Speakers

A/Prof Richard Widmer is one of Australasia’s most respected paediatric dental clinicians, educators, and leaders, with more than 35 years dedicated to improving the oral health of infants, children, and adolescents. After completing his Master’s Degree in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Melbourne, he has spent the majority of his clinical career at the Westmead Centre for Oral Health and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead — two of Australia’s leading paediatric healthcare institutions.

As Associate Clinical Professor in Paediatric Dentistry at the University of Sydney and Director of the Dental Department at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Richard brings a unique blend of clinical expertise, academic insight, and compassionate care to the profession. He continues to teach extensively across the health sciences, inspiring students, postgraduates, and practitioners both nationally and internationally.

A recognised leader in his field, A/Prof Widmer has served as President of the International Association of Paediatric Dentistry, the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry — contributing significantly to the advancement of paediatric oral health globally.

He is also co-editor of the widely acclaimed Handbook of Pediatric Dentistry, now in its fifth edition and translated into seven languages, as well as Paediatric Dentistry: Dental Care for Children – A Guide for Parents, making evidence-based paediatric oral health information accessible to clinicians and families alike.

A/Prof Widmer continues to advocate for excellence in paediatric dental care, bringing insight, experience, and a deep commitment to supporting clinicians in delivering safe, effective, and child-centred dentistry.

Alex Broom is Academic Director (Social, Behavioural & Economic Sciences) at the Australian Research Council. He is also Professor of Sociology and Director of the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, The University of Sydney.

He is recognised as an international leader in sociology, with a specific interest in health, illness and care. His work takes a person-centred approach, qualitatively exploring the intersections of individual experience and social, political and economic context. His career has been dedicated to building inclusive, interdisciplinary research communities and translating scholarship into meaningful outcomes for policy, industry, and society. He founded the Sydney Centre for Healthy Societies, a Flagship Centre of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at The University of Sydney. Over the course of his career, and working in partnership with community, government and industry, he has led or co-led over $30 million in social science research projects, including 16 Australian Research Council (ARC) projects and an ARC Future Fellowship.

All of his work embodies the broad aim of generating insights and creative collaborations which foster health, wellbeing and care, across all forms of life on our planet. His research has been widely cited (14,000+ citations; H-index 65) and he has been ranked among the top 2% of cited researchers worldwide. He was previously an ARC Future Fellow and Head of Sociology at UQ, and a Scientia Professor and Co-Director of the Practical Justice Initiative at UNSW. He has held Honorary/Visiting positions at UC Berkeley, King’s College London, The University of Vienna, The University of British Columbia and Paris Dauphine University. He was previously a Member of the ARC’s College of Experts (2021-25), and Chair/Co-Chair of the Health Research Council of New Zealand’s funding committee (2018-2024). He is an elected Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia (FASSA). His latest book, with Assa Doron, A World of Resistance, will be published in early 2026 with Harvard University Press.

Dr Blessy John-Denny is a Paediatric Emergency Physician and Paediatrician with deep expertise in the early recognition, assessment, and management of acute and chronic conditions in infants, children, and adolescents. Her clinical experience, shaped across more than a decade at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead within the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, spans emergency medicine, community-based paediatrics, and complex care.

Growing up in the Indian subcontinent informed Dr John-Denny’s commitment to equitable, timely healthcare for children. Her lived experience underpins her passion for early intervention, family-centred care, and supporting children within the broader social and cultural contexts that shape their wellbeing.

Dr John-Denny holds dual Fellowships in Paediatrics & Child Health and Paediatric Emergency Medicine through the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, as well as Master’s degrees in Public Health and Health Management from UNSW. Her clinical approach blends medical expertise with a strong commitment to education, advocacy, and collaboration with families.

As both a clinician and a parent, she recognises how overwhelming health concerns can feel for families — whether related to feeding, growth, sleep, rashes, new diagnoses, neurodiversity, behavioural changes or adolescent challenges. Dr John-Denny is dedicated to demystifying the medical journey, supporting parents, and guiding evidence-based pathways of care alongside allied health teams.

She currently serves as Staff Specialist and Co-Director of Emergency Medicine Training at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, and as a Paediatric Emergency Specialist at Campbelltown Hospital. Her insights bring valuable perspective to paediatric dental professionals, particularly in understanding child behaviour under stress, health system complexity, red flags for escalation, and interdisciplinary care.

Dr John Mamutil is a highly respected orthodontist with more than three decades of clinical experience treating children and adolescents in Sydney’s Hills district. With both a BDS and an MDS in Orthodontics from the University of Sydney, Dr Mamutil has helped thousands of young patients achieve healthy, confident smiles through evidence-based, precision orthodontic care.

A recognised leader in modern orthodontics, Dr Mamutil is one of Australia’s most experienced Invisalign clinicians. He received Lifetime Achievement Awards at the Hobart Invisalign Conferences in 2017 and 2019 and has been named in the Invisalign Global Top 300 — acknowledging his significant contribution to contemporary orthodontic treatment for young patients.

He is also an Invisalign-accredited lecturer and the developer of advanced digital photography techniques for the Invisalign System, sharing his innovations widely through national and international presentations and publications.

Dr Mamutil is deeply committed to collaborative care, working closely with paediatric dentists, general dentists, and allied health teams to manage jaw discrepancies, interceptive orthodontics, early diagnosis, and complex developmental concerns. His extensive experience and forward-thinking approach continue to support better long-term outcomes for children and young people requiring orthodontic intervention.

Dr Chris Moule is a specialist prosthodontist based in Sydney, recognised for his expertise in advanced restorative care, complex treatment planning, and interdisciplinary collaboration. After graduating with First Class Honours from the University of Melbourne, he spent several years in regional general practice before completing his Doctorate in Clinical Dentistry (Prosthodontics) at the University of Sydney in 2012.

Chris has a strong commitment to education, clinical excellence, and supporting dentists in managing cases that require coordinated prosthodontic input. His experience is particularly valuable for paediatric dental professionals involved in the long-term management of dental trauma, developmental anomalies, enamel defects, tooth loss, and restorative planning for young patients transitioning into adulthood.

A past President of the Australian Prosthodontic Society (NSW), Chris also holds Membership in Prosthodontics with the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons. He teaches clinical prosthodontics at the University of Sydney, where he mentors students and postgraduates in evidence-based restorative dentistry and multidisciplinary care.

Dr Moule brings a practical, collaborative perspective to the congress, helping clinicians navigate complex restorative decisions and understand how early interventions influence long-term oral outcomes for young patients.

Dr Harry Mohan is a specialist endodontist in private practice in Sydney and a Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney and Honorary Lecturer at the University of Puthisastra, Cambodia. He has a strong clinical and academic focus on clinical endodontics, dental trauma and the care of patients experiencing dental fear and anxiety.

After completing his Bachelor of Dental Science at the University of Melbourne in 2008, Dr Mohan began his career as a Dental Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. He returned to the University of Melbourne and completed his Doctor of Clinical Dentistry in Endodontics in 2015 and has been in private practice in NSW since.

Dr Mohan is passionate about endodontic education and in addition to his university positions, he is a regular presenter of dental CPD across Australia. He is an active member of the Australian Society of Endodontology, the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Endodontists, and the Australian Dental Association, and in 2022 founded Dental Aid: CPD for a Cause, an annual an annual not-for- profit CPD event which helps establish living incomes for families living in poverty in Asia. Dr Mohan brings a collaborative, clinically focused perspective that supports dentists in delivering safe, effective, and contemporary endodontic care for young patients.

Dr Romi Fried (she/they) is an Australian dentist whose work combines clinical expertise with lived experience to promote accessible, inclusive, and neurodiversity-affirming oral healthcare. Trained at the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Science (Physiology) and a Doctor of Dental Surgery, Romi has practised across both public and private settings, with particular passion for preventative, minimally invasive dentistry, paediatric care, special needs dentistry, and management of TMJ disorders.

As an Autistic ADHDer living with hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Romi brings insight, empathy, and advocacy into every patient interaction, striving to ensure that neurodivergent and disabled individuals feel seen, heard, and understood in the dental chair. Their broader work includes clinician education, neuroaffirming practice training, and development of resources that help dental teams make care more accessible and comfortable for all patients.

Romi also contributes to research and professional workshops, consulting on neurodiversity-affirming practice, and builds bridges between clinical dentistry and community needs — helping paediatric dental teams understand and respond effectively to sensory, communication, and anxiety-related barriers to care.

Dr Emilija Jensen is a specialist paediatric dentist with advanced training from the University of Adelaide, where she completed both her dental and specialist degrees. She has extensive experience in paediatric oral surgery, performing procedures such as frenectomies, removal of supernumerary and impacted teeth, and surgical interventions required for orthodontic treatment.

Dr Jensen is particularly committed to supporting children with anxiety around dental care. Her warm, empathetic approach — combined with proficiency in local anaesthesia, nitrous oxide, IV sedation and general anaesthesia — ensures that young patients receive safe, compassionate and confidence-building experiences during treatment.

Emilija divides her time between consulting with AOMS and working as a paediatric dental consultant at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital. She is a Fellow of the Pierre Fauchard Academy and is actively involved in research, education and postgraduate supervision. Currently undertaking a PhD, she plays an important role in training Honours and Masters students, as well as tutoring dental students at the University of Adelaide.

Her blend of surgical skill, behavioural insight and academic leadership brings valuable perspective to paediatric dental teams caring for children with complex needs.

Dr Jad Clarke is a Specialist Paediatric Dentist with more than 15 years’ experience providing comprehensive care to children, including those with additional needs, dental anxiety, and complex medical conditions. He graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Sydney in 2001 and spent nine years in general practice before returning to the University to complete specialist training in Paediatric Dentistry.

Jad holds multiple senior clinical appointments, including Staff Specialist in the Department of Paediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics at the Westmead Centre for Oral Health; Senior Visiting Dental Specialist at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead; and Visiting Specialist at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital. He also serves as President of the ANZSPD NSW Branch, leading initiatives that support excellence in paediatric dental care and professional development across the region.

His commitment to education is reflected in his teaching roles with the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales. Jad has lectured for the Australian Dental Association (ADA), the Centre for Oral Health Strategy (COHS), and internationally at the Liverpool and Manchester teaching hospitals in the UK. He also lectures UNSW medical students, helping embed paediatric oral health within wider healthcare training.

A respected voice in the profession, Jad has contributed to ADA podcasts and is a Colgate Key Opinion Leader. He is a strong advocate for integrating dental care into whole-child health management, with clinical expertise spanning dental trauma, emergency care, behaviour guidance, and multidisciplinary treatment planning.

Dr Eliza Hannam is a Sydney-based general practitioner with specialised expertise supporting women, infants and young families through early life health challenges. She is a Fellow of the Australian College of General Practitioners and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), accredited in Neuroprotective Developmental Care through Possums and Co — an evidence-based approach rooted in attachment and infant-centred care.

Founder of Nurtured Medical, Dr Hannam provides tailored medical, feeding and sleep support for infants and families, combining clinical experience with personal insight as a parent. Her practice emphasises compassionate, evidence-based care during preconception, pregnancy, breastfeeding and early childhood.

Dr Hannam’s work enhances paediatric dental teams’ understanding of early feeding dynamics, oral-motor development, and family-centred strategies that support infants’ oral health and wellbeing.

Dr Amanda Lin is a specialist paediatric dentist based in Sydney, recognised for her hospital-based training, academic excellence, and compassionate approach to child-centred dental care. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Science (Honours) at the University of Queensland, graduating as Valedictorian, before beginning her career with Hunter New England Oral Health across hospital, community health, and school dental settings.

Dr Lin undertook her specialist training in Paediatric Dentistry through the University of Sydney, based at the Westmead Centre for Oral Health and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead. During this time, she was awarded the Faculty of Medicine and Health Executive Dean’s Prize for Academic Excellence, as well as the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry International Association of Dental Research Travel Research Award.

She has a strong clinical interest in the management of complex dental trauma, developmental dental anomalies, and supporting children to build long-term confidence within the dental home. Alongside her role at Macarthur Paediatric Dentistry, Dr Lin holds an appointment as a Staff Specialist at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, where she is actively involved in teaching Paediatric Dental Registrars, Residents, oral health practitioners, and medical students

Annabel Butt is an Oral Health Therapist and clinical educator with a strong commitment to paediatric dentistry, education, and patient-centred care. Her passion for dentistry began early and led her to complete a Bachelor of Oral Health at the University of Sydney, followed by postgraduate training in Advanced Dental Therapy at the University of Melbourne. She also holds a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Sydney.

Annabel combines extensive clinical experience with a dedication to teaching, currently serving as a Clinical Educator within the paediatric department at Westmead Hospital. In this role, she supports the training and development of future dental professionals, with a focus on gentle, evidence-based, and child-centred approaches to care.

She believes that positive dental experiences are built through empathy, clear communication, and individualised treatment, helping children feel safe and confident in the dental environment. Annabel’s work reflects a strong alignment with preventative care and long-term oral health outcomes for children and families.