Professor Deborah Bateson (MB BS, MSc (LSHTM), MA (OXON) and a co-lead in the Cervical Cancer and HPV stream with a focus on clinical translation and implementation. She has 20 years of experience as a primary care doctor, clinical researcher, educator and advocate in sexual and reproductive health and is nationally and internationally recognized as a leader in this field with a focus on equity. Deborah was previously Medical Director of Family Planning NSW and Global Medical Director of Marie Stopes International.
Deborah currently leads an NHMRC study to increase cervical screening participation of people with intellectual disability and is Chair of the National Cervical Screening Program Self-Collection Implementation Committee, Deputy Chair of the Quality and Safety Monitoring Committee and member of the Cervical Screening Guidelines Working Party. She is also the Australian Board member of the International Federation of Abortion and Contraceptive Professionals, and past Chair of the Australian Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance.
Over the past five years, Deborah has published 51 research papers and 18 and attracted over $17 million in research funding. She is currently Chief Investigator of 3 NHMRC grants and Associate Investigator on 5 other NHMRC grants in a range of areas including cervical cancer control and elimination and access to long-acting reversible contraception and medical abortion. In her research she collaborates with researchers from the Kirby Institute (UNSW), the University of Melbourne, Monash University and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm. Her work has been recognized by many international speaking invitations and awards and honours, including an Honorary Fellowship of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health of the (UK) Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, a Distinguished Services to Sexual Health Award from Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance (ASHRA), and an Excellence in Women’s Health Award from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).
Deborah has extensive experience in community outreach and translating research into practice through her leadership in the development and delivery of sexual and reproductive healthcare clinical guidelines, education and training.