Meet our team
Meet our team of multidisciplinary researchers
and young people. We have disciplinary expertise in public health nutrition, dietetics, public health, science, law, digital health and adolescent health.
A/Professor Stephanie Partridge
Director
Stephanie (she/her) is a Sydney Horizon Fellow, National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellow and Accredited Practising Dietitian. She an expert in adolescent chronic disease prevention and digital health. Â In 2023, she won the Emerging Leader in Science Eureka Prize in recognition of her research.
Dr Rebecca Raeside
Lead, Digital Health Innovation Stream
Rebecca (she/her) is a Research Fellow with a background in Public Health. Her research focuses on maximising the benefits of digital technologies to improve the health and wellbeing of adolescents. She has expertise in consumer engagement, clinical trials, and mixed-methods research.
Dr Sisi Jia
Lead, Food Environments
Sisi (she/her) is a Research Fellow and Accredited Practising Dietitian at the University of Sydney. Her research focuses on minimising nutrition-related harms of digital food environments on young people's diets and health. Sisi has expertise in big data analyses and policy reviews.
Allyson Todd
Lead Youth Engagement, PhD Candidate & Research Officer
Allyson (she/her) holds a Bachelor of Global Studies (Health Major) and Master of Public Health. Her PhD research aims to transform adolescent-led public health nutrition research and build capacity in adolescents to meaningfully contribute to research and policy decisions that impact them.
Surabhi Dogra
Lead Healthy Places, Healthy Futures
PhD Candiate & Research Officer
Surabhi Dogra is a public health researcher and practitioner addressing emerging adolescent health challenges through digital and planetary health frameworks. With experience spanning low-income rural and urban communities in India to global health policy platforms, Surabhi is deeply committed to the meaningful engagement of adolescents and young people. As a PhD candidate at the University of Sydney and a Research Officer at the Youth Well Lab, Surabhi is currently co-leading the ‘Healthy Places, Healthy Futures’ Coalition. This initiative implements transdisciplinary strategies to partner with adolescents in chronic disease prevention through a planetary health lens across the Asia-Pacific. Surabhi is an alumna of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the University of Delhi, where her academic excellence was recognised with the ‘Best Student’ Shield and University Gold Medal. She is a Youth Commissioner for the Second Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing. She was selected as a Young Expert for the World Health Organization’s GAMA Advisory Group. Surabhi co-chairs the Emerging Professionals Network of the International Association for Adolescent Health, which aims to elevate the voices and role of multidisciplinary emerging professionals in advancing adolescent health.
Sara Wardak
Research Assistant
Sara Wardak (she/her) is a Research Assistant in the Faculty of Medicine and Health and a current Bachelor of Science (Genetics and Genomics)/Bachelor of Laws student at the University of Sydney. With experience as a former youth advisor, her research now revolves around health, law and policy, and codesign, with a focus on adolescent health. As a 2024 Charles Perkins Centre Summer Research Scholar, she is passionate about undergraduate research and serves as the Head of the Australasian Council for Undergraduate Research's Student Committee (Ascending Head in 2024, Descending Head in 2025).
Elena Wang
Research Assistant
Elena Wang (she/her) is a Research Assistant, studying a Bachelor of Clinical Science and Doctor of Medicine at Western Sydney University. She is a part of the HAPYUS 2024 cohort where she focused on youth advocacy and health in a growingly digital world and aims to continue advocating for youth health and voices.
Mariah Issa
Research Assistant
Mariah (she/her) is a Research Assistant at the University of Sydney that holds a Bachelor of Science (Nutrition Science/Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) and a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics. She is an Accredited Practising Dietitian, working in both private practice and research, who is passionate about translating evidence-based science into practical advice to support individuals and communities in achieving long-term health and wellbeing.
Dominik Mautner
Research Assistant
Dominik Mautner (he/him) is a Research Assistant at the University of Sydney and is studying a Bachelor of Medical Science and Bachelor of Laws at University of Technology Sydney. His work focuses on youth health prevention, increasing physical activity, and seeks to understand the complex factors influencing adolescent health behaviours. He is committed to translating research findings into practical strategies to support the health and wellbeing of adolescents.
Kay
Peer Facilitator &
Youth Co-Researcher
Kay (he/they) is a young advocate with a passion for change-making and addressing disparities. He is the founder and spokesperson for the Equity Advocacy Group on the mid-north coast, which aims to raise awareness, promote diversity, and combat social stigma. Kay is working on our Health Hive MRFF Funded Project.
Julian
Peer Facilitator &
Youth Co-Researcher
Julian (he/him) is a passionate advocate eager to learn and collaborate in youth advisory roles. With two years of experience at the Council for Intellectual Disability, Julian focuses on health, wellbeing, and behaviour support plans. Julian is working on our Health Hive MRFF Funded Project.
Emma
Peer Facilitator &
Youth Co-Researcher
As an aspiring woman in STEM and project management, Emma (she/her) seeks to learn from diverse perspectives and thrives on networking to create innovations that improve the quality of life for others. Emma is working on our Health Hive MRFF Funded Project.
Meet our current youth advisory cohort
2026
Summer Scholars
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Janine Ramos
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“Beyond Obesity: Mapping the Interplay of Sleep, Diet, and Cultural-Environmental Factors in Shaping Cardiovascular Risk among Pacific Island Adolescents” (Awarded $4,000 scholarship from the Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney)
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6-Week Master of Nutrition and Dietetics Public Health Placements:
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Erin Woodley & Madeline Turner
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Supporting Healthy Places, Healthy Futures Coalition​​​​
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