, Rehabilitation,Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) research centre,School of Primary and Allied Health Care,Peninsula Campus,Monash University,Australia
Dr Sean MacDermott is an Associate Professor and Director of the John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research at La Trobe University's Rural Health School. His background is varied and includes post graduate qualifications in Management, Social Work, and Psychology. He has also worked in both the private and public sectors in Ireland, the UK, and Australia. Prior to joining La Trobe University, he was the National Manager for the Dementia Care in Hospitals Program as it was rolled out across Australia. Dr MacDermott has a wealth of experience and expertise and has been actively involved in rural ageing research for two decades. He has made significant contributions to understanding of the unique challenges faced by older adults living in rural communities where his work has focused on the intersection of social, economic, and environmental factors that impact the health and wellbeing of rural older adults. He has worked with over 50 health services in areas of program implementation and health service redesign. Research projects have included work in dementia, cognitive decline, intergenerational care, suicide, aged-care workforce, palliative care, end-of-life planning, and ageing in place. Dr MacDermott has also been involved in developing innovative solutions to address the challenges confronting older people especially those in rural areas. These include community-based approaches and the use of technology. This innovative approach extends to education where he maintains an active teaching load which includes the development of an age-specific subject on Working With Older People. This is designed to equip graduates with skills to work in the aged-care sector. As Director of the John Richards Centre, Dr MacDermott is at the forefront of La Trobe Rural Health School's efforts to advance research, policy and practice in rural health and ageing. In this role, he works closely with researchers, policymakers, and community partners to advance the centre's mission of promoting healthy ageing in rural communities. He leads the development and implementation of research programs, engages with stakeholders to translate research findings into practice, and provides leadership and mentorship to a team of researchers and students.
Dr Ashish Goel MD, FICP, MPH
Head of Department & Professor of Medicine, Dr BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjab, India.
President of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics
Ashish was previously a Professor of Medicine at the University of Delhi in India. He completed his Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health under a Fulbright Fellowship. He is the immediate past President of the Indian Academy of Geriatrics, the largest academic body of Geriatric Medicine in India and also the Vice President of the Association of Gerontology in India. In addition, he is a council member on the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics – Asia Oceania Region. His areas of interest include medical ethics, doctor-patient relationships, medical education, applications of technology in health, geriatric care and frailty. He loves to cook, travel, teach and write.
