1. Director, Decision Analytics, Sax Institute
Dr. Jo-An Atkinson
Director, Decision Analytics, Sax Institute
Biography
Affiliate appointments:
Menzies Centre for Health Policy, University of Sydney
The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute
Bio:
Dr. Atkinson leads a program of work in partnership with health departments and policy agencies using dynamic simulation modelling methods as evidence synthesis / knowledge translation and decision-support tools to inform policy and practice for the prevention of complex public health problems. She has over 18 years experience in health service and public health research and practice in Australia and internationally. This experience has included the use of quantitative, qualitative and participatory research methodologies. Her research interests have included exploring human behavioural and system-level influences on intervention effectiveness; exploring acceptability of new and existing technologies for disease prevention; and the design of strategies for community engagement in prevention initiatives. More broadly, Dr. Atkinson’s experience and interests have been in fostering national and international partnerships between policy agencies, research institutions, and civil society to facilitate capacity building, innovation and research translation to improve population health.

2. Affiliate appointments:
Dr. Ante Prodan
System Architect
Decision Analytics
Sax Institute
Biography
Affiliate appointments:
School of Computing, Engineering and Mathematics, Wester Sydney University
The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre, Sax Institute
Bio:
Dr Prodan’s research focuses on applying computer simulation and data-mining techniques to healthcare modelling problems. At the Prevention Centre, he is participating in projects across the Synthesis Capacity, including targeting, modelling and simulation of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and alcohol harm reduction.
Dr Prodan is also involved in modelling of patient flow for the Billings Clinic, Billings MT, USA. Previously Dr Prodan has developed a chemotherapy resource utilisation model at Hunter New England Local Health District, where he also conducted a research project on using predictive modelling to optimise patient journey for the New England North West Regional Cancer Centre in Tamworth.
Ante obtained his PhD in computer science through a linkage research project between Bell Labs and University of Technology Sydney.