Board Directors

Based on the 2026 NBPSA Constitution the ASDP Board must have five and no more than nine Directors.

A Director's term can run for up to three years with one third of Directors positions being available for nomination each year. At least one Director must be an Ordinary Member based in New Zealand and one must be a Trainee Member.

Current Directors

Dr Louise Butler

President

Professional History

Louise graduated with an MBBS (hons) from University of Qld in 1998, and subsequently with MPH in 2011.

Louise is a community paediatrician in Brisbane. She is involved in multidisciplinary clinical care, as well as program development, clinical and professional supervision, education and research within the Child Development Program, Childrens Health QLD. Her interests include complex comorbidity, risk, and resilience; reflective practice; supervision and training; and public health and integrated approaches to care of children.Louise hopes to work with all members of the ASDP to continue to support professional excellence, member wellbeing and a thriving community of practice, as we strive to provide best quality care and support for children with neurodevelopmental difficulties and their families.

Board positions

President 2026 - present

Vice President 2023 - 2026

Associate Professor Jill Sewell AM

Director

Professional history

Jill is a senior consultant paediatrician in the Centre for Community Child Health at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Her interests include early childhood, training in community child health, clinical bioethics, medical education, medical regulation, safety and quality in health care and service delivery, leadership and women in medicine.

Jill is Chair of the Quality and Safety Executive Council, previous chair of the Victorian Clinical Council, and was inaugural co-lead of the Victorian Paediatric Clinical Network. She was on the executive of the International Pediatric Association and has served on various health boards. Jill has been President of the Australian Medical Council and of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

In 2005 Jill was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to child health. In August 2022 Jill was awarded Life Membership of the NBPSA in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the field of developmental paediatrics, the establishment of the Victorian training program in Community Child Health and contribution to the NBPSA.

Board positions

Director 2022 – present

Finance Committee member - 2023 - present

“I am honoured to be invited to serve on the Board of the ASDP and bring my knowledge and experience of governance in various organisations and my hopes and ideas for a better future for children to add to the mix of experts and advocates on the Board in service to the NBPSA membership.”

Avalee Weir

Director

Professional History

Avalee Weir is an experienced senior executive and a natural communicator. She is a writer, storyteller, brand-builder, strategic thinker and leader with extensive experience across the consumer, corporate and not-for-profit sectors, gained over a 25 year career in the UK and Australia.

She is currently Senior Communications Director for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation, Australia's leading independent funder of ovarian cancer research, and voice for advocacy and awareness, working to drive step-change for a cancer that has seen little improvement in outcomes in decades.

Previously she headed the communications team for the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance (VCCC Alliance), a major public health alliance of 10 major Victorian medical research, clinical and academic institutions working together to improve cancer outcomes for all Victorians. Prior to that she led communications for major philanthropic institution, The Ian Potter Foundation, and held management roles at several leading PR agencies and for The Body Shop International.

Avalee is passionate about using the power of strategic communications to deliver results and drive change. As a trusted member of senior leadership teams for the past 15 years, she is a creative problem solver with a track record of success achieving business and organisational goals, as well as developing strong, cohesive teams and working collaboratively with colleagues and stakeholders.

Board Position

Director 2024 - Present

Dr Eve Fifield

Director (Aotearoa New Zealand)

Professional History
Eve is a Developmental Paediatrician working at the Child Development Centre in Wellington, NZ and private practice in Hawkes Bay. She also works at a marae based centre in Hawke's Bay doing health and developmental assessments for children. Eve completed her Paediatric training in Auckland, Hawke's Bay and completed a fellowship in Community Child Health in Brisbane in 2018.

Board Position

Director (Aotearoa New Zealand) 2025 - present

Dr James Carter

Director

Professional History

Board Position

Director 2025 - present

Co-Chair 2026 Organising Committee

Your Space Committee Member 2019 - present

Dr Sally Gordon

Director

Professional History

Sally is an advanced trainee in General Paediatrics and Public Health Medicine, due to obtain dual Fellowship in 2026. She has held senior leadership roles in vaccine safety and service design during the COVID-19 vaccination program, and has led health system improvement projects to strengthen paediatric services and reduce barriers to care. Her current research focuses on access to early childhood development services in Tanzania, using systems thinking to understand and improve service delivery. Sally integrates clinical and public health perspectives, addressing the interplay of social and structural factors, policy, and service systems that shape child health. She has governance and leadership experience through the Observership Program and the Homeward Bound leadership initiative, and is passionate about strong, collaborative leadership to advance equity and developmental outcomes for children across diverse communities.

Board Position

Director 2025 - present

Dr Justine Noble

Director

Professional History

Dr Justine Noble is a consultant developmental and general paediatrician with more than 20 years’ experience in child health and neurodevelopment. She works within a neurodiversity-affirming framework, with particular interests in ADHD, autism, learning and developmental differences, and improving healthcare through technology and innovation. Justine brings both clinical expertise and lived experience as an autistic and ADHD clinician to her work in clinical practice, education, leadership and advocacy. She has been an ASDP member for more than a decade, previously served as Membership Director, and co-founded the ASDP Neurodiversity Special Interest Group, which she currently co-chairs. She is also a Director of Reframing Autism and a registered director with the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Board Position

Director 2026 - present

Co-chair and co-founder Neurodiversity Special Interest Group 2024 - present

Membership Director 2021 - 2022

“I am honoured to be on the ASDP Board. I want to help shape a future in which neurodiversity is deeply understood across developmental and general paediatrics, and neurodivergent children and families consistently receive respectful, neuro-affirming care, as paediatricians are in a privileged position to influence how children understand themselves. I want to serve ASDP members to the best of my capacity and contribute to the Society’s long-term direction — strengthening ASDP as a purposeful, progressive and highly respected professional organisation, with a strong voice and influence across Australasia and beyond.”