Chinese Medicine Board Members

Adjunct Professor Danforn Lim

Chair and Practitioner member from New South Wales

Adjunct Professor Danforn Lim has been the Chair of the Chinese Medicine Board since 2021. He is a Chinese medicine practitioner (in Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Divisions) and a medical practitioner (with General and Specialist registrations) practising in New South Wales. Prof Lim is an Adjunct Professor and Category 1 post-graduate research supervisor at the University of Technology Sydney and an Adjunct Professor at Western Sydney University. He has been a member of the Chinese Medicine Council of NSW since its inaugural council in 2012 before becoming President of the Council in 2018. Additionally, Prof Lim is the Chair of the FoNCs & NSWCPsF Regulatory Insights Joint Working Group and a Member of the Ahpra WHO Collaborating Centre Advisory Group

Prof Lim earned both an MBBS and a PhD in Reproductive Medicine from the University of New South Wales. His extensive academic credentials include six doctoral research degrees and a total of nineteen degrees across a broad range of studies from undergraduate to postgraduate master’s and doctoral levels. Prof Lim has been involved in various clinical research projects through his academic affiliations and has published extensively in various scientific journals. He has also served as a reviewer and editorial board member for over 35 journals. In addition, Prof Lim has reviewed grants for the Medical Research Future Fund of NHMRC and the National Institute for Health Research UK. From 2015 to 2024, he fulfilled a full 9-year term as an Expert Committee (Research) Member of the RACGP and took part in the selection committee for various RACGP Foundation Awards.

Professor Lim has served as an Advisory Committee Member of the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service and the NSW Health Professionals Council Authority. He has also served as a Senior (Professional) Member of the New South Wales Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Currently, he is an Advisory Board Member of the NICM Health Research Institute at Western Sydney University and has previously chaired the External Program Advisory Committee for the University of Technology Sydney's Chinese Medicine program.

In 2021, Prof Lim was honoured by AusDoc as the runner-up for the COVID Hero of General Practice award. He was also nominated and recognised through the ACHSM NSW Branch Health Management Leadership Recognition Award in 2022 and 2024. These awards acknowledged his leadership and dedication to enhancing staff and peer well-being, promoting cultural safety, fostering continuous improvement in healthcare settings, and integrating user-centred design principles into organisational processes.

Dina Tsiopelas

Practitioner member from South Australia

Dina Tsiopelas is a practitioner member from South Australia. She holds a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the University of Western Sydney.

Dina runs a private practice in Adelaide where she continually endeavours to provide a balanced approach to the health care needs of individuals. She has been a member of the Chinese Medicine Reference Group and panel member of the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (SACAT). Dina is passionate about the practice and promotion of Chinese Medicine.

Johannah Shergis

Practitioner member from Victoria

Johannah Shergis is a practitioner member from Victoria. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Chinese Medicine and a PhD from RMIT University.

Johannah is a registered acupuncturist, Chinese herbal medicine practitioner and dispenser and runs a clinic in Melbourne, Victoria. She is also a research fellow at RMIT University, focusing on respiratory and sleep conditions and has a keen interest in evidence-based medicine. Her clinical and academic experience allows her to understand the health care environment and contribute to governance and regulation.

Craig Bennett AM

Community member from Victoria

Craig Bennett AM is a health economist by training who has held senior leadership positions in both the private and public health care sectors in Australia and England.

Having started his career as an academic/research economist, Craig subsequently worked as a health service advisor for a Royal Commission in Sydney; as a health service planner for a state health authority; and as a consultant for an international consulting firm in London. He is experienced in option appraisal, cost-benefit, and cost-effectiveness studies, as well as in reviewing the evidence-base for both existing and proposed changes to clinical practice and the efficacy of broader public health policies.

From October 1998 until April 2004, Craig was the Chief Executive of the (public) Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth. He was concurrently the Area Chief Executive of the (public) North Metropolitan Health Service from June 2002 until April 2004.

From May 2004 until December 2012, Craig was the CEO of the (public) Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne.

Craig’s final full-time role was as the CEO of Diabetes Victoria (a not-for-profit organisation) in Melbourne for nine years from March 2013.

Craig currently has several Board and advisory roles in both Australia and England. In addition, he is involved in several research studies, as well as an active mentor and journal reviewer for the Australasian College of Health Service Management.

In June 2024, Craig was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (General Division) – for significant service to health administration in leadership and advisory roles.

Luke Hubbard

Practitioner member from Western Australia

Luke Hubbard is a practitioner member from Western Australia. Luke practises concurrently as principal acupuncturist and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner in his own community allied health clinic, as a senior clinical nurse and staff development nurse in acute general medicine and as a biomedical science lecturer and clinical supervisor.

Luke has particular skills in policy writing and practice guideline development. His practice incorporates a strong emphasis on education with the priority on maintaining public safety while delivery optimal and effective public health. Luke is passionate about continuing to grow and develop Chinese medicine nationally.

Sophy Athan

Community member from Victoria

Ms Sophy Athan is a consumer advocate with several academic qualifications, including a Bachelor and Master of Arts, two graduate diplomas and leadership certificates. She has substantial experience as a consumer representative in cancer research projects through her role as Chair of the Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, as well as through her involvement in several other oncology-specific committees and advisory panels.

Ms Athan currently serves on a number of boards, more than twenty committees and advisory panels within the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Victorian Cancer COVID-19 Taskforce, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, University of Melbourne, Health Issues Centre, Victorian Clinical Council, VAHI, Outer East Primary Care Partnership, Endeavour College Academic Council, Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network. Ms Athan is passionate about issues of mental health, disability, aged care and diversity, advocating for better health outcomes for everyone.

Bing Tian

Practitioner member from the ACT

Bing Tian is a registered Chinese medicine practitioner (acupuncturist and Chinese herbal medicine practitioner and dispenser). She holds a Bachelor of Chinese Medicine and a Master of Acupuncture and Tuina from Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine in China.

Bing first came to Australia in 2001 under a scholarship exchange program with the Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT), before becoming a Chinese medicine teacher for CIT. She took on more management responsibilities in a clinical practice and for a local Chinese medicine professional association. Her work has focused on documentation and quality assurance within in clinical practice, managed herbal importation from China, and organising continuing professional development opportunities for her colleagues through her professional association.

Stephanie Campbell

Community member from New South Wales

Stephanie Campbell holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with Honours degree from Macquarie University. In 2007, she was admitted to practice law in the NSW Supreme Court and currently holds an unrestricted NSW legal practising certificate. 

Stephanie has worked within the public and private sectors and with her practical and academic experience of a legal, governance and policy nature, she is committed to developing and implementing best practice standards and procedures which promote transparency, accountability and good decision making. 

Stephanie has lived and worked in the Northern Territory and has a keen interest in rural and regional health care. She is now in Newcastle, NSW. She previously held two additional Ministerial appointments on the Central Australian Human Research and Ethics Committee and the Northern Territory Board of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. 

Stephanie has a sound understanding of the Law, natural justice and ethics. She is familiar with the regulatory environment relating to health practitioners and is committed to protecting the public interest and upholding professional accountability.