This spring, The Australian Women’s Weekly is hosting its national event series: The Australian Women’s Weekly Health Summit, brought to you by Priceline Pharmacy.
Delivering a dynamic mix of expert advice, real-life stories, and inspiring connections for women across Australia.
This year, we are heading to five cities in Australia:
- Sydney on 9 August 2025 (click for panellist details)
- Melbourne on 30 August 2025 (click for panellist details)
- Gold Coast on 13 September 2025 (click for panellist details)
- Adelaide on 27 September 2025 (click for panellist details)
- Perth on 11 October 2025 (click on panellist details)
Continue reading to meet the 2025 line-up of Health Summit panellists — please note panellists are subject to change.
Emcee & Host
Editor of The Australian Women’s Weekly magazine Sophie Tedmanson will host each of the Health Summit events across the country.
Jessica Rowe AM will emcee the Health Summit event series. She is a mum, accomplished journalist, television presenter, three-time best-selling author, podcaster and Australia’s most popular “Crap Housewife”. Jess passionately advocates for mental health awareness as an ambassador for Beyond Blue.
Sydney Health Summit Panellists
One-on-One Conversations
Deep dives on all things health and wellness with some of our favourite faces from The Weekly family.
In Sydney, Editor Sophie Tedmanson will be joined by media personality and presenter, Edwina Bartholomew!
Perimenopause Perigodmothers
Real talk from women who’ve been there, done that (and survived with their sanity intact), sharing lived experiences and tips.
Michelle Bridges, a top Australian personal trainer, is renowned for her 12 Week Body Transformation (12WBT) program. In 2024, she introduced The Menopause Method, a specialised initiative offering tailored exercise, nutrition, and wellness support for women during menopause. This program reflects Michelle’s dedication to addressing unique health challenges with compassion and expertise.
Shelly Horton is a health advocate, journalist and also a TV presenter who turned her debilitating perimenopause experience into a mission to ensure other women aren’t sideswiped like she was. Through her book, I’m Your Peri Godmother, and her signature sassy delivery, Shelly blends lived experience with expert-backed advice to smash the stigma around perimenopause and menopause.
Menopause Mythbusting
Separating fact from fiction when it comes to symptoms, treatments, and hormone therapy.
This panel discussion will feature Dr Ceri Cashell, Grace Molloy, and Melissa Gannon, an expert Priceline Pharmacist, with Jess Rowe moderating the discussion.
Mel Gannon, Head of Pharmacy Services at Priceline Pharmacy, has over 30 years’ experience in regional and metropolitan areas before moving into Priceline Pharmacy’s Support Office. Mel’s role supports over 1,000 Priceline Pharmacists and their teams. Her passion is enabling community pharmacists to practice to their full scope to support people in their health journey. Mel’s special interest areas are preventative health and women’s health.
“Health is important to me because it encompasses physical and mental well-being as well as connectedness. When we are in great health, we can live our best lives.” – Mel Gannon
Dr Ceri Cashell is a UK- and Australia-trained GP, published researcher, and outspoken advocate for better menopause care. A confident medical educator, dynamic speaker, and recognised influencer in women’s health, she’s known for challenging the status quo- and demanding more for midlife women.
Mental Health
Strategies for coping with anxiety, managing burnout and easing the mental load women often carry.
This panel will be moderated by emcee Jessica Rowe with Jana Pittman, Professor Bronwyn Graham, and Professor Lee-Fay Low.
Jana is an Australian Olympian junior doctor in Women’s Health and a proud mum to six children, while Bronwyn has dedicated her career to improving women’s mental health and Lee-Fay Low is a psychologist and dementia researcher.
Professor Lee-Fay Low is a psychologist and dementia researcher who develops practical solutions for older adults, working with a broad range of collaborators to address real-world challenges.
Healthy Food with Fran
A live cooking demonstration packed with mood-boosting, brain-loving recipes and practical nutrition tips.
The Australian Women’s Weekly Food Director, Fran Abdallaoui, will be joined by MasterChef royalty, Julie Goodwin!
Melbourne Health Summit Panellists
One-on-One Conversations
Deep dives on all things health and wellness with some of our favourite faces from The Weekly family.
Panel to be confirmed.
Perimenopause Perigodmothers
Real talk from women who’ve been there, done that (and survived with their sanity intact), sharing lived experiences and tips.
Michelle Bridges, a top Australian personal trainer, is renowned for her 12 Week Body Transformation (12WBT) program. In 2024, she introduced The Menopause Method, a specialised initiative offering tailored exercise, nutrition, and wellness support for women during menopause. This program reflects Michelle’s dedication to addressing unique health challenges with compassion and expertise.
Shelly Horton is a health advocate, journalist and also a TV presenter who turned her debilitating perimenopause experience into a mission to ensure other women aren’t sideswiped like she was. Through her book, I’m Your Peri Godmother, and her signature sassy delivery, Shelly blends lived experience with expert-backed advice to smash the stigma around perimenopause and menopause.
Menopause Mythbusting
Separating fact from fiction when it comes to symptoms, treatments and hormone therapy.
This panel will be moderated by Jess Rowe and feature scintillating discussions from Dr Fatima Kahn, Mel Gannon (Head of Pharmacy Services at Priceline Pharmacy), and Boost Lab’s Lisa Schweighoffer.
Dr Fatima Khan is a Melbourne-based medical doctor with over 18 years of clinical experience and advanced certification in menopause care through the British Menopause Society. Trained at Imperial College London, she is a leading voice in women’s hormonal health, regularly featured in national media and medical education. Dr Khan is passionate about demystifying the midlife transition and empowering women with evidence-based tools to support both body and mind. Her core message, “Hormone health is mental health”, reflects her integrated approach to care, shaped by additional training in psychiatry and trauma-informed practice.
Mel Gannon, Head of Pharmacy Services at Priceline Pharmacy, has over 30 years’ experience in regional and metropolitan areas before moving into Priceline Pharmacy’s Support Office. Mel’s role supports over 1,000 Priceline Pharmacists and their teams. Her passion is enabling community pharmacists to practice to their full scope to support people in their health journey. Mel’s special interest areas are preventative health and women’s health.
“Health is important to me because it encompasses physical and mental well-being as well as connectedness. When we are in great health, we can live our best lives.” – Mel Gannon.
Mental Health
This panel discussion will cover strategies for coping with anxiety, managing burnout and easing the mental load women often carry.
Guest panellists include expert, Dr Olivia Ong, and Australian Olympian and recent Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee, Erin Phillips OAM! Erin says health is important because: “it allows me to feel strong in both body and mind. It’s not just physical strength, but mental resilience and emotional well-being — staying balanced, moving with joy, and making time for what matters most, like being present with my wife and kids.”
Healthy Food with Fran
Fran will be joined by emcee Jess Rowe to do a live cooking demonstration packed with mood-boosting, brain-loving recipes and practical nutrition tips.
Gold Coast Health Summit Panellists
One-on-One Conversations
Deep dives on all things health and wellness with some of our favourite faces from The Weekly family.
In the Gold Coast, Editor Sophie Tedmanson will be joined by Lisa Curry AO!
Perimenopause Perigodmothers
Real talk from women who’ve been there, done that (and survived with their sanity intact), sharing lived experiences and tips.
Michelle Bridges, a top Australian personal trainer, is renowned for her 12 Week Body Transformation (12WBT) program. In 2024, she introduced The Menopause Method, a specialised initiative offering tailored exercise, nutrition, and wellness support for women during menopause. This program reflects Michelle’s dedication to addressing unique health challenges with compassion and expertise.
Shelly Horton is a health advocate, journalist and also a TV presenter who turned her debilitating perimenopause experience into a mission to ensure other women aren’t sideswiped like she was. Through her book, I’m Your Peri Godmother, and her signature sassy delivery, Shelly blends lived experience with expert-backed advice to smash the stigma around perimenopause and menopause.
Menopause Mythbusting
Jess Rowe is moderating this panel, which will explore separating fact from fiction when it comes to symptoms, treatments and hormone therapy.
She will be joined by Mel Gannon, Head of Pharmacy Services at Priceline Pharmacy, and Dr Christine Greenwood.
Mel Gannon has over 30 years’ experience in regional and metropolitan areas before moving into Priceline Pharmacy’s Support Office. Mel’s role supports over 1,000 Priceline Pharmacists and their teams. Her passion is enabling community pharmacists to practice to their full scope to support people in their health journey. Mel’s special interest areas are preventative health and women’s health.
“Health is important to me because it encompasses physical and mental well-being as well as connectedness. When we are in great health, we can live our best lives.” – Mel Gannon
Mental Health
Guest panellists include Dr Rebecca Ray and Leisel Jones OAM to discuss strategies for coping with anxiety, managing burnout and easing the mental load women often carry.
Leisel Jones became the youngest member of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Swimming Team at just 15, launching a career that would see her recognised as one of the world’s greatest female swimmers. Over her illustrious career, she won seven World Championship titles, nine Olympic medals, 10 Commonwealth Games gold medals, 14 individual world records, and 23 National titles. She is now a broadcaster, author and mental health advocate.
Dr Rebecca Ray is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and in-demand speaker known for helping big-picture thinkers build self-trust, courage, and clarity. With two decades of experience, she blends clinical expertise with the heart of a storyteller, guiding thousands to break self-sabotaging patterns and reconnect with their authentic selves. Her rare ability to combine evidence-based insight with emotional depth has made her one of Australia’s leading voices in personal development. Beck meets people with honesty and compassion, offering hope grounded in reality and support without conditions.
Healthy Food with Fran
In Gold Coast, Fran will be joined by celebrated cook and author Magdelena Roze in a live cooking demo packed with mood-boosting, brain-loving recipes and practical nutrition tips.
Adelaide Health Summit Panellists
One-on-One Conversations
Deep dives on all things health and wellness with some of our favourite faces from The Weekly family.
In Adelaide, Sophie Tedmanson will be joined by culinary legend, Maggie Beer AO, to discuss managing middle age, boosting brain health and building habits now to support a longer, sharper life.
Menopause Mythbusting
This panel will separate fact from fiction when it comes to symptoms, treatments and hormone therapy. Hosted by Shelly Horton, a health advocate, journalist and also a TV presenter who turned her debilitating perimenopause experience into a mission to ensure other women aren’t sideswiped like she was. Through her book, I’m Your Peri Godmother and her signature sassy delivery, Shelly blends lived experience with expert-backed advice to smash the stigma around perimenopause and menopause.
Shelly will be joined by Michelle Bridges and Dr Jane Elliott AM.
Dr Jane is a highly respected Adelaide GP with a longstanding focus on women’s health, particularly menopause, premature menopause, and osteoporosis. She currently consults at AWARE Women’s Health in North Adelaide and serves as a Clinical Senior Lecturer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Adelaide, where she teaches future doctors and specialists.
“Health is important to me because, to quote Kathy Lette, ‘women don’t become their true selves until after menopause,’ and health enables women to have their best experience during this second half of life.”
Michelle Bridges, a top Australian personal trainer, is renowned for her 12 Week Body Transformation (12WBT) program. In 2024, she introduced The Menopause Method, a specialised initiative offering tailored exercise, nutrition, and wellness support for women during menopause. This program reflects Michelle’s dedication to addressing unique health challenges with compassion and expertise.
Mental Health
This panel will dive into strategies for coping with anxiety, managing burnout and easing the mental load women often carry.
In Adelaide, The Australian Women’s Weekly Editor, Sophie Tedmanson, will be joined by Dr Rebecca Ray and author and former judge of MasterChef Australia, Melissa Leong!
Melissa Leong is a television host and food writer who has become one of Australia’s most recognisable and respected voices in the culinary world. Beyond her career achievements, Melissa has spoken candidly about her experiences with anxiety, burnout and the importance of prioritising mental wellbeing in high-pressure, public-facing roles.
Dr Rebecca Ray is a clinical psychologist, bestselling author, and in-demand speaker known for helping big-picture thinkers build self-trust, courage, and clarity. With two decades of experience, she blends clinical expertise with the heart of a storyteller, guiding thousands to break self-sabotaging patterns and reconnect with their authentic selves. Her rare ability to combine evidence-based insight with emotional depth has made her one of Australia’s leading voices in personal development.
Healthy Food
In Adelaide, the fabulous Steph de Sousa will take attendees through a live cooking demo packed with mood-boosting, brain-loving recipes and practical nutrition tips, joined by Shelly Horton.
Steph is promising to bring her kitchen flair to the Adelaide Health Summit. She rose to fame on MasterChef Australia, winning hearts with her bold flavours and infectious energy. Since then, she’s built a career making food feel accessible, fun and full of flavour.
Perth Health Summit Panellists
One-on-One Conversations
In Perth, the incredible Turia Pitt joins Women’s Weekly Editor Sophie Tedmanson in a one-on-one conversation.
Turia is an author, speaker, mum, athlete, and all-round powerhouse. Turia’s story of survival and resilience after suffering life-threatening burns in a bushfire has inspired millions, but what’s most remarkable is how she’s turned adversity into motivation, not just to rebuild her life, but to help others do the same. Through her books, programs and unfiltered honesty, she’s become a leading voice for mental strength, self-belief and finding joy in the everyday. Her latest book, Selfish, has just hit shelves, and she’s ready to tell us all about how she’s finally learning to put herself first.
Turia will be speaking via video link.
Perimenopause Perigodmothers
Real talk from women who’ve been there, done that (and survived with their sanity intact), sharing lived experiences and tips.
Michelle Bridges, a top Australian personal trainer, is renowned for her 12 Week Body Transformation (12WBT) program. In 2024, she introduced The Menopause Method, a specialised initiative offering tailored exercise, nutrition, and wellness support for women during menopause. This program reflects Michelle’s dedication to addressing unique health challenges with compassion and expertise.
Shelly Horton is a health advocate, journalist and also a TV presenter who turned her debilitating perimenopause experience into a mission to ensure other women aren’t sideswiped like she was. Through her book, I’m Your Peri Godmother, and her signature sassy delivery, Shelly blends lived experience with expert-backed advice to smash the stigma around perimenopause and menopause.
Menopause Mythbusting
Sophie Tedmanson will moderate this panel on separating fact from fiction when it comes to symptoms, treatments and hormone therapy. She will be joined by Head of Pharmacy Services at Priceline Pharmacy, Mel Gannon, Dr Sunita Chelvanayagam and Grace Molloy.
Mel Gannon is a community pharmacist with over 30 years’ experience in regional and metropolitan areas prior to moving into Priceline Pharmacy’s Support Office. Mel’s role supports over 1,000 Priceline Pharmacists and their teams. Her passion is enabling community pharmacists to practice to their full scope to support people in their health journey. Mel’s special interest areas are preventative health and women’s health.
“Health is important to me because it encompasses physical and mental well-being as well as connectedness. When we are in great health, we can live our best lives.” – Mel Gannon
Grace Molloy is the co-founder and CEO of Menopause Friendly Australia, leading workplace support for menopause nationally. With a background in nursing, corporate strategy, and clinical research, she combines medical insight with business expertise to help organisations support women through every stage of their careers. A 2024 Telstra Best of Business Award winner, Grace is a recognised voice driving change in workplace health and inclusion.
Mental Health
In Perth, emcee Jessica Rowe will be joined by expert Dr Marny Lishman and Narelda Jacobs OAM.
Dr Marny Lishman is a psychologist and author who specialises in helping Australians navigate stress, build emotional resilience and create healthier mindsets in the face of modern-day pressures.
Narelda Jacobs OAM is a prominent Whadjuk Noongar journalist and television presenter who actively advocates for mental health awareness, particularly within Indigenous and LGBTQIA+ communities. Her commitment to mental health is evident through her involvement in various initiatives and public discussions.
Healthy Food with Fran
Jess Rowe will also join The Australian Women’s Weekly Food Director, Fran Abdallaoui, in a live cooking demo packed with mood-boosting, brain-loving recipes and practical nutrition tips.
