Conference Speakers

AGCONF

Highlighted Speakers

Dr. Shiny Jabin

Dr. Shiny Jabin is a global health practitioner, educator, and researcher. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, a Master of Public Health, an MSc in International Public Health Nutrition, and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). Currently, she is working as a Lecture in Public Health at Buckinghamshire New University, UK. She has experience in the three main domains of public health practice: health-development sector, research, and academia. Her work focuses on strengthening health systems, improving population health especially, vulnerable older adults, and addressing health inequalities through evidence-based policymaking. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (RSPH).

Dr. Hien Bui

Dr. Hien Bui, Ph.D. is a lecturer in marketing and programme director for MSc Marketing in York Business School at York St John University, United Kingdom. Her PhD research was fully funded by Leeds Beckett University and the Institute of Travel & Tourism. Her research papers have been published in high impact factor journals such as Journal of Hospitality Marketing & Management; Journal of Destination Marketing & Management; Journal of Vacation Marketing; International Journal of Consumer Studies; International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. Her research interests include, but not limited to, artificial intelligence, services marketing, digital innovations, and consumer studies.

AGCONF

Past Speakers

Dr. Lisa-Nike Bühring

University of Applied Sciences Fresenius, Germany

Topic: The 'Ptolemization' of Neoliberal Discourses of Ageing and Gender in Hollywood Geriaction Films

Dr. Lisa-Nike Bühring is an accomplished academic and educator specializing in media and communication studies, with a particular focus on gender, ageing, and cultural narratives. Currently, she is the program director in the department of media and economics for media-related part time programmes and head of the research assistants at the Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Cologne. In her role, she oversees the Media & Communication Management and Media Management & Digital Marketing programs, while also representing academic staff within the department. Her responsibilities include developing and conducting courses in research methodology and qualitative research methods, as well as mentoring numerous qualitatively oriented bachelor and master theses each semester.

Dr. Bühring obtained her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Gloucestershire in 2020, with a dissertation titled The Social Construction of Ageing Masculinities in a Neoliberal Society in which she explored the socio-cultural frames of ageing and identity construction among older men by analysing popular media representations as well as by conducting qualitative interviews.

Dr. Lisa-Nike Bühring is a member of the Centre for Women, Ageing and Media (WAM), the European Network in Ageing Studies (ENAS), Ageing + Communication + Technologies (ACT) and the North American Network of Ageing Studies (NANAS) as well as of the ERA Gender-Net Plus Project Masculine Ageing (MASCAGE). She has been actively involved in academic conferences and publications related to her research on masculinities, ageing, and media. Recently, she contributed to the conference Representation of Diversity in Popular Culture in the 21st Century held in Rotterdam, Netherlands. She also participated in the Global Conference on Aging and Gerontology (AGCONF) in Munich, Germany, presenting her research on the significance of individual agency in the life-course narratives of older German men last year.

Lately Dr. Bühring’s work titled Man Plants, Woman Nurtures: Reflections of Older German Men was included in the edited book Masculinities Ageing between Cultures, published by transcript in 2024. Additional significant publications include her chapter The (Im-) Possibility of Solidarity: Narratives of Ageing, Masculinity, and Intergenerational Relationships in the German Films We are the New Ones and Granny Nanny in the edited volume Ageing Masculinities in Contemporary European and Anglophone Cinema published by Routledge and her contribution to the Encyclopedia of Gender, Media and Communication published by Wiley.

Dr. Lebia Gladis N.P

Dr. Lebia Gladis N.P is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Vice Principal at St. Teresa’s College (Autonomous), Ernakulam. She holds a Ph.D in Gerontology from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala. With extensive experience in academia, including serving as Head of the Department, she has published research works in Gerontology and actively contribute to various professional bodies. She is a member of administrative bodies such as the Governing Council and Finance Committee and coordinates academic programs, including the Civil Service Grooming Programme. She was honored with the Best Teacher Award in 2023 and has presented papers at national and international conferences.

Dr. Sinjini Roy

Dr. Sinjini Roy is an Assistant Professor of Sociology at Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Government College, Kolkata, India. She earned her Masters from Jawaharlal Nehru University in 2012 and completed PhD from North Bengal University in 2019. Her field of research is Social Gerontology; she has published a book titled Life of the Middle-Class Aged in Kolkata (2019) and 15 articles in national and international journals covering diverse aspects of this field. As a recognition of her research, Dr Roy has been conferred the “Prof. Nirendra Chandra Chowdhury Young Scholar Award” by the Indian Anthropological Society.

Prof. Dr. Rita Barros

Prof. Dr. Rita Barros is a Coordinator Professor at Piaget Institute and leads the Education Research Group of Insight - Piaget Research Center for Ecological Human Development. She collaborates with CIIE - Centre for Research and Intervention in Education (University of Porto). She holds a BSc and a MSc in Psychology, a PhD. and a Pos-doctorate in Educational Sciences. Her experience in national and international projects stem from her participation as researcher, team member and external evaluator. Her current research interests are focused on lifelong learning, adult education and digital and health literacy, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Prof. Dr.José Luís Sousa

Prof. Dr.José Luís Sousa holds a degree in Physiotherapy (ESTES Porto), a master’s degree in Adapted Physical Activity (FADEUP), in the field of cardiac rehabilitation, and a Doctorate in Public Health (University of Santiago de Compostela), in the field of exercise in ageing. He has 32 years of clinical practice at Santo António Hospital (Porto) and 30 years of teaching physiotherapy. Integrated researcher at Insight (Piaget Research Centre for Ecological Human Development). President of the Portuguese Physiotherapy Academic Centre of the Academic Network of Health Sciences. Author of several articles and book chapters in the field of physiotherapy and ageing.

Dr. Julia Orri

Dr. Julia Orri, is a Professor in the Kinesiology Department at the University of San Francisco. She teaches Exercise Physiology, Exercise and Disease Prevention, Anatomical Kinesiology, and Nutrition. Dr. Orri's research interests focus on chronic disease prevention in postmenopausal women, where she studies the effects of exercise intensity on sleep quality, nutrition and cardiovascular risk factors. Born in San Francisco, she received her Ph.D. in Exercise Science at the University of New Mexico.

Dr Kinga Kowalewska

Dr Kinga Kowalewska received both her MA in English studies and PhD in applied linguistics at Adam Mickiewicz University (AMU), Poznań, Poland. She works in the Department of Ecolinguistics and Communicology of AMU. Her academic interests include applied linguistics and communicology (with particular emphasis on mass communication and advertising). Dr Kowalewska has published over 30 academic papers both in Poland and abroad, including journal articles, book chapters, edited collections and monographs. Currently, Dr Kinga Kowalewska is leading the project granted by the National Science Centre Poland on the representation of older people in public space from an ecocommunication perspective.

Dr. Tom Vermeulen

Dr. Tom Vermeulen, studied public health nursing and a master in public health. His doctoral thesis eloborated on the impact of psychotic depression on cognition in older adults. His research interest concern psychological and psychiatric vulnerability in older adults with a special focus on built environment, harmful medication and gut mucribiome. As senior researcher and nurse practitioner he is developing a comprehense program for older adults focussing on mental health autonomy (mental capacity) and selfcare, or when impossible, care in dialogue and with respect for autonomy and integrity.

Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Sepúlveda

Prof. Dr. Jacqueline Sepúlveda, Pharmacist (Universidad de Concepción, Chile), Dr. rer. nat (Universität Graz, Austria) is a full professor at the Universidad de Concepcion. R&D+I in drug abuse, addiction, clinical pharmacologist, and pharmacogeriatrics. She has published articles, book chapters and her work has been presented in several national and international congresses worldwide and supervised graduate and post-graduated students. She has been very active in presenting patents, where she has 7 patents granted. Dr. Sepúlveda has been granted several awards such as the first prize as Main Distinction Award to Intellectual Copyright Protection by the UdeC for being one of the academics with a large number of patents.
She was recognized as a “Outstanding Academic and Scientist” by the regional government and considered, twice, one of the 100 leading women in Chile for her contribution to scientific and technological development.

Assoc. Prof. Isis Chamblas Garcia

Isis Chamblas Garcia is a Social Worker, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences at University of Concepción (UdeC). In her professional career she has been director of the Department of Social Work at UdeC, director of the Master in social work and social policy, responsible for courses in social research methods, professional ethics, among others. Her research and teaching interests are focused on aging and old age. She participates and is part of the group of “research and social linkage in healthy longevity” with projects in health and technology with older people; digital literacy and social inclusion of older people; development of strategies for healthy longevity; intergenerationality and social welfare, sense of life and quality of life, among others.

Prof. Alice M. L. Chong

Professor Alice M. L. Chong is the Research Professor and Director of the Caregiving Research and Development Center of the Saint Francis University, Hong Kong. She has an impactful career integrating practice, education and research in social work. Her research interests include social gerontology, caregiving, teaching and learning. She has conducted more than 60 research projects, published over 90 academic articles and presented another 90 conference papers. She was the Founding President of the Hong Kong Association of Schools of Social Work. She was awarded the Medal of Honor and Teaching Excellent Award by the Hong Kong SAR Government.

Dr. Tan Tai Kiat

Dr. Tan Tai Kiat completed his PhD in Gerontology, Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS). He graduated with MSc in Public Policy & Administration, London School of Economics & Political Sciences (LSE) and BSociSci (Hons) in Economics, National University of Singapore. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer, SingHealth Community Hospitals, and Chief Operating Officer, Environmental Sustainability, SingHealth (Singapore Health Services). His research interests are in caregiving, social prescribing, gastronomy, Taiji, gerontech, and longevity. Tai Kiat received the Public Administration Medal (Bronze) (COVID-19), Prime Minister’s Office, Singapore, Alice Lim Memorial Fund Award, SUSS; and Singapore-LSE Trust Postgraduate Scholarship.

Dr. Jens-Uwe Peter

Dr. Jens-Uwe Peter is a research associate at the Institute of Clinical Pharmacology at Brandenburg Medical School. His primary research interest lies in the pharmacotherapy of psychiatric disorders, with a special focus on the treatment of older patients. Dr. Peter studied biochemistry at the Humboldt University of Berlin and obtained his PhD at the Free University of Berlin, where he investigated the serotonin system. His research at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics and the Charité Berlin, Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, was dedicated to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying neuropsychiatric disorders.

Dr. Dana Peer

Dr. Dana Peer, Ph.D., is a seasoned gerontologist specializing in dementia care. With a background in Occupational Therapy (1996) and advanced degrees in Gerontology from the University of Haifa, Dana has dedicated her career to eldercare, focusing on non-pharmaceutical interventions for neurodegenerative syndromes. Her expertise spans from hands-on care to academic research, culminating in a highly acclaimed guidebook for dementia caregivers. As a consultant to both formal and informal caregivers, she brings a unique perspective on maintaining quality of life for people with dementia under challenging circumstances.

Dr Bożena Kowalczyk

Dr Bożena Kowalczyk is a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Nowy Sącz, Poland. Dr Kowalczyk holds a degree in physiotherapy. She obtained her Ph.D in Physical Culture Science from the University of Physical Education in Krakow, 2017. Dr Kowalczyk is an author of over 45 academic papers both in Poland and abroad, including journal articles, book chapters and monographs. Her teaching and research interests include geriatrics and gynaecology. She is particularly interested in the quality of life in elderly people and fall risk assessment.

Mrs. Satih Saidiyah

Mrs. Satih Saidiyah, Dipl., Psy., M.Si, is a lecturer in Psychology at the Islamic State University "Sunan Kalijaga" in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. She holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Gadjah Mada University and is pursuing a PhD at Central Queensland University, Brisbane Campus, with a scholarship from BIB-LPDP (Indonesian Government). Her research focuses on “The conceptualisation of successful ageing among urban and rural Javanese older adults”. Since joining UIN Sunan Kalijaga in 2005, she has been actively involved in psychology education, research, and community engagement, with expertise in counselling, psychotherapy, and various therapeutic techniques. Her work encompasses areas such as depression, domestic violence, marital enhancement, and the psycho-spiritual aspects of health, reflecting a strong commitment to both academic scholarship and community service. She is particularly passionate about ageing issues and gerontology, advocating for holistic and culturally responsive approaches to ageing that promote well-being across the lifespan.

Ms. Annelies Pieters

Ms. Annelies Pieters has a diploma in occupational therapy and 11 years of experience in elderly care. She works as the center manager of a local service center in Belgium (In the village of Kessel). Their local service center belongs to the care group Sisters of Berlaar. In their local service center, they strongly focus on the mental well-being of our community members. That is why they collaborate with the Blossom Project.

Mr. Jakub Husejko

Mr. Jakub Husejko, PhD student at Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and a physician specializing in internal medicine, working at University Hospital No. 1 in Bydgoszcz (Poland). His interests include the treatment of emergencies in the elderly, as well as the organization of care for the elderly in the conditions of the increasing percentage of elderly people in aging societies.

Prof. Ljerka Sedlan König, Ph.D.

J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics, Croatia

Topic: Words Matter: Breaking down Terminology for Older Generations

Prof. Ljerka Sedlan König, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek where she teaches courses in business communication. She began her career teaching English as a foreign language. She did her Master’s degree in the USA, studied teaching negotiation skills at Harvard Law School and did her PhD in entrepreneurial behavior. The main areas of her research are ageing, employability, developing entrepreneurial behavior, entrepreneurship education, and business communication, and she has published more than 30 scientific papers on these topics. She has participated in national and international scientific projects, and has presented papers at scientific conferences at home and abroad. She was the main researcher on research project Increasing the employability of students at Josip Juraj Strossmayer of Osijek though development of entrepreneurial competences and self-efficacy. Ljerka has also published four course books on the subject of business correspondence, negotiating, speaking in public and business telephoning skills.

Dr. Aleksandar Erceg

Associate professor at Faculty of Economics and Business in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek

Topic: Aging and Entrepreneurship - why do we need silver entrepreneurs

Dr. Aleksandar Erceg, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. Previously, he was a deputy purchasing manager at two local production companies in Osijek (Saponia d.d. and Kandit d.o.o.). During his 20 years of experience in Saponia and Kandit, his tasks included organizing purchasing departments and supply chain management and cooperation with suppliers, customs authorities, and logistics companies. He earned his Ph.D. in Management from the Faculty of Economics in Osijek in 2012. The topic of his doctoral thesis was franchising and its influence on entrepreneurs’ growth strategies. He has published more than 30 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and edited four books on Aging population and Silver economy. His research focuses on entrepreneurship, franchising, operations management, and silver economy.

Dr. Mbita Mbao, PhD

Dr. Mbita Mbao, PhD., LICSW, is an Assistant Professor at Salem State University, United States. Her scholarly agenda centers around the intersectionality of aging and disability, behavioral health, and aging workforce development. She is a 2021 Gerontology Society of America Mentoring and Career Development Technical Assistance Workshop Early Career Diversity Fellow.

Dr. Chen-Shin, Hung

Dr. Chen-Shin, Hung is doctor of Medicine, China Medical University, Taiwan and master of Public Health, China Medical University, Taiwan. Her current position is a director, Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tungs' Taichung Metro-Harbor Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan and also director, Chinese Medical Association of Gynecology She is a committee member, Chinese Association for Research and Advancement of Chinese Traditional Medicine. Her areas of Interests are Gerontology, Gynecology, traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture, public health. Her awards or Certifications are Clinical Instructor of Medicine Physician, Specialist of Taiwan Association for Traditional Chinese Medicine of Family & Examiner of TCM-OSCE

Dr. Lisa-Nike Bühring

Dr. Lisa-Nike Bühring’s research focusses on the analysis of the socio-cultural frames of ageing and gender in the West. She is employed as a research assistant at the private University of Applied Sciences Fresenius in Cologne where she continues her research and is a lecturer for qualitative research and media and cultural studies.

Dr. Reginald Ng

Dr. Reginald Ng is a Geriatrician Trainee from Melbourne, Australia, currently with Eastern Health. He has a special interest in the developing field of LGBTIQ geriatric health.

Dr. Joanne Conaglen

Dr. Joanne Conaglen is a nursing lecturer and researcher at AUT Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand). Her teaching and research interests include gerontology nursing practice, management of long-term conditions, social inclusion of older adults, and age-friendly environments. She is a committee member of the AUT Centre for Active Ageing, a research centre committed to working with older adults to live well. Joanne has been a nurse in New Zealand for many years and practiced primarily in public health and primary care both in New Zealand and internationally. Her background in clinical practice and nursing education has led to collaborations internationally, including contracts with the World Health Organization to support the development of nursing in the Pacific Islands. Her various roles in practice, education, and research led to the question “what is the meaning within our experiences of life?” It is this question that lies at the heart of her work.