Our Supporters

In addition to his role as an EAA ambassador, Peter is a well respected newspaper columnist; television presenter on Fox Sports; and author of 18 best-selling books including biographies on Wallaby captain John Eales, and war heroine Nancy Wake. In 2001 and 2004 he was Australia’s biggest selling non-fiction author. He is married to Today Show co-host Lisa Wilkinson and they have three children. Peter has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia ‘for service to literature as a biographer, sports journalist and commentator, and to the community through contributions to conservation, disability care, social welfare and sporting organisations’.

Janet is also a Board Director of Vision 2020 Australia and a Board Member of the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund; the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM); the Australian Chamber Orchestra (ACO); the Australian Major Performing Arts Group (AMPAG); and Chamber of Arts and Culture WA. She is a science graduate from the University of Western Australia and taught science for a number of years before working more closely with family business matters.

Catherine Alcorn is one of Australia’s most loved entertainers, adored by audiences for her killer voice and wicked sense of humour. In 2018 Catherine made her triumphant USA and Sydney Opera House debut in her most famous role as The Divine Miss Bette, her smash hit show, channelling Bette Midler, winning her the Best Cabaret Production in the 2018 Broadway World Awards.

Catherine provided the entertainment and acted as EMCEE for Epilepsy Action’s Purple Day event in 2021 and is committed to making 2022 even bigger!

In December 2019 at just 11 weeks old, Luella Oudshoorn was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms or West Syndrome, a rare and disabling seizure disorder in infants, usually with an onset around six months of age. Its estimated approx. 2500-3000 children are diagnosed globally each year. At Luella’s worst she was having 250+ spasms a day. Devastatingly, her spasms are deemed ‘drug resistant’, having failed close to fifteen anti-epileptic drugs (AED’s), and therefore she was unable to obtain seizure control.

Upon introducing Cannabidiol Oil in unison with steroid treatment and one AED, Luella’s spasms have been reduced to thirty a day. Although 30 is still too many, Luella has taken it upon herself to rewrite her own play book and make mammoth improvements that doctors said would be near impossible.

Erin and Dave have formed a NFP called “Lulu Love Project”, which gives a deeper insight into West Syndrome and Luella’s journey. The family want to give something back for research and clinical support in the world of Medicinal Cannabis treatments which is a big part of their own journey. They also want to ensure that parents who ever find themselves in the same situation know where to turn to for support, guidance, and education.

(In 2021 Erin and Dave ran City2Surf to fundraise for Epilepsy Action, raising over $64,000 in just 2 weeks! This enables the development of the CanGuide website.)

Luke has managed to create a happy, healthy and financially successful life as a school leader. Being regarded as one of the most respected school educators in the system today, Luke lives and breathes education, with students in ore of his compassion, knowledge and character. Luke has taken his skills and futurist view to improving some of the biggest concerns in education and the world today.

Mark is a former Penrith second row forward, and a state and national representative player. Since retiring from the sport in 2000, he has made a name for himself in the media including becoming part of the Triple M on-air team and as a regular panellist on a number of NRL television shows on free-to-air and Fox Sports. In 2000, Mark was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for his contribution to Australia’s international standing in rugby league. In 2013 he received an Order Of Australia medal for ‘service to the sport of Rugby League football, and to the community through a range of charitable organisations’. Mark and his wife Meagan have five children.

Jyotsana describes herself as motivated and determined, consistently striving towards goals in her life not only as an athlete, but also in her previous work as an interior architect. In 2016, she decided to follow another goal and is currently studying for a Bachelor of Science specialising in osteopathic medicine at Victoria University. Over the years Jyotsana has competed in triathlon and ironman events, and in 2014 was selected to represent Australia at the ITU World Championship Long Course Triathlon in Weihai, China. Jyotsana has recently embarked on some overseas cycling trips to Europe, New Zealand, Mauritius and Vietnam, where she’s travelled solo with just a backpack on her back. Whilst juggling university with a pretty strict training regime, Jyotsana enjoys squeezing in time for family and friends, and some of Melbourne’s finest art, design and food!

Lachy is thrilled to be an ambassador for Epilepsy Australia.

Not only does he wear the colour purple in The Wiggles, Lachy also has lived in a family with epilepsy his whole life. Lachy’s brother Cameron, has lived with epilepsy since birth and Cameron and his wife Kelly have had a beautiful daughter Charlotte who has Dravet Syndrome. Charlotte loves music and has made a very special connection with The Wiggles colour and music, especially the purple one. ????

Having toured with The Wiggles since 2013 and performing hundreds of shows a year to families all over the world, Lachy takes enormous pride in bringing joy to children and their parents, carers and guardians through entertaining and educational music, dance and colour. He looks forward to working with families living with Epilepsy.

Watch Lachy’s Epilepsy Action Australia video here

Malinda strives to educate her students via Pranayama (breathwork), Asana (postures) and Meditation with a strong focus on Philosophy, to help them live a happier and healthier life.

Having a background in the Performing Arts, Malinda uses her experience with voice and movement to guide her students into a space where their mind and body feels safe, nourished and present.

At 16, she began having generalised seizures after suffering a blow to the head while playing basketball. Now 27, she has been seizure-free for 11 years. Shelby is passionate about Mental Health and Wellbeing and having a positive impact on Mental Health in today’s society. She is also a Certified Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, an Accredited Extended DISC Consultant and Trainer, and a Mindset & Self Leadership Specialist who coaches and mentors individual clients and teams through 1:1 Coaching, Team Training Seminars and Workshops.

She has received many awards including from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology, the Society for Neuroscience, and the Australasian Neuroscience Society, as well as holding a NARSAD Young Investigator award. In 2015 Caitlin joined the New York Academy of Sciences as a Program Manager for the Life Sciences Discussion Groups and is still employed there today. Caitlin is an advocate of Epilepsy Action Australia and an ambassador for people living with epilepsy. She has contributed directly to EAA as a Director of its Board from March 2008 until October 2011 and is currently our representative and ambassador in New York.

She is on the Board of The Royal Society of Arts Oceania, Australian Transformation Association and NSW Nursing and Midwifery Council. Her PhD, Decision making at the local level – the missing link – has recently being socialised in an ebook manifesto ‘Balance Point – making better decisions during times of uncertainty’.

Mia has been a finalist in the Archibald Prize, Mossman Prize, Portia Geach, Waverley Art Prize, and Salon Des Refuses. Her work has been exhibited and collected enthusiastically Australia-wide and internationally. She hopes as an Epilepsy Action Australia ambassador to bring about more awareness and break down some of the existing stigmas.

Jade was diagnosed with Epilepsy at the age of 9 and has been seizure-free for the last 11 years. Up until recently, Jade hid her condition due to fear of the Epilepsy stigma.

“I’ve decided that my Epilepsy didn’t need to be lonely anymore and that speaking about it makes me a stronger person.  Since opening up about my condition, many positive things have happened. For the first time in my life, I have connected with other people who have Epilepsy. There is such a power in that.

I have also been properly diagnosed and learnt more about my condition. Recently I hosted a Run for Epilepsy which fundraised over $13,813 for EAA! I want to be part of raising awareness and breaking the stigma so that people know it’s okay to talk about.”

Paul hid his epilepsy for years as he moved on to work as a soccer commentator. But his secret was revealed in the most public way possible – he had a seizure while broadcasting a live interview in 2001. Shortly after he underwent brain surgery to stop the seizures. The invasive treatment involved removing a piece of Paul’s brain the size of two matchboxes. Since the successful operation, he hasn’t had a seizure, although his short-term memory has been affected. Paul who now works as a motivational speaker and sports commentator, credits Epilepsy Action Australia with providing invaluable support through his ordeal. He takes every opportunity to raise the profile of epilepsy and our organisation.

He has spearheaded a campaign to create a statue of the most important racial discrimination moment in Australian sporting history – the time indigenous AFL player Nicky Winmar stood up to racist abuse, pointed at the colour of his skin and declared, “I’m black, and I’m proud!”

He has fought back against Australian supermarkets and their short-term plastic promotions with the Future Landfill campaign, which saw Woolworths ‘Lion King Ooshies’ campaign put firmly in the crosshairs, and led to them creating an environmentally promotion in its place.

Alex’s book, The Right-brain Workout (co-authored with advertising and business guru Russel Howcroft) was a best seller for Penguin Random House in 2019.
He has also created advertising campaigns that have run all around the world, raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for a range of charities.

Alex is also the father of the wonderful Lila, who was diagnosed with Epilepsy at the age of 6. Since that time Alex, has been a vocal and proactive supporter of Epilepsy Action Australia and continues to do all he can to raise much needed funds for epilepsy research and support.

Alex firmly believes we all have the ability to change the world. You just have to do it!