Research Staff

Angelita has worked in public health practice, education and research since 1988, and holds a PhD, Master of Public Health, and Graduate Diploma of Education.

Her research is focused on the health needs of vulnerable Australians, including the elderly, people with disabilities, and families impacted by illness. She has extensive experience in policy and health services research, leading to substantial influence on policy and practice through successful collaboration with community, government, industry and non-government organisations.

Lakkhina is a clinical researcher and biostatistician with a background in neurodegenerative disease and neurotrauma. She has over 7 years postdoctoral training in biostatistics, epidemiology, population health, and general practice research at leading institutions including UNDA Medicine, UWA Population Health, and UNSW Medicine.

Lakkhina has worked on a wide range of research and evaluation studies including clinical trials, epidemiological and epigenetics studies, big data research and data linkage studies. Her main research interest is the development of novel 'big data'-driven technologies to improve patient outcomes.

At Brightwater, she leads the Brain Injury Research Program as well as oversees clinical data analytics and quantitative research within the Research Centre.

Wendy comes from a diverse background, having worked at leading Western Australian Universities and Telethon Kids Institute, managing clinical, epidemiological and primary care research. Her research has been primarily on nutrition and cardiovascular health. Wendy holds a PhD from Curtin University and a PRINCE2 practitioner certification. Wendy is passionate about research methodologies, and seeing research outcomes being translated into practice.

Alexandra obtained her medical degree at The Medical University of Graz, Austria in 2004.

Since qualifying she has worked as Neurology registrar in Austria, the Netherlands and Australia. She developed a special interest for neurodegenerative and neuro-inflammatory disorders, which led to PhD studies at the Free University in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, which focused on imaging and histopathology in Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis and stroke.

Alexandra is passionate about disease prevention and the influence of lifestyle choices, especially nutrition and exercise, on health and disease. Alexandra’s work is centred around nutrition in neurological disease.

Suzi is an occupational therapist who holds a PhD in Health Sciences from Curtin University. Her research is focused on outcome measure development, evaluation and translation within clinical settings.  She has over four years’ experience working as a Research Coordinator in tertiary hospital Occupational Therapy Departments. Suzi has a strong passion for building the research capacity of clinical staff and embedding new evidence-based knowledge in practice.

At Brightwater Research Centre, Suzi will be leading the study that determines the most valuable outcome measures for health status, wellbeing, quality of life and goal attainment for Brightwater’s aged care clients.

Georgina is a quantitative researcher who has completed a PhD in Psychological Science from the University of Western Australia. Georgina has a background of research into executive functioning deficits and disordered mood and a passion for the integration of psychological principles and evidence-based best practice to support individuals living with complex disabilities.

At Brightwater Research Centre, Georgina is involved in the Brain Injury Research Program alongside Dr Lakkhina Troeung and Dr Angelita Martini. Her work focuses on examining the effects of complex physical and mental health conditions on rehabilitation outcomes and goal attainment for Brightwater’s clients with acquired brain injury.

Melissa holds a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics from Edith Cowan University, and a Bachelor of Health Science from University of Tasmania.

She has been working as a private practice dietitian since graduating in September 2017. Research formed a significant part of Melissa’s studies and has led to her developing a strong passion for research that improves health outcomes and quality of life of individuals within the local and broader community.

Melissa is currently working on a nutrition based project at Brightwater Care with Dr Alexandra Seewann and Dr Angelita Martini that aims to assess the influence of food additives on behaviour in elderly with dementia.

Robyn graduated from Murdoch University with a Master of Applied Psychology (Clinical) in 2003.

Since then Robyn has worked in government and non-government agencies providing psycho-therapeutic treatment for children, young people and families.

At Brightwater,  Robyn has the opportunity to use her experience of working with children in distress and her curiosity about what helps families thrive, within a project that aims to develop support for children with an acquired brain injury or younger onset dementia.  

To get in touch with Robyn, please contact (08) 9202 3527.

Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy and a Bachelor of Communications in Journalism & Public Relations. Prior to becoming an occupational therapist, Rebecca has worked in systems and product training for a national company. Rebecca joined Brightwater 12 months ago as a site occupational therapist at The Cove in Mandurah. She is passionate about providing the best outcomes and quality of life possible for the residential aged care clients at Brightwater.

At Brightwater Research Centre, Rebecca will be working with Dr Suzi Taylor and Dr Angelita Martini to determine the most valuable outcome measures for health status, wellbeing, quality of life and goal attainment for Brightwater’s aged care clients. Rebecca intends to commence post graduate study in neurological rehab in 2021. 

Hayley holds a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Psychology from the University of Western Australia, and is currently working towards a PhD of Social Research at the Australian National University. She has been involved in a range of research studies in psychology and public health, including research focused on improving access to intervention and preventions programs for mental health problems and addressing the needs of children affected by chronic parental illness or disability.

In her role at Brightwater, Hayley is working on projects aimed at understanding community rehabilitation outcomes following acquired brain injury and addressing the needs of children who have a parent with acquired brain injury or younger onset dementia.