CHESMS Board

Elected Directors
Professor Kate Edwards President Kate is the Head of Exercise and Sport Science Discipline in the Sydney School of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. She has a strong focus on contributions to teaching and curriculum development, having held teaching leadership positions for the last decade. Having previously served on the Board of Directors for the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society as well as University Senate Committees, Kate has been a Course Accreditation Reviewer for ESSA since 2020 and was the elected Treasurer for CHESMS in 2023 prior to becoming President. Associate Professor Edwards’ research focuses on the use of exercise to adjuvant medical interventions, specifically aiming to improve treatment outcomes through exercise delivery during cancer treatment infusions and to improve vaccination experiences and immune responses. She has active research collaborations that span across Australia, UK, Canada, Brazil and the USA. As President, Kate’s role is to maintain CHESMS focus on our mission, to act as our representative in engaging with key stakeholders and partners and to best-represent the member organisations.	Dr Danielle Girard Vice President Danielle is a Senior Lecturer and Program Director of the Clinical Exercise Physiology degree within the Allied Health & Human Performance Unit at the University of South Australia. She has experience in the prescription and delivery of exercise-based interventions to help prevent and/or manage chronic conditions or injury in order to restore optimal physical function, health and/or wellness. Dr Girard’s research focuses on investigating exercise-based interventions for the prevention and management of a wide range of chronic health conditions, including cancer, mental illness, and cardiovascular disease, with a particular interest in women’s health, including pregnancy loss, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Danielle is passionate about pursuing further studies and research within the clinical exercise physiology profession and for helping students become competent health practitioners. Danielle’s role with CHESMS is to support Kate’s efforts and act as a sounding board for major projects and initiatives being undertaken by CHESMS and its member organisations.
Associate Professor Kirsten Howlett Treasurer Kirsten is the Associate Head of School, Teaching and Learning in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University. Kirsten actively participates in undergraduate teaching programs in exercise physiology and metabolism and was the course director of the Exercise and Sport Science undergraduate programs at Deakin University from 2017-2023, making strong contributions to curriculum development, coordination, and teaching. Dr Howlett is a member of the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (I-PAN) and her research program is focused on understanding the metabolic and cellular mechanisms that underpin the beneficial effects of exercise, and the detrimental impact of obesity and physical inactivity in the development of metabolic diseases. Previously, Kirsten has held a Fulbright Scholarship at the Joslin Diabetes Institute, Harvard Medical School, USA, and she has led research funded by ARC and Diabetes Australia. Kirsten’s role as Treasurer with CHESMS is to manage and handle the financial responsibilities and funding.	Dr Nathan Pitchford Secretary Nathan is an Academic and practitioner with expertise in sleep and recovery, strength and conditioning, applied sport science, injury prevention and management, and athlete performance. Currently a Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Tasmania, High-Performance Manager, and strength and conditioning and sport science consultant, Nathan is passionate about all things sport and working with athletes to improve their performance outcomes, educating future exercise and/or sport scientists and strength and conditioning coaches to help build the next generation of professionals. Dr Pitchford’s role as Secretary of CHESMS is to providing administrative support to the board, ensuring effective communication, and efficient management of organisational activities.
Associate Professor Geoff Minett Operations Geoff is an Associate Professor in exercise and sports science and Discipline Lead for Sport, Exercise, Health and Physical Education at QUT. Geoff is an Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Accredited Exercise Scientist and Accredited Sports Scientist (Level 2). He teaches in the areas of exercise physiology and performance analysis, and maintains research and professional interests in understanding the interactions between exercise performance and fatigue. This work includes laboratory-based investigations, where environmental stressors (e.g., heat) are used to exacerbate underlying mechanisms, and applied fieldwork, where the development of monitoring systems is key. Geoff’s work has attracted >$1.3 million in grant funding and resulted in >60 papers.
Appointed Directors
Dr Sam Fien ExEd Representative Samantha is a driven Early Career Researcher at CQUniversity based in Mackay. Samantha is a Senior Lecturer and Practicum Coordinator in Exercise and Sport Sciences. Samantha is passionate about her research in ageing and surf lifesaving. Samantha believes in translating research into practice with strong industry links as the National Well-Being Advisor for Surf Life Saving Australia, Chair of the Research Panel for Surf Life Saving Queensland, and NextGen Queensland Ambassador for Leading Aged Services Australia.	Professor Tim Doyle Communications Tim is a leading researcher in biomechanics and physical performance at Macquarie University, specialising in neuromuscular biomechanics, injury prevention, and physical preparation for athletic and tactical populations. He has worked as a human performance scientist for the Australian Department of Defence and collaborated with elite Rugby Union and League teams to enhance performance and minimise injury risk. As President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics (ANZSB) and a contributor to Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA). Dr. Doyle brings extensive expertise to his role at CHESMS, where he manages and oversees communication with members.

Elected Directors

Professor Kate Edwards

Kate is the Head of Exercise and Sport Science Discipline in the Sydney School of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. She has a strong focus on contributions to teaching and curriculum development, having held teaching leadership positions for the last decade. Having previously served on the Board of Directors for the PsychoNeuroImmunology Research Society as well as University Senate Committees, Kate has been a Course Accreditation Reviewer for ESSA since 2020 and was the elected Treasurer for CHESMS in 2023 prior to becoming President. Associate Professor Edwards’ research focuses on the use of exercise to adjuvant medical interventions, specifically aiming to improve treatment outcomes through exercise delivery during cancer treatment infusions and to improve vaccination experiences and immune responses. She has active research collaborations that span across Australia, UK, Canada, Brazil and the USA. As President, Kate’s role is to maintain CHESMS focus on our mission, to act as our representative in engaging with key stakeholders and partners and to best-represent the member organisations.

Dr Danielle Girard

Vice President

Danielle is a Senior Lecturer and Program Director of the Clinical Exercise Physiology degree within the Allied Health & Human Performance Unit at the University of South Australia. She has experience in the prescription and delivery of exercise-based interventions to help prevent and/or manage chronic conditions or injury in order to restore optimal physical function, health and/or wellness. Dr Girard’s research focuses on investigating exercise-based interventions for the prevention and management of a wide range of chronic health conditions, including cancer, mental illness, and cardiovascular disease, with a particular interest in women’s health, including pregnancy loss, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Danielle is passionate about pursuing further studies and research within the clinical exercise physiology profession and for helping students become competent health practitioners. Danielle’s role with CHESMS is to support Kate’s efforts and act as a sounding board for major projects and initiatives being undertaken by CHESMS and its member organisations.

Associate Professor Kirsten Howlett

Treasurer

Kirsten is the Associate Head of School, Teaching and Learning in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University. Kirsten actively participates in undergraduate teaching programs in exercise physiology and metabolism and was the course director of the Exercise and Sport Science undergraduate programs at Deakin University from 2017-2023, making strong contributions to curriculum development, coordination, and teaching. Dr Howlett is a member of the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (I-PAN) and her research program is focused on understanding the metabolic and cellular mechanisms that underpin the beneficial effects of exercise, and the detrimental impact of obesity and physical inactivity in the development of metabolic diseases. Previously, Kirsten has held a Fulbright Scholarship at the Joslin Diabetes Institute, Harvard Medical School, USA, and she has led research funded by ARC and Diabetes Australia. Kirsten’s role as Treasurer with CHESMS is to manage and handle the financial responsibilities and funding.

Dr Nathan Pitchford

Secretary

Nathan is an Academic and practitioner with expertise in sleep and recovery, strength and conditioning, applied sport science, injury prevention and management, and athlete performance. Currently a Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Sport Science at the University of Tasmania, High-Performance Manager, and strength and conditioning and sport science consultant, Nathan is passionate about all things sport and working with athletes to improve their performance outcomes, educating future exercise and/or sport scientists and strength and conditioning coaches to help build the next generation of professionals. Dr Pitchford’s role as Secretary of CHESMS is to providing administrative support to the board, ensuring effective communication, and efficient management of organisational activities.

Associate Professor Geoff Minett

Operations

Geoff is an Associate Professor in exercise and sports science and Discipline Lead for Sport, Exercise, Health and Physical Education at QUT. Geoff is an Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) Accredited Exercise Scientist and Accredited Sports Scientist (Level 2). He teaches in the areas of exercise physiology and performance analysis, and maintains research and professional interests in understanding the interactions between exercise performance and fatigue. This work includes laboratory-based investigations, where environmental stressors (e.g., heat) are used to exacerbate underlying mechanisms, and applied fieldwork, where the development of monitoring systems is key. Geoff’s work has attracted >$1.3 million in grant funding and resulted in >60 papers.

Appointed Directors

Dr Sam Fien

ExEd Representative

Samantha is a driven Early Career Researcher at CQUniversity based in Mackay. Samantha is a Senior Lecturer and Practicum Coordinator in Exercise and Sport Sciences. Samantha is passionate about her research in ageing and surf lifesaving. Samantha believes in translating research into practice with strong industry links as the National Well-Being Advisor for Surf Life Saving Australia, Chair of the Research Panel for Surf Life Saving Queensland, and NextGen Queensland Ambassador for Leading Aged Services Australia.

Professor Tim Doyle

Communications

Tim is a leading researcher in biomechanics and physical performance at Macquarie University, specialising in neuromuscular biomechanics, injury prevention, and physical preparation for athletic and tactical populations. He has worked as a human performance scientist for the Australian Department of Defence and collaborated with elite Rugby Union and League teams to enhance performance and minimise injury risk. As President of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics (ANZSB) and a contributor to Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA). Dr. Doyle brings extensive expertise to his role at CHESMS, where he manages and oversees communication with members.