National Board MembersClick on the names below to view biographies and photos, or the email links to contact a member.
Biographies Gwen Moody - President gwen@alca.asn.au
Gwen currently works as the Clinical Midwifery Consultant in Postnatal Care at Westmead Hospital. Gwen initially started her training at Manly District Hospital (many years ago) and went on to do her midwifery there. This was followed by a stint in the bush in Western Australia. Gwen has also completed mothercraft training and gone on to do a Bachelor of Science (Biology). This was during the period she was a midwifery educator. Further education was a Master of Arts (Edcuation and Work) as she was working then in Childbirth Edcuation.
During this period about 15-16 years ago Gwen occasionally had spare time from coordinating about 120 education programs a year and ended up giving an occasional hand in the postnatal ward with breastfeeding. This was when she first sat for the IBLCE. The breastfeeding component became so much a part of the role that when the role was reviewed it was divided into 2 1/2 positions with Gwen being told that the postnatal area was in greatest need and that she could take over the infant feeding role and postnatal edcuation coordination. This was about 5 years ago.
Over the subsequent period the role has evolved and Gwen is now the CNC Postnatal Care. Another driving force in Gwen's professional role is her keen interest in issues for patients and their families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. This has meant that Gwen has been an active member of the hospital's multicultural access committee and chaired this committee for a period of 4 years. With one year being spent as the hospital's multicultural services coordinator.
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 Jenni James - Vice President, Webpage, Galaxy Journal jenni@alca.asn.au
Qualifications: RN. RM. IBCLC. She has graduated with the Diploma of Nursing; Bachelor of Nursing; Graduate Diploma of Advanced Nursing - Midwifery. Jenni is a Lecturer in Midwifery at RMIT University and has compled her PhD in nursing at Victoria University. She is a Freelance journalist (with work published in the Age newspaper and writes regularly for Pregnancy & Birth and Mother & Baby Magazines). Her background includes working as a researcher for LaTrobe University, has worked as an Educator with ACU, Deakin University, Swinburne TAFE division and for Medela. She also is the Editor for ALCA National's journal - Galaxy. Jenni is the current Community Representative to the Advisory Panel on the Marketing in Australia on Infant Formula (APMAIF) and is Vice President of the Australian Lactation Consultants Association. Jenni is also a mother of six children aged 10 to 28 years.
Jenni has been working with mothers and breastfed babies for many years, as a Counsellor, Midwife and Lactation Consultant. Her philosophy of care is based on empowerment, advocacy and the sharing of information - without which women cannot make a truly informed choice.
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 Margaret Ahearn - Secretary margaret@alca.asn.au
Registered General Nurse, Endorsed Midwife, Child Health Nurse, IBCLC since 1994,
Graduate Certificate in Management (QUT), BFHI Accredited Assessor and Educator.
I am currently the Coordinator and Clinical Nurse Consultant managing a multidisciplinary Community Health service in rural Queensland. Having worked in a community environment since 1983, being committed to a prevention approach to health it was a natural progression to undertake lactation studies and subsequently become an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Member of ALCA since first certifying as an IBCLC in 1994.
Breastfeeding advocate. Passionate about the value of breastfeeding for babies, mothers and whole of community. Would like to see BFHI accreditation process extended to the community under UNICEF's Seven Point Plan for protection, promotion and support of Breastfeeding in Community Health Care Settings.
Have lived in Victoria, New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland and have worked in all except Victoria. Married for 30 years (obviously a child bride). Mother of 3 breastfed children, daughter 26, twin sons 24.
Goal: To support mothers in their nurturing role and create a greater community awareness of the importance of breastfeeding to lifelong health in contemporary society.
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 Lyn Slatter - Treasurer lyn@alca.asn.au
Registered Nurse -1974, Registered Midwife - 1975, IBCLC - 1995 and recertified 2005, Bachelor of Nursing - 1999, Graduate Diploma Maternal and Child Health -2003.
I am currently working at the Royal Women's Hospital as the Lactation Consultant for the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit where I consult with, counsel and support breastfeeding families from a broad range of cultures.
My general Nurse training was completed in Queensland, after which I moved to Melbourne to commence Midwifery where I found my calling with mothers and babies (this is where my heart lies). I have worked as a Lactation Consultant in the Breastfeeding Support Centres at both the Royal Women's Hospital and the Mercy Hospital for Women in Melbourne since I qualified as an IBCLC in 1995. During the time I was working at the Mercy Hospital for Women I studied Maternal and Child Health at RMIT, qualifying in 2003. While continuing my position at the Mercy I then worked for Maroondah Council as a Maternal and Child Health Nurse for 12 months during 2004-2005. Over the last year I have been involved in setting up an antenatal breastfeeding education programme for mothers confined in hospital and an ongoing in-service education programme for midwives at ward level. I recertified as an IBCLC in 2005 (study groups are so much fun!).
I am committed to all aspects of family health and relationships, especially nutrition and the development of secure and protective relationships within thriving families.
I am married with 3 beautiful daughters all of whom were breastfed.
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 Susanna Scurry Susanna@alca.asn.au
I trained at the Mercy for Women as a midwife in 1980. I became an IBCLC in 2005 when I moved to Newcastle to work towards our BFHI accreditation at the John Hunter hospital where I now work. I am a mother of five grown up children and proud grandmother of a 22 month old granddaughter who meets the WHO breastfeeding recommendations. I hope that by working with ALCA that we can spread the word to all Australian families.
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 Decalie Brown RN. CM. IBCLC, CFHN, BHMtg. Antenatal educator. JP. decalie@alca.asn.au
Currently employed within Sydney West Area Health Service as a Child Family Health Nurse, Secondary Specialist in Community Health. This role supports the primary clinicians and parents in the Blue Mountains, NSW with lactation issues, infant feeding, behavioural issues of children to 5yrs of age. Also supporting parents within a local Methadone Clinic .
I am very passionate around anything to do with breastfeeding, lactation, research in both and the mothering role. Also a keen interest in Infant Attachment issues.
With years experienced working in Nursing Admin, Midwifery, Antenatal clinics and within recent years in Child & Family Health in the Community supporting Adolescent women and families.
Born & Bred in the Blue Mountains, Married for a healthy 28yrs, we have a daughter 25yrs and son 22yrs who were both breastfed.
Member of ALCA,ILCA, ABA, NSW Lactation College, NSW NURSES ASS, AFCHSE.
Goal. To improve facilities for the breastfeeding community and assisting mothers to enjoy the experience of fulfillment within their parenting role.
Longer term goal; To have all SWAHS Community Health Facilities, Baby Friendly Accredited and to have those facilities Breastfeeding Friendly Workplaces Accredited.
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