Who We Are

MBBS, FRACS (Surgeon specializing in Obesity Treatment)

Dr Alex Craven is a general surgeon with special interest and advanced training in Obesity and Upper Gastrointestinal surgery. He works in Obesity and Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeon at the Austin Hospital and Darebin Weight Loss Surgery. He is a committee member for the NACOS, a founding faculty member for the ANZMOSS integrated health workshop, and communication committee member for IFSO. Dr Alex Craven enjoys working with patients to control obesity and its related diseases, to live longer, healthier lives, and is a passionate advocate for improved access to high quality publicly funded obesity treatment.

NACOS: National Association of Clinical Obesity Services

ANZMOSS: Australian and New Zealand Metabolic and Obesity Surgery Society

IFSO: International Federation for Surgery for Obesity and Metabolic Disease

Andrew is the engagement and advocacy lead for the Weight Issues Network, represents the voice of lived experience on the Obesity Australia board and is active on several other committees and working parties regarding health, mental health, and obesity.

He is passionate about supporting people living with obesity and mental health issues.

Andrew founded and runs two support groups for men living with obesity and mental health issues, is a long-standing local radio presenter and a Rural Fire Service volunteer.

Alfred Deakin Professor Anna Peeters, AM, PhD, is Director of the Institute for Health Transformation and Professor of Epidemiology and Equity in Public Health at Deakin University. She is Principal Research Translation Investigator at Western Alliance, an NHMRC Investigator Grant fellow, Board Member for the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) and Western Health, and Past President of the Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society. Anna is Chair of the Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research Advisory Board and a member of the World Cancer Research Fund’s Policy Advisory Group. She is internationally recognised for her work building the evidence for effective and equitable policy and practice to improve health outcomes.

Kylie is a clinical and health psychologist with more than 12 years’ experience in clinical practice. Prior to commencing in full time private practice, Kylie worked in hospital outpatient, university, and community health settings where she assessed and treated adults experiencing weight-related psychological difficulties. It was out of these experiences that Kylie developed a broader interest in people’s struggles with eating, weight, and shape including disordered eating, eating disorders, body image dissatisfaction, and attachment trauma. Kylie also has extensive experience in supporting bariatric surgery patients as they navigate the surgery process.

Kylie has presented workshops and lectures and has published research on the psychological aspects of disordered eating, bariatric surgery, and obesity. Kylie is also the psychology representative on the ANZMOSS Board and conference organising committee.

Merril is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and has been working in Bariatric surgery for over 25 years. Merril has expertise in the areas of obesity, disordered eating, and bariatric surgery. Merril is passionate about ensuring access to appropriate clinical nutritional care is available to everyone in Australia. She has extensive experience in the area of gastric bands, sleeve gastrectomy and Roux- En-Y gastric bypass. Merril was the first Allied Health dietitian representative on the Obesity Surgery Society of Australia and NZ executive and has been instrumental in establishing both a networking and clinical program at the obesity surgery society conferences.

Dr Terri-Lynne is qualified to postgraduate level in both nutrition and medicine and is a medical practitioner with more than 25 years of experience in the health profession. She is fervent about metabolic health with a focus on providing a holistic health service, that achieves positive outcomes anchored in evidence and experience.

Terri-Lynne’s career includes key roles at The Metabolism and Obesity Service at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney, Directorship of the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Townsville General Hospital and over 15 years as a doctor in medical general practice with a special interest in metabolic health.