Assisted PD Events

Adj Clinical Professor, Curtin University

Professor Aron Chakera is a renal physician–scientist whose work spans translational research, clinical trials, and health systems innovation in kidney and immune-mediated disease. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) from the University of Oxford and is a Fellow of both the Royal College of Physicians (FRCP) and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP), with formal training in higher education teaching. Professor Chakera heads the Translational Renal Research Group at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and is an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Medicine at Curtin University. He has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, including articles in The Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, Kidney International, and Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. He has secured more than $21 million in competitive research funding and served as principal investigator on over 30 clinical trials, with research that has informed national practice and policy.

Lecturer in Nursing, University of Tasmania

Debbie Fortnum is a senior renal nurse academic, clinician, and author with more than 30 years of experience in kidney care across Australia and the United Kingdom. She holds a Master’s degree in International Health Management and multiple postgraduate qualifications in renal nursing, leadership, education, and health management. Debbie is a faculty member in the School of Nursing at the University of Tasmania, where she is involved in teaching, research supervision, and curriculum development in renal nursing and health leadership. She has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and is co-editor of Principles of Nursing in Kidney Care. A Board Director of the Renal Society of Australasia, Debbie is widely recognised for her scholarly contributions to shared decision-making, home dialysis, and consumer-centred kidney care.

Adj Professor, Griffith University, QLD, Australia 

Adj Professor, Adelaide University, SA, Australia

Paul Bennett is an experienced dialysis nurse and clinical researcher whose work in Australia and the United States focuses on pragmatic strategies to improve quality of life for people living with chronic kidney disease. With over 20 years of dialysis nursing experience, his person-centred research program examines dialysis-related symptoms, exercise, peer support, patient-reported outcomes, patient activation, wellbeing, and home dialysis. Paul is an investigator on three current NHMRC-funded studies and plays an active leadership role in international kidney health initiatives. He is a founding editor of the Renal Society of Australasia Journal and a founding member of the International Society of Nephrology Nurses’ Working Group and the Global Renal Exercise Network. His recent contributions include co-chairing the 2024 KDIGO Nursing Management of Dialysis Symptoms meeting and lead authorship of international practice recommendations and guidelines.