Who’s Who
Dubhglas Taylor
Dementia Alliance International, Australia
Dubhglas Taylor is care partner for Eileen Taylor. He helped develop the first dementia support organisation in Brisbane. He has supported and been involved with Eileen in advocating for her and others over the years; including supporting Eileen through her dementia clinical trial journey. Dubhg is a co-founder of DAAT (Dementia Awareness Advocacy Team) and is actively involved with their “Remember Me” Dementia Support Group. He has a Master’s Degree in Social Science and a clinical background in social work, working for the past thirty years as a therapist / supervisor / educator and lecturer. He still lectures at university level in CHC’s Social Science School. He is a public speaker at various community groups and organisations, discussing dementia and other social issues. Along with Eileen, he is a fierce advocate in fighting for the rights of people living with dementia.
Eileen Taylor
Dementia Alliance International, Australia
Eileen Taylor was diagnosed with early onset familial Alzheimer’s in 2009. She is currently Secretary of Dementia Alliance International (DAI) and hosts their Australia online weekly support group. She is Vice Chair of Dementia Australia, a member of their Advisory Group on Dementia Friendly Communities and a co-founder of DAAT (Dementia Awareness Advocacy Team). During 2016, she presented at the Dementia Australia National Consumer Summit in Canberra, the ADI Conference in Budapest and at the ADI’s Regional Conference in New Zealand. She also presented a poster at the Dementia Australia 2018 national conference “Be the Change”. She was a personal counsellor for nearly 20 years (now retired) and has an M.in HS (Hons) Rehab from Griffith University. Eileen has been a research study participant at The Prince Charles Hospital Geriatric Research Unit since she was diagnosed, and has participated in three clinical trial studies so far.
Kate Swaffer
Dementia Alliance International, Australia
Kate Swaffer is co-founder, Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Dementia Alliance International. Kate is also an elected Board member of Alzheimer’s Disease International, and a full member of the World Dementia Council. She is retired nurse, and now an activist for human rights for people with dementia and their families, and also lives positively with young onset dementia. Kate is an international speaker, widely published academic and author and a poet and regular blogger. She is also a PhD Candidate at the University of Wollongong. In 2017, she was a recipient of the South Australian Australian of the Year award; in 2016 she received the University of Wollongong Alumni Social Impact Award; and was one of 100 Women of Influence in Australia, also in 2016. Kate has been instrumental in ensuring Dementia Alliance International is one of the founding members of the newly established Global Rehabilitation Alliance. Kate is actively involved on a number of international, national and local Dementia or Civil Society Steering Committees, Advisory or Working groups, and was an invited keynote speaker at the WHO First Ministerial Conference on Dementia in 2015.
Michael Lefevre
Alzheimer’s Disease International, UK
Michael Lefevre is General Manager at ADI. He is in charge of all aspects of ADI’s Finance and IT systems, projects, HR and governance including financial reporting, accounts and planning.
Paola Barbarino
Alzheimer’s Disease International, UK
Paola Barbarino is Chief Executive Officer at ADI. Paola is in charge of all aspects of ADI’s work. Collaborating with the Board, Paola implements finance and campaign strategies. Paola represents ADI at international conferences and in the NCD Alliance and takes part in WHO and UN meetings.
Patricia Conboy
HelpAge International, International
Patricia Conboy is Interim Director, Global Ageing, Advocacy and Campaigns at HelpAge International and Chair of STRiDE’s International Advisory Group.
Wendy Weidner
Alzheimer’s Disease International, UK
Wendy Weidner joined Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) as Research and Policy Project Lead in 2018. She is responsible for ADI’s participation in the STRiDE project and other research that ADI is involved in, including liaising with ADI’s Medical and Scientific Advisory Panel. Previously, Wendy worked at Dementia UK, where her role involved working collaboratively to develop and improve dementia services, developing business cases, promoting the work of the organisation and managing the business development team. Wendy has also managed a local reminiscence project for people living with dementia and worked for a number of organisations in Africa.