Jimmy Yu-Hsiang Chen NAPWHA: Networks Project Officer

Topic: Lived experience CALD speaker

Jimmy Yu-Hsiang Chen has been working closely with the MSM community since he started in his role as a peer educator at ACON’s a[TEST] clinic. Currently he also working at NAPWHA as a Networks Project Officer, Jimmy’s role is to engage, facilitate and better connect the PLHIV community with HIV organisations in Australia. His insight of HIV and HIV sector have its unique experiences, combine with his culture diverse background.

Tiko Istiko Doctoral candidate, School of Public Health UQ, research assistant, School of Public Health and Social Work QUT

Topic: The intersection of sexual health literacy in HIV, migration and public health

Tiko is a critical public health researcher, interested in exploring the intersections between migration and public health. Tiko uses interdisciplinary approach, participatory research, and qualitative methodologies to better understand the determinants of people from migrant and refugee backgrounds.

Zhihong Gu Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ)

Topic: Challenges facing people from CALD backgrounds in terms of HIV prevention, testing, and treatment

Zhihong Gu is the Program Manager for the BBV&STI Program at the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ). She has been in this role for about 17 years working with a range of culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) in Queensland. Zhihong has a master’s degree in Public Health and a bachelor’s degree in Preventive Medicine.

Arron Sparkes Senior Clinical Pharmacist, Metro North Sexual Health and HIV Service

Topic: 2023 Therapeutics Update and Case Discussions

Arron is a senior clinical pharmacist based in Brisbane, with a decade of experience across both hospital and community settings. Working within an outpatient ambulatory care setting, Arron demonstrates specialist skills in the management of complex HIV caseloads and sexual health more broadly. As an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, Arron provides collaborative care and clinical consultation to patients from diverse backgrounds and key priority demographics. Arron is committed to continuing professional development, both in his own clinical practice and through mentoring and supervision of practitioners in training.

Arron is a passionate advocate for patient-centred care and inclusivity, and is actively engaged in community-based groups with a focus on optimising long-term health outcomes of PLWH via evidence-based contemporary practice.