Q fever symposium
14th to 15th June 2025
Byron Bay
Organising Committee Members
Dr Sarah Coghill
Sarah is an infectious diseases physician at Lismore Base Hospital in Northern NSW. Her interests include the management of acute and chronic Q fever and the provision of care in rural and regional populations.
Dr Robert Horvath
Robert Horvath is an infectious diseases physician at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) in Brisbane, and a Microbiologist at Pathology Queensland. His career spanned NSW, ACT and Queensland (including Torres Strait and Cape York). In 2015 He co-founded the Infective Endocarditis Working Group (IEWG) which evolved into ieQ (infective endocarditis Queensland) in 2018. He co-founded ACE (Australasian Collaboration in Endocarditis) which includes Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Malaysia and is currently the chair. He also is a co-founder of QFIG (Q fever Interest Group) and is currently on its steering committee. He was a convenor of the 2019 and 2024 Endocarditis Symposia, both held in Brisbane. His Clinical and research interests include cardiovascular infections, Q fever, and various viral infections.
Dr Candice Holland
Dr Candice Holland is an infectious diseases and public health physician from Southeast Queensland. She is an ASID board member, co-chair of the national Q fever interest group and senior lecturer with University of Queensland
Dr Rosie Geraghty
Dr Rosemary Geraghty has been a rural general practitioner for over 30 years in Roma SW Queensland. She has developed a special interest in Q fever and actively runs Q fever vaccination clinics for Roma and district.
Dr Jacqueline Epps
Jacqui is a rural GP Academic from Northern NSW with a special One Health research interest in zoonotic diseases affecting rural communities, particularly Q Fever and leptospirosis. She is a core member of the University of New England's One Health research team and is on the Steering Committee for the New England General Practice Research Newtork. Jacqui is a Senior Lecturer in Rural Medicine, and Joint Medical Program Clinical Theme Lead at UNE.
Amber Ellis
Amber Ellis is a public health nurse in communicable diseases in Southeast Queensland and a member of the PHAA One Health SIG. She has an interest in One Health approaches to zoonotic disease and Q fever risk factor analysis.
Debra Lee
Deb is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of experience. Deb began her journey into Infection Prevention and Public Health in 2009 during the H1N1 Pandemic and has since completed postgraduate qualifications in both specialties. In 2021, she began working for the Office of Industrial Relations as the Principal Advisor for Occupational Health – biological hazards.
Her work with Workplace Health and Safety Queensland has her providing advice for the Inspectorate and businesses throughout the state.
Dr Penny Hutchinson
A/Prof Katrina Bosward
Katrina is an Associate Professor in Veterinary Microbiology in the Sydney School of Veterinary Science at the University of Sydney where she teaches in various veterinary pathobiology and public health units of study in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. Her overarching teaching and research focus is in the pathogenesis and control of infectious disease of animals especially those considered zoonotic diseases. Katrina has a particular research interest in Coxiella burnetii, and coxiellosis in animals and Q fever in humans.
Prof Stephen Graves
Stephen R. Graves is a medical microbiologist and Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA). He is a former Chair of the RCPA Faculty of Science. Almost 30 years ago he established the Australian Rickettsial Reference Laboratory (ARRL) as a boutique, not-for-profit, microbiology diagnostic and research laboratory, located at University HospitalGeelong, Victoria. He is the Approved Pathology Provider (APP) for this laboratory which specialises in diagnosing infections transmitted by ectoparasites such as ticks, lice, fleas and mites. In Australia these infections are mainly rickettsial and Q Fever (Coxiella burnetii). He was involved in the discovery of Flinders Island Spotted Fever (Rickettsia honei) and has had a new rickettsia, found in the kangaroo tick (Amblyomma triguttatum), named after him (Rickettsia gravesii). He is involved in the development of new vaccines against Q Fever, for use in goats and humans.