Meet Our 2021 Co-Convenors
Dr Olivia Carter
Clinical Psychologist | BA, DPsych (Clinical), Centre for Clinical Interventions
I am a Clinical Psychologist and been working in the field of eating disorders for the past decade, first through my postgraduate research during the completion of my Honours and Doctoral theses at the University of Western Australia, and subsequently as a member of the treatment team at the Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI). I have been a passionate member of the ANZAED community since I joined the 2014 Fremantle Conference Committee to manage the coordination of the student volunteers at this event. I has since been involved with the organisation through a term on the Executive Committee, several years chairing the ANZAED Social Media Committee, and recently as a member of the Scientific Committee for the joint ANZAED and Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) 2020 International Conference on Eating Disorders (ICED). In addition to this, I have attended countless ANZAED events, and presented at a number of ANZAED conferences and Autumn Workshop Series, and am delighted to have been invited to convene the 2021 ANZAED conference in Perth.
My Honours research focused on investigating predictors of treatment non-completion in adult outpatients receiving treatment for Eating Disorders, while my Doctoral thesis explored readiness and motivation to change in adult outpatients receiving treatment for Anorexia Nervosa. I am currently working as a clinician across both the private and public sectors in Western Australia through my work delivering Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-ED) to adult clients as well as Family Based Therapy (FBT) for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa at CCI. I have also recently joined a private practice and am currently working in this setting two days a week, providing treatment to clients with a range of psychological presentations.
I am passionate about the field of eating disorders and the work we can do as professionals in this space to advance the way we support individuals experiencing these complex and challenging psychological disorders. I am a strong believer in the importance of evidence-based practice and I continue to be actively involved in the consumption and dissemination of research in the field of eating disorders through my work with the amazing research team at CCI. I am committed to advance the field of eating disorders and providing service to my profession by dedicating many hours of my time to volunteer work for ANZAED, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity this affords me to work alongside like-minded individuals in this field.
Clinical Psychologist | BA, DPsych (Clinical), Centre for Clinical Interventions
I am a Clinical Psychologist and been working in the field of eating disorders for the past decade, first through my postgraduate research during the completion of my Honours and Doctoral theses at the University of Western Australia, and subsequently as a member of the treatment team at the Centre for Clinical Interventions (CCI). I have been a passionate member of the ANZAED community since I joined the 2014 Fremantle Conference Committee to manage the coordination of the student volunteers at this event. I has since been involved with the organisation through a term on the Executive Committee, several years chairing the ANZAED Social Media Committee, and recently as a member of the Scientific Committee for the joint ANZAED and Academy for Eating Disorders (AED) 2020 International Conference on Eating Disorders (ICED). In addition to this, I have attended countless ANZAED events, and presented at a number of ANZAED conferences and Autumn Workshop Series, and am delighted to have been invited to convene the 2021 ANZAED conference in Perth.
My Honours research focused on investigating predictors of treatment non-completion in adult outpatients receiving treatment for Eating Disorders, while my Doctoral thesis explored readiness and motivation to change in adult outpatients receiving treatment for Anorexia Nervosa. I am currently working as a clinician across both the private and public sectors in Western Australia through my work delivering Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-ED) to adult clients as well as Family Based Therapy (FBT) for adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa at CCI. I have also recently joined a private practice and am currently working in this setting two days a week, providing treatment to clients with a range of psychological presentations.
I am passionate about the field of eating disorders and the work we can do as professionals in this space to advance the way we support individuals experiencing these complex and challenging psychological disorders. I am a strong believer in the importance of evidence-based practice and I continue to be actively involved in the consumption and dissemination of research in the field of eating disorders through my work with the amazing research team at CCI. I am committed to advance the field of eating disorders and providing service to my profession by dedicating many hours of my time to volunteer work for ANZAED, and I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity this affords me to work alongside like-minded individuals in this field.
Shannon Calvert
Lived Experience Educator & Advisor
I identify as a lived experience professional, having experienced a longstanding eating disorder. My expertise lies in collaborating alongside clinicians, researchers, and organisations that champion wellbeing through education, training, and supervision. Advocating for person-centred, recovery-oriented and integrated best practice, I freelance as a Peer Mentor, Consumer Advisor and Mental Health Educator, although the foundation of my work is as a local and national systemic advocate for people with a living experience of eating disorders, mental health challenge, and those receiving palliative care.
I have presented papers and workshops at national and international conferences on the importance of compassion in treatment interventions, consumer and carer engagement in the design of policy and education, as well as my lived experience of an eating disorder and trauma. I was a keynote presenter at the 8th Service User Academia Symposium and have presented on my privilege as former carer and daughter to my mother, at the End-of-Life and Palliative Care Strategy Implementation Forum 2018. In 2019 at the International Conference for Eating Disorders in New York, I was an invited speaker at a plenary on the topic “When does the time come for compulsory treatment?”.
I currently sit on several national and international boards and committees for Eating Disorders, Mental Health, and Palliative Care, including as the consumer representative for the Advisory Committee for National Research & Translation of Eating Disorders and a director on the board of Palliative Care Australia. I also have links to a number of international organisations through my membership of AED’s Experts by Experience Committee, and as an advisor for F.E.A.S.T (the global support and education community of and for parents of people with eating disorders).
With a renowned dedication for eating disorder and mental health reform, I represent and supports the activities of all professionals working in the field of eating disorders and related issues. In 2017 I became a member (and now the chair) of the ANZAED inaugural Consumer Carer Committee and a member of the ANZAED Membership Committee. I have since joined the ANZAED Executive Committee in 2019, and feel deeply grateful and honoured to be working alongside the amazing conference committee with Dr Olivia Carter as co-convenor for the ANZAED Conference in 2021. I cannot wait to welcome you all to Perth, Western Australia when we can all be reunited as a sector face to face once again.
Lived Experience Educator & Advisor
I identify as a lived experience professional, having experienced a longstanding eating disorder. My expertise lies in collaborating alongside clinicians, researchers, and organisations that champion wellbeing through education, training, and supervision. Advocating for person-centred, recovery-oriented and integrated best practice, I freelance as a Peer Mentor, Consumer Advisor and Mental Health Educator, although the foundation of my work is as a local and national systemic advocate for people with a living experience of eating disorders, mental health challenge, and those receiving palliative care.
I have presented papers and workshops at national and international conferences on the importance of compassion in treatment interventions, consumer and carer engagement in the design of policy and education, as well as my lived experience of an eating disorder and trauma. I was a keynote presenter at the 8th Service User Academia Symposium and have presented on my privilege as former carer and daughter to my mother, at the End-of-Life and Palliative Care Strategy Implementation Forum 2018. In 2019 at the International Conference for Eating Disorders in New York, I was an invited speaker at a plenary on the topic “When does the time come for compulsory treatment?”.
I currently sit on several national and international boards and committees for Eating Disorders, Mental Health, and Palliative Care, including as the consumer representative for the Advisory Committee for National Research & Translation of Eating Disorders and a director on the board of Palliative Care Australia. I also have links to a number of international organisations through my membership of AED’s Experts by Experience Committee, and as an advisor for F.E.A.S.T (the global support and education community of and for parents of people with eating disorders).
With a renowned dedication for eating disorder and mental health reform, I represent and supports the activities of all professionals working in the field of eating disorders and related issues. In 2017 I became a member (and now the chair) of the ANZAED inaugural Consumer Carer Committee and a member of the ANZAED Membership Committee. I have since joined the ANZAED Executive Committee in 2019, and feel deeply grateful and honoured to be working alongside the amazing conference committee with Dr Olivia Carter as co-convenor for the ANZAED Conference in 2021. I cannot wait to welcome you all to Perth, Western Australia when we can all be reunited as a sector face to face once again.