Join us for Emerge Australia’s ME/CFS & Long COVID Action Forum from Australian Parliament House 1pm-3pm (AEDT), 30 October 2025.
This event calls for action, investment and policy reform to improve the lives of people living with ME/CFS, long COVID and related energy-limiting conditions. Hear presentations from;
Tracey Collins, Lives with ME/CFS
Tracey Collins has been unwell with ME/CFS and associated conditions for over 19 years. Tracey rarely leaves her bed let alone her house, but with the little physical and mental energy she has, she is committed to advocate for the government to do more to help people like her living with these invisible illnesses.
Tracey’s Linkedin can be seen HERE
Dr Mike Freelander MP, Member for Macarthur, Chair of the Health, Aged Care and Disability Committee, Co-Chair Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS Group
Mike has been the Member for Macarthur since 2016.
Mike worked as a paediatrician in Campbelltown & Camden for nearly 40 years and has dedicated himself to making sure his local community is supported, cared for and receives the best outcomes possible.
Mike has a long connection to Macarthur as he opened his very first clinics in Campbelltown and Camden in 1984, which occurred the same day that Medicare was established. Mike also worked at Campbelltown Hospital where he took on the role as Head of Paediatrics from 1986 to 2013. His hard work and dedication to the region earnt him the respect of local families and residents.
In his near 4 decades as a paediatrician in the Macarthur region, Mike has seen over 200,000 patients.
Emeritus Professor Andy Gleadow AO FAA, Father of Eliza living with ME, Team Eliza, Geologist, University of Melbourne
Emeritus Professor Andy Gleadow, an acclaimed geologist, is dedicated to supporting his daughter, Eliza Charley, who lives with ME.
Beyond his personal life, Professor Gleadow’s professional achievements are impressive. He has made significant contributions to the fields of geochronology, thermochronology, and tectonics, leading Earth Sciences departments at La Trobe and Melbourne Universities. His research has taken him across the globe, developing innovative techniques for crustal evolution studies.
Professor Gleadow’s expertise extends to lunar sample analysis and fossil site dating. Most notably, he led the Kimberley Rock Art Dating Project, establishing a timeline for Aboriginal rock art with traditional owners.
His work has earned him numerous awards, including Fellowship in the Australian Academy of Science and an AO for distinguished service.
Emerita Professor Ros Gleadow FAA, Mother of Eliza living with ME, Team Eliza, Plant Biologist, Monash University
Ros Gleadow is an esteemed scientist and dedicated mother, balancing her expertise in plant sciences with her role as a parent and advocate.
As an Emerita Professor at Monash University and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, she leads the Plant Ecophysiology Group, researching climate change’s impact on food security. Her work extends globally, focusing on cyanide-producing plants and their health implications.
Additionally, Ros is an active member of Team Eliza, supporting her daughter, Eliza Charley, who lives with ME and advocating for ME awareness through social media.
Professor Michael Kidd AO, Chief Medical Officer
Michael is the Australian Government’s Chief Medica Officer bringing a wealth of experience to this role with his career as a general practitioner and health researcher.
He previously served as President for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the World Organisation of Family Doctors and held academic appointments at Monash University, the University of Sydney, Flinders University, the Australian National University and the University of Toronto.
Michael currently is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and is the Foundation Director of the International Centre for Future Health Systems at the University of New South Wales.
Pete McCluskey, Team Jenny
Pete McCluskey is a passionate advocate and caregiver, dedicated to raising awareness about chronic illnesses and disabilities.
Retiring from a vibrant professional life, Pete has transitioned into an inspiring advocate and caregiver for his family.
With a heart for raising awareness, he utilises his skills and personal experiences to champion the causes of those living with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
Through various media platforms, including print, television, and now podcasts, Pete shares his journey, emphasising the need for support and understanding. He believes in creating a compassionate space for individuals facing unique challenges. Pete shares impactful messages, offering hope and resilience to all, while highlighting the importance of respect and support for those with chronic conditions.
Penelope McMillan, Spokesperson ME/CFS Australia
Penelope is active in advocacy for ageing, carers, disability, chronic illness and specifically ME/CFS.
Her work includes engagement in research, including co-authorship, and representing people with ME/CFS in local, state, national and international arenas.
Professor Chris Ponting, Chair Medical Bioinformatics University Edinburgh
Professor Chris Ponting is Chair of Medical Bioinformatics and a Principal Investigator at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer. He is an investigator on the Decode ME Study at the University of Edinburgh.
Chris started his research in particle physics before moving via biophysics to bioinformatics and genomics. Aside from one year at the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NIH, Bethesda, MD), he pursued his research at the University of Oxford before moving to Edinburgh in 2016.
His research group has made substantial contributions to protein science, evolutionary biology, genetics and genomics.
Early in his career he discovered many important protein domain families. He then provided the first evolutionary analyses for mammalian genomes whilst leading protein analysis teams for the human and mouse genome sequencing projects.
More recently, his research established that 8.2% of the human genome is constrained, and thus is likely functional.
Chris has been on Editorial Boards of Genome Research, Genome Biology, Human Molecular Genetics, Annual Review of Genomics and Human Genetics, and Trends in Genetics, and was a Senior Editor of eLife until 2015. He served as Program Committee member for the CSHL Biology of Genomes, American Society of Human Genetics and Genome Science conferences. He was Head of the UK Node of ELIXIR and Chair of EMBL-EBI’s External Training Advisory Group and founded CGAT (www.cgat.org), an MRC-funded training centre. Professor Ponting is a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and a Member of the European Molecular Biology Organisation.
Lily Schubert, Emerge Australia Ambassador
Lily is a Sydney-based content creator and chronic illness advocate known for her candid storytelling on TikTok (@lilygschubert). Diagnosed with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), and other related conditions, Lily spent six years largely bedbound.
Through her videos, she shares her journey of resilience and gradual improvement, including milestones like stepping outside after years indoors and taking her first swim in six years. Her content offers insight into the daily realities of living with severe ME/CFS, aiming to raise awareness and foster understanding.
Lily’s experiences and advocacy work make her a wonderful ambassador for Emerge Australia, through which she can amplify her voice sharing her perspectives on living with and managing this complex condition.
Peter Schubert, Father of Lily Schubert
Peter Schubert is a respected chair, non-executive director, and former CEO with a broad and accomplished career. He brings a practical and people-focused approach to strategic communications and governance across the mining, metals, life sciences, and manufacturing sectors.
However, Peter’s connection with Emerge Australia is deeply personal as he is the father of Lily Schubert, Emerge Australia’s newest Ambassador and a brave young woman battling ME/CFS. Peter’s journey has been profound, as it is for most caregivers.
We are delighted he is able to share his insights, highlighting the immense impact of ME/CFS on loved-ones, the crucial role of support networks, and the urgency for government investment.
Associate Professor Bernard Shiu, Clinical Director Banksia Medical Centre and Geelong Long COVID Clinic in Victoria, Chair RACGP Energy Living Conditions & Post-Infection Disease Working Group
Associate Professor Bernard Shiu is the Clinical Director of Banksia Medical Centre and Geelong Long COVID Clinic in Victoria; and Chair RACGP Energy Living Conditions & Post-Infection Disease Working Group.
He was recognised as the RACGP GP of the Year in 2020, and under his leadership, Banksia Medical Centre was awarded National RACGP General Practice of the Year in 2023. With a strong clinical focus on Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), long COVID, and other complex chronic conditions, Associate Professor Shiu is deeply committed to advancing patient care and educating GPs.
In addition to his clinical work, he is an experienced researcher and medical educator with extensive involvement in training both medical students, graduate candidates and healthcare professionals.
Zoe Simmons, Journalist, Speaker, Poet, Advocate
Zoe Simmons is an award-winning journalist, editor, copywriter, author, keynote speaker and disability advocate who fights to make a difference in the world–especially for the underrepresented disability community.
Having been published hundreds of times around the globe–including by ABC, News.com.au, POPSUGAR, Daily Mail, Mamamia, Daily Telegraph, Herald Sun, Refinery29, New York Post, New Idea and That’s Life–Zoe knows how to capture audiences through the raw power of storytelling. She speaks and writes candidly about her experiences with disability, mental illness, autism, and chronic pain to smash stigma, create change and help others know they aren’t alone.
Passionate about accessibility, lived experience and genuine inclusion, Zoe also works as a lived experience advisor for a number of disability, health and research organisations, providing trauma-informed, neuro-affirming perspectives to clinicians, senior leadership and government.
She’s also a Human Rights Ambassador for the Australian Human Rights Commission, a lived experience advisor for Women With Disabilities Victoria, a communications coordinator for Disability Rights and Culture, and the first-ever disabled person on the ABC’s Youth Advisory Committee.
When not advocating for change, Zoe can be found writing poems and books (she’s now been published in 10!), including a book about her experiences as a disabled journalist in the now-forgotten Black Summer Bushfires.
Zoe also regularly advocates in media, including online, radio and TV, most recently in the form of co-hosting her first-ever TV show, All In. She’s also a lead anchor in the C31’S new show Laneway: A CTV News project.
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Senator for WA, Co-Chair Parliamentary Friends of ME/CFS Group
Senator Jordon Steele-John, Senator for WA and Green Portfolio holder for Health and Disability
Jordon Steele-John is a Greens Senator for WA and a proud disabled person.
He advocates for disability rights and equitable healthcare for all Australians. Jordon and his team were instrumental in establishing a Parliamentary Inquiry into access to ADHD assessment and support services – the first of its kind in Australia.