Tasmania’s health system is under pressure. With rising chronic disease rates and limited resources, the structures designed to keep Tasmanians healthy must evolve to meet growing demand. While treatment remains essential, attention is turning to a more urgent question - what does it mean to prevent illness before it begins?

This conversation explores what we know about improving health outcomes, and how prevention is defined, prioritised and funded. It brings together experts who will consider what you can do, how systems operate, who decides, and who is being left behind in Tasmania’s health story.

The experts

Professor Verity Cleland, preventative health expert, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
Professor Martin Hensher, health economist, Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania
Dr Michelle Morgan, Senior Policy Analyst and Wellbeing Framework project lead, Department of Premier and Cabinet

Hosted by Professor Graeme Zosky, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Health, University of Tasmania

Attend online

Prefer to attend online? Secure your tickets here.

Pre-event refreshments

Head to the venue early and enjoy complimentary refreshments from 5.30pm.

About the experts

Verity Cleland is a behavioural epidemiologist whose research investigates how physical activity is shaped by the places we live, work, study, and play and develops strategies that support more active communities. She works collaboratively to ensure her research is highly relevant to policy and practice. She has secured more than $8.5 million in funding, published over100 peer-reviewed articles, and is an invited member of international, national, and local funding panels and advisory councils, including Chair of the Tasmanian Active Living Coalition and the Tasmanian Premier’s Health and Wellbeing Advisory Council.

Martin Hensher is an economist and the Henry Baldwin Professorial Research Fellow in Health Systems Sustainability at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania. His research explores how we can make our health care systems more sustainable, economically, environmentally and socially. Martin draws on health and ecological economics to explore big systemic challenges: how health care can respond to climate change, how it might function in a slower-growth future, and why investing more resources might not lead to better outcomes.

Michelle Morgan is a public health professional with over 18 years' experience in public policy and research. She is currently a Senior Policy Analyst at the Tasmanian Department of Premier and Cabinet. Michelle completed her PhD at the University of Tasmania, which explored local government’s roles in health and wellbeing from a state government perspective. Her work bridges research and practice, leading diverse public health initiatives informed by systems thinking. Michelle’s research has shaped real-world policy decisions at local and state levels. Committed to creating meaningful change, she advocates for holistic, system-wide approaches to improve health and wellbeing for all Tasmanians.

Graeme Zosky is a leader with over 20 years’ experience in higher education, focused on research and research performance and, more recently, tertiary level learning and teaching programs. Known for his collaborative, energetic and decisive leadership, he has designed, led and implemented transformative organisational change. He is an internationally recognised expert in respiratory and environmental health and leads a research program that has attracted approximately $15.5 million in competitive research funding from Government and Industry. His work spans molecular, in vitro, in vivo, clinical, epidemiological and public health approaches to improve health.

Parking

Free parking, including accessible spaces, is available at the venue.

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