Safe Sleep Space Through Sleepy Eyes

Dr Carol Newnham is a neuropsychologist who works with both the Parent Infant Research Centre which develops evidence based interventions for mothers and infants and the Victorian Infant Brain Studies Group, which focuses primarily on relationships between neural and functional development in at risk infants.  Dr Newnham's research studies have involved assessing an intervention delivered to mothers of hospitalised pre-term infants in terms of itss effect on infant development.  She recently developed a measure of accumulated stress in hospitalised pre-term infants.  In addition to research work Dr Newnham publishes a quarterly magazine for parents of pre-term infants known as "premmiepress" now in its 11th year, which presents recent and pertinent research results, theories and intervention from different disciplines for parents and professionals.

Birgit has a PhD from the University Melbourne, which focused on identifying the cellular receptor for rotavirus. Following her PhD, she worked in an Research & Development role for animal vaccines, mostly on experiments to ensure quality of the viral and cellular components of the vaccines. In 2002, she took on a regulatory affairs role, before transitioning to the medical department of GSK in 2003. Since then she has supported many paediatric vaccines listed on the National Immunisation Program, via medical/scientific input for various projects including regulatory, health outcomes, and tender submissions. Her current role is the Sothern Region National Immunisation Program Manager.

Lauren Porter is the Co-Director of the Centre for Attachment (www.centreforattachment.com.au), the Secretary of the Infant Mental Health Association Aotearoa New Zealand (IMHAANZ) the Presentation Advisory Committee of the Brainwave Trust and a family therapist and consultant.  She began her clinical work in 1993 with a focus on trauma.  She has since worked elsewhere in the USA and Germany before immigrating to New Zealand in 2002.  her current professional focus is on the merging of attachment theory with neuroscientfic data, with an eye towards the practical applications of everyday life.  She is the mother of two children and lives in Christchurch.