AIFA Board
AIFA Chair
Dr Melanie Wong MBBS (Hons) PhD FRACP FRCPA
Paediatric Clinical Immunology/Allergy Specialist, New South Wales
Dr Melanie Wong is a Past President of the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA), co-head of the Immunology and Allergy Dept at The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Chief Examiner for the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) Immunopathology training program, and ASCIA's representative on the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) Board.
Melanie's clinical and research interests include all aspects of primary immunodeficiencies, including newborn screening, genetic testing and transplantation. She has published many studies in this area and has extensive experience as an ASCIA Director. Her clinical experience and research expertise in paediatric immunology has been of great benefit in guiding the development of AIFA.
AIFA Directors
Dr Theresa Cole BM MRCPCH(UK) PhD FRACP
Paediatric Allergist Immunologist, Victoria
After completing training in paediatric immunology and infectious disease in the UK, Theresa moved to Melbourne in 2014 to take on a role at The Royal Children’s Hospital with a focus on primary immunodeficiency (PID) and stem cell transplant. She quickly became involved with ASCIA, contributing to the Immunodeficiency Resources Working Party and coordinating the Transplantation and PID group (TAPID). She has been Chair of the ASCIA TAPID project since 2014, Chair of the ASCIA Immunodeficiency Committee since 2018, and is involved in the development of the ASCIA Immunodeficiency Strategy for Australia and New Zealand.
Theresa is the ASCIA representative for a number of national initiatives including the review of newborn screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) and the National Immunoglobulin Governance Advisory Committee Immunology Specialist Working Group. In 2020, Theresa took on the role of Chair of the ASCIA COVID-19 Working Party, which has generated information for patients and clinicians about COVID-19, including resources that have supported the COVID-19 vaccination program since early 2021.
Theresa is the President of ASCIA and is excited for the future of the organisation and its initiatives, including research supported by AIFA.
Dr Michael O'Sullivan is a staff specialist at Fiona Stanley Hospital. He has been an active ASCIA member since 2008. Michael's clinical, laboratory and research interests span paediatric and adult allergy and immunology. This provides a broad and diverse experience to help identify the current challenges facing patients with allergy and other immune diseases.
Dr Kathryn Patchett MBChB BMedSc
Clinical Immunology/Allergy Specialist and Immunopathologist, New South Wales
Dr Kathryn Patchett is based in Newcastle and is currently employed as a staff specialist at NSW Health Pathology. She graduated from the University of Otago and completed her early postgraduate training in New Zealand before moving to Australia to pursue specialist training in Immunology. Kathryn has a particular interest in the management of allergic conditions including allergic rhinitis, eczema, food and drug allergies, and in health professional education. She has been a Director of ASCIA since 2022.
Associate Professor Jane Peake MBBS FRACP DTM&H
Paediatric Clinical Immunology/Allergy Specialist, Queensland
Associate Professor Jane Peake She is a senior staff specialist at the Queensland Children’s Hospital and an Associate Professor at the University of Queensland. She has been an active ASCIA member since 2001. Jane established the first public paediatric immunology and allergy service in Queensland (Queensland Paediatric Immunology and Allergy Service). Jane’s clinical and research special interests include primary immune deficiency, food allergy, anaphylaxis and severe eczema. She has numerous publications in these areas and is on a variety of state and national advisory boards and committees.