Ambassadors
Our Ambassadors are a Board appointed position and have a public profile in their chosen industry, they generously donate their time and energy to help educate and raise awareness of Endometriosis.
Australian Capital Territory
Gai Brodtmann was elected the Member for Canberra on 21 August 2010 and has extensive experience in the public, private and community sectors.
Gai ran her own small business for ten years and understands the challenges faced by small business owners. Prior to that, she was a federal public servant, primarily with Foreign Affairs and Trade and Attorney-General’s.
Gai has represented Australia in India and worked on a range of international and national issues, from Indigenous youth development and climate change to defence capability, tax and foreign policy.
As a volunteer director on the Gift of Life and Our Wellness boards, Gai helped to lift the profile of organ donation and raised funds for better health services in Canberra. She is a former director and audit committee member of the Cultural Facilities Corporation and ACTTAB and a former director of the National Press Club.
Gai is the founding Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Friends of Small Business and Parliamentary Friends of Defence groups, founding Chair of the Small Business Caucus Committee and founder of ACT Labor For Small Business.
Gai is a member and former Deputy Chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, Deputy Chair of the National Capital and External Territories Committee and a member of the National Broadband Network Committee. She is a former member of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
She was the Chair of the National Policy Committee, which developed the 2011 Australian Labor Party National Platform, Secretary of the Federal Labor Parliamentary Caucus, Chair of the International and Legal Caucus Committee and Secretary of the Status of Women Caucus Committee. Read more
Western Australia
Nola was elected as the Federal Member for Forrest on November 24, 2007. During the first Parliamentary sitting of 2008, she was appointed to the position of Deputy Opposition Whip and was also part of an Australian United Nations delegation to observe the elections in Cambodia later in the year. On the 27 September 2015, Nola was appointed to the position of Chief Government Whip.
She has been able to speak up for Forrest by investigation and developing policy areas which would be of benefit to her constituents.
There has been a big win for regional families by Nola when she led the way to help reverse Labor’s cuts to Youth Allowance access. This was of great assistance to families with children who wanted to pursue their education dreams beyond high school.
This year she was appointed as the convener for the Australia-South and Central Asia Parliamentary Network of the Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Nola enjoys spending time with family and friends, football, cooking, music, reading and walking. She believes in hard work and getting on with the job.
Nola was born and raised by her parents in Brunswick Junction, a small country town in the south west of Western Australia, the youngest in a family of three sisters and one brother. She was educated in Brunswick, Harvey and Bunbury. Read More
Queensland
Emily Seebohm OAM
Emily Seebohm is an Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games & World Championship Gold Medalist.
Emily Seebohm is destined to become one of Australia's most successful swimmers of the modern era.
Her exceptional courage, athleticism and single-minded determination
At the age of only 14 years old Emily claimed her first title, winning the 100m backstroke at the Australian Championships. Since her eye-catching debut, 'C-Bomb' has led our female swimmers with passion, capturing two Olympic gold medals, two Olympic silver medals, an Olympic record and a world record.stands her apart from other athletes. Her passion for the sport is evident not only in the way she swims but also in the way she presents herself in the public eye. Emily's humble nature through success highlights her honest and positive manner in which she conducts herself not only in the pool but also in the community.
Emily has a genuine commitment and willingness to assist her partners to achieve their objectives. She has the ability to relate to a diverse range of people both within the general community and corporate clients.
Emily returns from the 2015 Kazan Fina World Championships with two individual Gold Medals in the 100m and 200m Backstroke along with an additional team Gold Medal in the 4x100m Freestyle Relay. As the current World Number One, she is on target to carry her successful form from the 2012 London Olympic Games, into the upcoming 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
Balveen Ajimal
Balveen is a lawyer who now lives and works in Brisbane. She is a working mum with three young children, who is passionate about advocacy and access to healthcare. Balveen is the Founder of Grace Street Consulting, which brings high-level strategic and management advice to the not for profit sector. She is also the CoChair of Hepatitis Queensland and sits on the Board of the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital Foundation. She spends much of her time coaching and speaking to women from all professional backgrounds around how to achieve their potential.
Balveen was first diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 20 following years of painful menstruation and complications with an inherited rheumatoid condition. Since that time, she has undergone a number of surgeries and finally had a total hysterectomy this year for adenomyosis. “Anyone living with a chronic pain condition or a combination of various chronic conditions will know normal life can be so difficult to manage, let alone enjoy. We were really fortunate to be able to have 3 lovely children and I am so grateful for their ongoing support and that of my husband who has held my hand throughout the ups and downs”.
Balveen is committed to raising awareness of endometriosis in communities where it can still be difficult for women to talk frankly about their health and well-being, particularly in relation to sex and women's health issues. “Stigma and fear perpetuate pain and a low quality of life for so many women and girls. The cycle gets deeper and more restrictive and many women and girls simply don’t know how to break it on their own. I hope that in my role as an Ambassador for Endometriosis Australia I can help to get the message to the thousands of women who need support in accessing healthcare and advice."
New South Wales
Emma Watkins
Emma Watkins is best known for her role as the yellow Wiggle and the first female in The Wiggles, the world’s favourite children’s entertainment group. The Wiggles’ fans have spoken and Emma is officially the most popular Wiggle ever! The effervescent singing, dancing, drum playing, French speaking, bow wearing Wiggle has charmed audiences across the globe. Emma items are the number one sellers and The Wiggles’ audiences are filled with children dressing just like Emma.
Emma continues to attract new audiences with her warm, fresh, engaging personality and unique talents.
The Wiggles are iconic Australians and are advocates for children all over the world, promoting healthy eating habits, an active lifestyle and allergy awareness.
The Wiggles tour extensively through Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland and North America performing shows to audiences of over a quarter of a million people each year across hundreds of shows, many of which are sold out.
The Wiggles and Emma’s TV shows are broadcast worldwide in over 195 countries.
With their music videos reaching over 100 million views on YouTube alone, it is fair to say that The Wiggles dominate online platforms when it comes to children’s entertainment. Looking at Emma’s social media presence, she certainly has struck a chord with her audience. Climbing towards 100,000 followers across her social channels, Emma has over 47,000 Instagram followers and 45,000 Facebook followers and a steadily growing online fan base. Her audience is not just large, but is actively engaged. The “Emma-Army” regularly share photos of Emma Wiggle inspired arts, crafts, costumes and parties.
Mel Greig
Mel was a teen runaway who struggled with peer pressure after moving from the farm to the city in South Australia at the age of 12.
She had difficulty settling into city life and rebelled; she left school in year 10 and spent the next two years couch-surfing and making many life mistakes.
At the age of 16, Mel began volunteering at community radio station Fresh FM in Adelaide and in the process she found her life purpose and passion.
Mel has worked for the biggest radio networks in Australia as a solo announcer, night show announcer, breakfast announcer, radio producer and radio voiceover artist over the past 15 years.
She was co-host of the nation’s most popular night program “The Hot 30 Countdown” both on radio and television. It was on this program she became involved with the “Royal Hoax’’ phone call which she describes as a “life changing experience”.
Happiness is having someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to.
Mel has interviewed international stars including Rihanna, One Direction, Ed Sheeran and Zac Efron.
She is a committed charity campaigner assisting organisations including Variety, Canteen, HYPA, Cancer Council, Youth Inc.
Mel is determined to continue helping teenagers, particularly those dealing with bullying and depression. Mel continues to speak out about her journey with endometriosis and is actively working with Endometriosis Australia to help raise the profile of this disease.
Ellie Angel
Ellie is currently the workday music radio host at Sydney's 2Day FM from 9 am - 3 pm and manages the station's social media.
In her five years as 2Day FM's sweetheart, Ellie has amassed an impressive list of achievements including rubbing shoulders with One Direction, flirting with Jared Leto, falling in love with Ed Sheeran and almost turning gay for Pink! The young star has also hosted the Today Network's Take 40 and Party People across Australia, and MC'd gigs for some of the worlds biggest stars including Katy Perry, Ricky Martin and Kesha.
Ellie is a multiple Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRA) finalist for 'Best Metro Music Personality' and winner of Southern Cross Austereo's 'Next Top Jock Award'.
She studied radio at Melbourne's Swinburne University before doing what any inspiring on-air talent would do - gave away cans of Coke with the Black Thunders for 104.7 FM. Ellie did breakfast radio at Snow FM for two years, then moved to Perth to take over mornings on 92.9 where she stayed for a further two years, before making the leap to 2Day FM.
“There is a strong family history of endometriosis in my family. My mother battled it so she made me aware of the disease when I started puberty. I suffered extreme pain for years to come with days off school and work huddled in up in bed crook as a dog. I was officially diagnosed with Stage 4 Endo in 2012 following a laparoscopy. Unfortunately, because it’s so severe, the endo aggressively grew back. I had more surgery in May this year. It’s amazing when I talk to my friends about it, many of them have never heard of it. I want to create more awareness, and find a cure.”
Ash Ricardo
Ash Ricardo is an actor, writer and voice-over artist. She is best known for playing Kerry Green in Network Ten’s Offspring. Also, will star in the upcoming Channel Nine crime thriller Bite Club playing Detective Zoe Rawlings. Her additional television credits include starring as ‘Charlotte Wynn’ in Network Ten’s Party Tricks, the ABC series Old School alongside Bryan Brown and Sam Neill, the Seven Network telemovie MOLLY, the Network Ten telemovie MARY: The Making of a Princess, Home and Away, Tricky Business, Rescue: Special OPS and Packed to the Rafters.
Ash recently starred in Enzo Tedeschi’s thriller Event Zero, and she also featured in Wayne Hope’s Now Add Honey, which had its world premiere at the 2015 Bentonville Film Festival. She will next be seen in Taika Waititi’s THOR: Ragnarok.
Ash has appeared in numerous theatre productions including Noises Off, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Gallipoli and All-Star Cabaret for the Sydney Theatre Company; Between Two Waves for the Griffin Theatre; That Face for the Queensland Theatre Company; The Pigeons for Griffin Independent Theatre and Sprout for the Old Fitz Theatre.
Ash graduated from NIDA in 2008.
Zoe Marshall
Zoe has recently started working with her husband, Benji Marshall and co-hosting a radio show called "Meet the Marshalls" on Nova.
Zoe Marshall is best known for her work co-hosting the 3 pm pick-up show on KIIS FM national radio during 2015. She also hosted ZM’s National drive show in NZ. Zoe has had many hosting roles including co-hosting Channel Nine’s Mornings and ECLIPSE MUSIC TV, JACK OF ALL TRADES, NEW MOTION PARTY and New Zealand’s GREAT FOOD RACE.
Zoe enjoys hosting corporate and charity events including most recently, Endometriosis Australia, Cure Kids, Guess Jeans, David Jones events including the famous ringing of the bell for boxing day and L’Oreal’s XFactor party as well as being an ambassador for National Breast Cancer, Pink Hope and Endometriosis Australia. Zoe has had a column in The Daily Telegraph focusing on issues surrounding rugby league. Zoe has experience in ambassador roles and enjoyed her time as the face of the ATC races and The Australian Newspaper.
Kate Anderson
Kate is the former Head Designer of Finders Keepers The Label and FKxFIT. She has recently branched out after five years launching her own website and fashion/lifestyle blog alongside designing her own exclusive capsule collections.
It was under Kate’s direction that Finders Keepers The Label transformed into an internationally-acclaimed brand stocked by retailers across the globe ranging from Harvey Nichols to Harrods with the former stating it was the ‘best selling new brand they have ever seen”. The label was regularly spotted on celebrities worldwide, including names such as Kendall Jenner, Jennifer Hawkins to Taylor Swift, Jessica Alba and The Kardashian sisters.
2014 saw Kate receive Cosmopolitan magazine’s Fun Fearless Female award for Fashion Designer of the Year, alongside fellow recipients in various categories, Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage, athlete Torah Bright and singer/songwriter Dami Im. Kate hosts a radio spot on Austereo’s HIT107 as their resident fashion expert, along with other media commitments.
Kate was diagnosed with Endometriosis in her mid teens after struggling with pain for many years.
“Endometriosis runs in my family – I’m so lucky to have a great support network around me. Being an Endometriosis Ambassador is important as I feel that support is something everyone should have, whether you are suffering from Endo or have someone close to you that is. The more we talk openly about Endometriosis, the more awareness and understanding we can help raise. Let's start the conversation.
Fiona Stevens
FIONA STEVENS - Poet, Endometriosis Sufferer/Awareness Supporter
I am genuinely thrilled to be invited as Creative Arts Ambassador to Endometriosis Australia, and I appreciate the consideration because it means a great deal to me. Currently, I am a poet and partner at PEP Whole Person Learning and have been penning poetry since I was a young girl and use it as a communication tool to express thoughts and concepts. As an extra factor, I am extremely interested in the art of poetry, writing for healing and well-being. Sadly, I am also an Endometriosis sufferer who understands this global women’s health issue and its physical, psychological and economic impact, which is significant. I have been quietly scribbling endometriosis poetry for at least sixteen years and in the process shaped an extensive endometriosis catalogue – which I refer to as my ‘journal of discovery and meaning’.
Additionally, as fate would have it and the southern stars twinkled, I was considered as a Content Creator for a global endometriosis project (Project Endo), and a selection of my poetry was published for this wonderful worldwide campaign – for which I am grateful. My involvement with this social enterprise added a new dimension, and I realised that this Gordian condition was not entirely centred on pain, but rather, the tangled problems stretched further than I ever supposed. The sabre-toothed enemy seemed to dig and coil its sharp claws around additional areas causing not only physical but emotional, sexual, fertility considerations and economic hurdles. This concerned me the most and motivated me to contribute my artistry to crank the awareness gears up a notch and ring my bell of support for a painful and underrepresented worldwide women’s health issue.
Simone Skinner-Smith
Simone Skinner-Smith is ‘The Mobile Yogi’. Since 2012 she has been bringing yoga far and wide…thanks to her Vespa ‘Bluey’. Simone has held group yoga classes in-store at Lulu Lemon, at preschools, corporate boardrooms and even the forecourt of The Museum of Sydney. And she has held private yoga classes for everyone from busy mums and dads to international celebrity judges on Channel 9’s The Voice (no name dropping allowed!).
She initiated the popular ‘Yoga in The Garden’ classes at The Grounds of Alexandria and the free 'Yoga for Endo' classes which lead to 'Luminosity' the annual yoga event with Endometriosis Australia.
Simone has been featured in Women’s Health Magazine and Girlfriend Magazine promoting health and wellness through yoga. She has strong connections with the Media Industry, previously working as the Editor of Girl Power magazine and Little Angel magazine for ‘tween girls. She has worked behind-the-scenes on many Australian TV programs like Better Homes and Gardens, It’s Academic and Saturday Disney. She has also appeared on-camera as a snow reporter for Channel 10’s National News, FUEL TV and Fox Sports News.
She is passionate about sharing her love of yoga with people of all ages and experiences.
Elle Watmough
Elle has shared her story with Australia and the World in the hope of helping “if only one or two more women”. Elle went public to reveal in confronting detail her emotional, deeply personal and painful journey to conceive a baby.
Elle has said “If I can bring attention to a typically “taboo’’ subject and share our story, maybe it will make just one person to act and save themselves a future of uncertainty.’’
Elle experienced medical problems from the age of 16, including irregular cycles, while she was also diagnosed with endometriosis, polycystic ovaries and a benign brain tumour which was affecting her pituitary gland.
When I first asked my GP in year 12 about changing pills because I would get my period for 4-6 weeks at a time with intense pain, she switched my Oral Contraceptive Pill, no questions asked. No investigating, no ultrasounds or laparoscopy to see what was happening inside. So I went on, for another four years with constant problems which by now I assumed were "normal".
It wasn't until I met Anthony and decided to go off the pill that all the real trouble started. I had it all - every. Single. Textbook. Symptom. I saw numerous GPs, gynaecologists, endocrinologists, naturopaths.. you name it. I saw it.
They would take a blood test and tell me that nothing was wrong, I was overreacting, and getting on with life. I asked them to do further investigating to make sure everything was OK and told it was not needed and that I was fine.
Elle wanted to shed light on this experience and what she has learnt. I want to tell women, if you don’t feel right, if you feel like something is wrong, push for additional tests to be performed.
Hoda Kobeissi
Mother of three Hoda, still recalls the first time she made a dish and people enjoyed it, kickstarting a love and passion for food, which led her to the MasterChef Australia kitchen.
Growing up in a food orientated family, Hoda says family celebrations were just “constant layers of food”. As a teenager she began cooking for her family while her parents worked long hours. It was a simple stir fry the family loved that connected Hoda to her passion for creating beautiful dishes.
The second of four children, Hoda grew up in south-western Sydney. Excelling in cooking classes, piano and singing, she graduated with a Social Science degree specialising in Counselling in 2006. She worked at a not-for-profit organisation, helping find employment for people with mental health issues, before taking a break for a year and helping her parents with their picture framing business. She then returned to mental health support services, focussing on early intervention for children with poor mental health.
Victoria
Sarah Maree Cameron
Having discovered her love for broadcasting at SYN community radio in Year 7, Sarah Maree undertook a Diploma of Screen and Media (Radio & TV) as well as a Graduate Diploma of Arts (Commercial Radio) after finishing school.
In June 2007 she travelled to Canada for her first commercial radio gig on Mountain FM in Canmore, Alberta. Six months later she returned home to become Nova 100’s weekend announcer and an assistant on Nova Nights.
Sarah Maree’s passion for radio has seen her travel widely for gigs in breakfast on Star FM Warrigal and K-Rock in Geelong, drive with Hot 100 Darwin and in early 2010 she became the host of a national show on SCA.
Six months later Sarah Maree moved to Albury to host a national show on Truck Radio, which earned her an Australian Commercial Radio Award (ACRA) for Best Networked Program. In October 2011 she joined Sea FM Central Coast where she honed her skills as an MC and voice-over artist. Twelve months later she left the radio station to pursue this career full time.
In 2013 Sarah Maree returned to Nova 100 as the weekend announcer before being offered the afternoon gig. You will also find her engaged in multiple community groups and events as Sarah Maree is the Ambassador for the Australian Cervical Cancer Foundation and Endometriosis Australia.
With a love of sports, Sarah Maree has presented live to camera reports to crowds of more than 95,000 people as the Live Television Host for the A League’s Central Coast Mariners and AFL’s Greater Western Sydney’s home games. In July 2013 she joined her beloved Richmond football club in the same role as well as Twenty20 Cricket’s Melbourne Renegades. With experience as a singer, dancer and actor with numerous local theatrical companies, Sarah Maree has also achieved success as a model and a voice-over artist.
Bridget Hustwaite
Born and raised in Ballarat, Bridget Hustwaite now resides in Melbourne as host of Good Nights on triple j. Alongside presenting for the national youth broadcaster, Bridget runs her own music blog, occasionally MCs at music festivals and does the odd DJ set from time to time.
After suffering period and abdominal pain for over 6 years, I was totally stoked to receive my diagnosis of stage four Endometriosis last August. Sounds weird I know, like who would be happy to have a chronic illness? But for me, it was the confirmation and validation I needed. I needed an answer for the heavy bleeding, clots, nausea, pain during sex, fatigue, cramping, the pain and frequency of my bowel/bladder movements. Now that I have one, I want to help others.
I’m lucky that my voice already reaches young Australians every weeknight, as current host of Good Nights on triple j. I’m lucky that my employer has embraced my condition and has allowed me to share my Endometriosis experience with our audience. Following my diagnosis, I received hundreds of messages from fellow endometriosis sufferers, girls who think they may have it, and guys who know someone with endometriosis. This experience made me realise just how privileged I am to already have such a large platform, so it would be selfish of me not to continue utilizing it for good.
In May 2019, I launched endogram, an Instagram account entirely dedicated to raising awareness, sharing information and encouraging conversation on Endometriosis in a colourful and visual manner. My main goal for this account is to help normalise the discussion surrounding periods and help young people identify Endometriosis symptoms they may be experiencing. If I knew about Endometriosis in high school, I genuinely feel that my diagnostic time could have been greatly reduced, so I want to use my voice to help speed up that process for others. Running this account has been a huge learning curve, particularly with recognizing that Endometriosis is not exclusive to just women. It’s important to acknowledge that this condition can also affect non-binary and transgender people, so I hope moving forward that we can represent everyone in the fight to end Endo.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t scared about the future. I really want to have children one day and whilst I currently do not present any fertility issues, it could change. The Endometriosis could grow back, I may need another surgery, who knows. But right now I’m taking it one day at a time and exploring different methods to help maintain my health. I’m so excited to be joining Endometriosis Australia as an Ambassador, and continuing to raising awareness for this chronic condition.
Tasmania
Olivia Hicks
Being accepted to be an ambassador for Endometriosis Australia is a huge honour. I have a great passion for spreading awareness of the disease since I was diagnosed in October 2015. I’m currently a journalist and TV Reporter for WIN News in Hobart. I decided to be a journalist because I love listening to people’s stories and spreading the word. It’s very unpredictable – I can be sitting in court in the morning and then an hour later be called out to a fire. I never know where or what I’ll be reporting on the day.
Last year, not long after I was diagnosed, I did a story on endometriosis. The response to that report was immense and made me realise so many women suffer from this insidious disease. It’s unrelenting, unforgiving and doesn’t discriminate.
I experienced many medical issues in my teens and into my 20’s. I saw GP after GP, for different symptoms, not one of them brought up endometriosis. I was diagnosed with UTI’s constantly, even though no bacteria showed up in urine. I had bowel issues, back and bladder pain, and bloating on a daily basis. I thought I was going crazy.
Then, at the age of 26, I was admitted to hospital with severe pelvic pain. The doctor who saw me mentioned endometriosis – I had never heard of the disease before. The next day I saw my GP and said I wanted to see a specialist. I was referred to a gynaecologist and a couple of months later I underwent a laparoscopy. I was diagnosed with severe stage 4 endometriosis.
Since then I have been actively spreading awareness of the disease. Unfortunately my pain has returned, but knowing I’m supporting others helps me through my bad days. This disease doesn’t only affect the lives of women – but society as a whole and I hope one day perceptions will change and women won’t have to suffer in silence.
PJ Madam
Peta-Jane Madam is an accomplished current affairs and news reporter, producer, writer and anchor. Since 2012, PJ held one of the highly sought after reporting positions on Seven’s flagship public affairs program Sunday Night. It was a role which saw her grab her passport and pack her bags as she travelled the globe covering a range of feature-length stories and interviewing celebrities.
In late 2016, she went back to one of her greatest loves: news anchoring, reading the news for Australia's highest-rating breakfast show, Weekend Sunrise.
PJ is a self-confessed, proud ‘country girl’ born and raised in Mackay, North Queensland. She grew up in a mixed-race, mixed-religious household as the youngest of 4 children to her parents, Rod and Therese. As the baby of the family, PJ was prone to arguing with her mum, dad older brothers and sister which made her a solid debater at school and sharpened her curious mind about all things political. After a pretty typical Aussie childhood, she graduated from school and moved to Brisbane where she enrolled in politics and communications at the University of Queensland. While studying, PJ’s love of politics took her straight to Qld Parliament House where she began working as a parliamentary attendant. She was the youngest person to fitful that role in the state's history.
Not content with her first degree, PJ enrolled again, this time in a Diploma in Business and Public Relations at QUT. It became a natural transition when PJ was seconded to work as an assistant media adviser for Queensland’s then-Transport Minister.
After a few hectic years working in government, PJ began itching to ask the questions - not just spin the answers. Read More ...