Bright ideas to better care
Driven by the mission and legacy of HammondCare, Hammond Innovations is shaping better care for people in need.
A new chapter for a new era of care
Uniting three highly-regarded entities – The Dementia Centre, The Palliative Centre, and The Centre for Positive Ageing – into an integrated collective, we're partnering with other organisations as well as the people we serve, to move faster from knowledge to impact.
The Dementia Centre is now part of Hammond Innovations!
With 30 years of dementia care expertise, we’re ready to help you take a step closer to better dementia care. Talk to us about customisable packages to suit your needs.
Package 1
Strengthening Care
Ready to take your dementia care to the next level, to better engage with and enable the people you serve?
Our Strengthening Care package will upskill your teams, improve your spaces and help bring your service in line with the Australian Strengthened Quality Standards for aged care. It includes:
A tailored environmental review
Face-to-face or online dementia workshops
Onsite modelling and mentoring
A collaborative needs analysis
Package 2
Transforming Care
Looking for a total revamp, setting up your teams and spaces for improved connection with the people in your care?
Through our Transforming Care package, we'll work with you to tailor a plan best suited to your context and that supports your regulatory and compliance activities. This package builds on Strengthening Care with additional services, including:
Service capability review
Workplace coach and champions
Training and design analysis, and more!
Meet our
- leaders
- innovators
- researchers
- leaders
- leaders
- innovators
- researchers
- leaders
Dr Anna Barker
Executive General Manager
Prof Chris Poulos
Director, Positive Ageing Research Program
Prof Josephine Clayton
Director, Palliative Care Research & Development
Dr Tom Morris
Director, Dementia Research Program and Data Analytics
Abby Campbell
Head of Foundation and Innovation
A/Prof Steve Macfarlane
Head of Clinical Services
Dr Peter Archer
Head of Pastoral Care – Research
Marie Alford
General Manager, Growth & Innovation National Programs
Stephen Wilkey
Technology Innovation
Meet our
- leaders
- innovators
- researchers
- leaders
- leaders
- innovators
- researchers
- leaders
Dr Anna Barker
Executive General Manager – Hammond Innovations
A clinician by background, Dr Anna Barker is a registered physiotherapist with a special interest in ageing and complex care. She brings more than two decades of experience across health, aged care and health innovation, with a deep understanding of how to translate knowledge into practice. She has led large-scale innovation and research programs and is known for championing new models of digitally enabled care.
Anna joined HammondCare in July 2025 to lead Hammond Innovations, the engine room for research, innovation, philanthropy and translation of knowledge into practice to improve quality of life for people in need.
Professor Christopher Poulos
Director, HammondCare Centre for Positive Ageing
As well as maintaining an active clinical practice, Chris oversees the clinical services and research activities of HammondCare’s Centre for Positive Ageing. The Centre strives to offer innovative services and undertake translational research that helps people make the most of their ageing experience, despite their limitations because of the health conditions that might be impacting them. There is a strong emphasis on the principles of rehabilitation, and strategies to maximise a person’s functional ability and quality of life, and on mental wellbeing.
Associate Professor Stephen Macfarlane
Head of Clinical Services, Advisory Care and Partnerships
Steve became a psychiatrist in 2003, and was appointed Director of Aged Psychiatry at Peninsula Health in 2005 before moving to Alfred Health in 2008 as Associate Professor and Director of Aged Psychiatry. He became Head of Clinical Services for Dementia Support Australia in 2016.
Steve is a past Chair of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age for the RANZCP, and has been running Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials for over 25 years. He has clinical interests in frontal lobe disorders and in senile squalor.
His work with DSA has him overseeing a group of geriatricians and old-age psychiatrists around the country. He was intimately involved in developing the new Commonwealth Special Dementia Care Program and with the Aged Care Royal Commission, testifying before the Royal Commission in May 2019 and July 2020.
.jpg)
Professor Melanie Lovell
Senior Staff Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine
Professor Melanie Lovell
Senior Staff Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine
Professor Melanie Lovell is a Senior Staff Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine in Northern Sydney and a Senior Academic in Hammond Innovation’s Palliative Care Program. She is a Clinical Professor in Palliative Care at The University of Sydney’s Northern Clinical School and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney.
A widely published researcher in cancer pain, she is the founding chair of the Cancer Council Australia’s Australian Cancer Pain Management Guideline and is Chair of the Pain Node for Cancer Symptom Trials and Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative overseeing the progress of clinical trials and other studies to improve pain outcomes for people receiving palliative and cancer care. She led the development of the Pathway for Specialist Pain Management for people with pancreatic cancer for Cancer Australia. Her other research interest is in spiritual care and she has led the development of the Embrace Program for people with serious illness and their caregivers.
Marie Alford
General Manager, Growth and Innovation
Marie Alford is the general manager of growth and innovation at Hammond Innovations. She has led Dementia Support Australia, a national service supporting people with complex dementia and those who care for them. With a background in social work, advocacy, and leadership, Marie brings over 20 years’ experience in behaviour support, complex dementia, and inclusive, rights-based care. She is a member of the Department of Health, Aged and Disability Expert Advisory Group, with expertise in complex dementia, design, trauma, and supporting people from diverse life experiences. Marie is also a published writer and regular media contributor, passionate about elevating lived experiences.
Abby Campbell
Head of Foundation and Innovation
Abby is a dynamic professional with 18 years of experience in various sectors. Her journey in the professional world has been a mix of international development, nonprofit fundraising, and spearheading marketing and business development efforts in the NDIS industry.
With a solid foundation in aged and disability services, followed by a decade dedicated to international development, Abby honed her skills in working collaboratively with stakeholders to create, fund, and execute impactful projects. In the not-for-profit sector, she played a pivotal role in elevating funding growth through the Covid 19 pandemic for an organisation that achieved their largest fundraising goals to date.
Professor Josephine Clayton
Director of Palliative Care Research & Learning
Professor Josephine Clayton is a Senior Staff Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine at Greenwich Hospital in Sydney, and Professor of Palliative Care, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. She also leads research and learning at The Palliative Centre.
Josephine is Director of The Advance Project, a national program, led by HammondCare and funded by the Australian government. The Advance Project provides practical, evidence-based resources and training that empower aged and primary care professionals to initiate advance care planning and palliative care. Josephine’s research has been widely published and translated into clinical practice in the area of enhancing communication between patients, families and clinicians about palliative and end-of-life care.
Dr Tom Morris
Head of Research & Information Excellence
Dr Tom Morris is Head of Research & Information Excellence for The Dementia Centre, HammondCare, an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Sydney School of Public Health at the University of Sydney and an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health of the University of Canberra. He is a clinical neuropsychologist, researcher and analyst with over 10 years’ experience in ageing and dementia. Tom is responsible for three portfolios that support the characterisation, understanding, and wellbeing of older adults and people living with dementia.
These teams include an Information Insights team that drive analyses and evaluations of aged care services, a Research team that supports academic research in the area of complex dementia, and a Research Governance team that is responsible for the oversight of organisational research activities and governance across HammondCare.
Stephen Wilkey
Technology Business Partner
Stephen has more than 30 years’ experience in IT. He spent the first 17 years of his career working for an American multinational corporation leading an international team and specialising in IT infrastructure project management across 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region. 13 years ago, Stephen moved into the not-for-profit sector and worked as the IT manager of an international NGO in Afghanistan. Since joining HammondCare 3 years ago, Stephen has specialised in IT innovation, working at the intersection of business needs and IT solutions. He is passionate about helping people unlock the full potential of technology. As a Christian, Stephen values the alignment between his personal beliefs and HammondCare’s mission, viewing his work as a way to live out Jesus’ command to love God and one another.
Peter Archer
Head of Pastoral Care - Research
Peter has had a focus on humanitarian justice issues throughout his adult life. He spent many years working with Australian Indigenous communities through the Baptist Church assisting in the establishment of the Aboriginal and Islander Baptist Council of Australia. He then managed a large general practice in south west Sydney. During this time, he helped the senior GP establish the African Aids Foundation, assisting communities in South Africa and Kenya in their responses to the HIV/AIDS crisis. This was followed by ministry with World Vision Australia in its Church Partnerships team and advocating for various justice campaigns.
He joined HammondCare in 2015, leading a pastoral care team within its residential services. In 2024 Peter completed his PhD through Aberdeen University under the supervision of Professor John Swinton. It explores the experience of dementia and Christian worship. He currently heads HammondCare's Pastoral Care for HealthCare and Hospitals and Research. Peter is married to Joanne, and they have two adult children.
Dr Anna Barker
Executive General Manager – Hammond Innovations
A clinician by background, Dr Anna Barker is a registered physiotherapist with a special interest in ageing and complex care. She brings more than two decades of experience across health, aged care and health innovation, with a deep understanding of how to translate knowledge into practice. She has led large-scale innovation and research programs and is known for championing new models of digitally enabled care.
Anna joined HammondCare in July 2025 to lead Hammond Innovations, the engine room for research, innovation, philanthropy and translation of knowledge into practice to improve quality of life for people in need.
Professor Christopher Poulos
Director, HammondCare Centre for Positive Ageing
As well as maintaining an active clinical practice, Chris oversees the clinical services and research activities of HammondCare’s Centre for Positive Ageing. The Centre strives to offer innovative services and undertake translational research that helps people make the most of their ageing experience, despite their limitations because of the health conditions that might be impacting them. There is a strong emphasis on the principles of rehabilitation, and strategies to maximise a person’s functional ability and quality of life, and on mental wellbeing.
Associate Professor Stephen Macfarlane
Head of Clinical Services, Advisory Care and Partnerships
Steve became a psychiatrist in 2003, and was appointed Director of Aged Psychiatry at Peninsula Health in 2005 before moving to Alfred Health in 2008 as Associate Professor and Director of Aged Psychiatry. He became Head of Clinical Services for Dementia Support Australia in 2016.
Steve is a past Chair of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age for the RANZCP, and has been running Alzheimer’s disease clinical trials for over 25 years. He has clinical interests in frontal lobe disorders and in senile squalor.
His work with DSA has him overseeing a group of geriatricians and old-age psychiatrists around the country. He was intimately involved in developing the new Commonwealth Special Dementia Care Program and with the Aged Care Royal Commission, testifying before the Royal Commission in May 2019 and July 2020.
Professor Melanie Lovell
Senior Staff Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine
Professor Melanie Lovell
Senior Staff Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine
Professor Melanie Lovell is a Senior Staff Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine in Northern Sydney and a Senior Academic in Hammond Innovation’s Palliative Care Program. She is a Clinical Professor in Palliative Care at The University of Sydney’s Northern Clinical School and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology Sydney.
A widely published researcher in cancer pain, she is the founding chair of the Cancer Council Australia’s Australian Cancer Pain Management Guideline and is Chair of the Pain Node for Cancer Symptom Trials and Palliative Care Clinical Studies Collaborative overseeing the progress of clinical trials and other studies to improve pain outcomes for people receiving palliative and cancer care. She led the development of the Pathway for Specialist Pain Management for people with pancreatic cancer for Cancer Australia. Her other research interest is in spiritual care and she has led the development of the Embrace Program for people with serious illness and their caregivers.
Marie Alford
General Manager, Growth and Innovation
Marie Alford is the general manager of growth and innovation at Hammond Innovations. She has led Dementia Support Australia, a national service supporting people with complex dementia and those who care for them. With a background in social work, advocacy, and leadership, Marie brings over 20 years’ experience in behaviour support, complex dementia, and inclusive, rights-based care. She is a member of the Department of Health, Aged and Disability Expert Advisory Group, with expertise in complex dementia, design, trauma, and supporting people from diverse life experiences. Marie is also a published writer and regular media contributor, passionate about elevating lived experiences.
Abby Campbell
Head of Foundation and Innovation
Abby is a dynamic professional with 18 years of experience in various sectors. Her journey in the professional world has been a mix of international development, nonprofit fundraising, and spearheading marketing and business development efforts in the NDIS industry.
With a solid foundation in aged and disability services, followed by a decade dedicated to international development, Abby honed her skills in working collaboratively with stakeholders to create, fund, and execute impactful projects. In the not-for-profit sector, she played a pivotal role in elevating funding growth through the Covid 19 pandemic for an organisation that achieved their largest fundraising goals to date.
Professor Josephine Clayton
Director of Palliative Care Research & Learning
Professor Josephine Clayton is a Senior Staff Specialist Physician in Palliative Medicine at Greenwich Hospital in Sydney, and Professor of Palliative Care, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney. She also leads research and learning at The Palliative Centre.
Josephine is Director of The Advance Project, a national program, led by HammondCare and funded by the Australian government. The Advance Project provides practical, evidence-based resources and training that empower aged and primary care professionals to initiate advance care planning and palliative care. Josephine’s research has been widely published and translated into clinical practice in the area of enhancing communication between patients, families and clinicians about palliative and end-of-life care.
Dr Tom Morris
Head of Research & Information Excellence
Dr Tom Morris is Head of Research & Information Excellence for The Dementia Centre, HammondCare, an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Sydney School of Public Health at the University of Sydney and an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Health of the University of Canberra. He is a clinical neuropsychologist, researcher and analyst with over 10 years’ experience in ageing and dementia. Tom is responsible for three portfolios that support the characterisation, understanding, and wellbeing of older adults and people living with dementia.
These teams include an Information Insights team that drive analyses and evaluations of aged care services, a Research team that supports academic research in the area of complex dementia, and a Research Governance team that is responsible for the oversight of organisational research activities and governance across HammondCare.
Stephen Wilkey
Technology Business Partner
Stephen has more than 30 years’ experience in IT. He spent the first 17 years of his career working for an American multinational corporation leading an international team and specialising in IT infrastructure project management across 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region. 13 years ago, Stephen moved into the not-for-profit sector and worked as the IT manager of an international NGO in Afghanistan. Since joining HammondCare 3 years ago, Stephen has specialised in IT innovation, working at the intersection of business needs and IT solutions. He is passionate about helping people unlock the full potential of technology. As a Christian, Stephen values the alignment between his personal beliefs and HammondCare’s mission, viewing his work as a way to live out Jesus’ command to love God and one another.
Peter Archer
Head of Pastoral Care - Research
Peter has had a focus on humanitarian justice issues throughout his adult life. He spent many years working with Australian Indigenous communities through the Baptist Church assisting in the establishment of the Aboriginal and Islander Baptist Council of Australia. He then managed a large general practice in south west Sydney. During this time, he helped the senior GP establish the African Aids Foundation, assisting communities in South Africa and Kenya in their responses to the HIV/AIDS crisis. This was followed by ministry with World Vision Australia in its Church Partnerships team and advocating for various justice campaigns.
He joined HammondCare in 2015, leading a pastoral care team within its residential services. In 2024 Peter completed his PhD through Aberdeen University under the supervision of Professor John Swinton. It explores the experience of dementia and Christian worship. He currently heads HammondCare's Pastoral Care for HealthCare and Hospitals and Research. Peter is married to Joanne, and they have two adult children.