The SUABE executives are elected annually from our members and are comprised of a number of talented and dedicated individuals.
Meet your team for 2021-2022:
President athena kam
Athena is our resilient, caring and intelligent president of SUABE. There is no one better to fill this role than Athena with her multiple positions and direct impacts she has had on SUABE over the years. From being First Year Representative, Athena has gotten students connected with each other through her love of Biomedical Engineering. Her genuine and compassionate nature welcomes people open-heartedly and she is a blessing to see around PNR or law-library, where she hangs out. Last year her role of Secretary enabled her to lead and designate projects with sponsors and to make industry engagement more accessible to the biomed cohort. She loves to go to the gym, play tennis and fiddle around with her guitar. Her favourite dish to make is an amazing homemade Poke-ball and her hands down favourite ice cream shop is Anita’s. As President, Athena will definitely bring her passion of working on brain-computer interfaces and functional neuro-analytics to manage and lead this year’s wonderful SUABE team to even greater heights. Athena Kam is a future leader of the biomedical industry and her passion to restore functions such as seeing, hearing and moving will inspire innovation and motivation towards the whole industry and community.
Vice President sarah wacher
Sarah’s warmth, passion, hard work and dedication brings a certain sparkle to our biomedical team. When she’s not on the basketball court breaking ankles, she’s cozied up with her favourite crime fiction or harry potter book, a hot peppermint tea and of course, carrot cake. Sarah’s determination in biomedical engineering lives within her passion to treat paralysis patients. Some of her many superpowers include, kindness, enthusiasm, dependability and compassion. She’s still working on her teleportation so don’t be surprised if you see her pop up on a beach in Greece one day. As vice president, Sarah aims to bridge the gap between student and industry engagement and hopes to build a stronger biomedical community!
Treasurer brian trang
Meet Brian. Empathetic, energetic and ever so supportive; he may appear calm and rational at first, but he’s a true thrill seeker at heart. University student by day, avid foodie by night, there is none better for the job of treasurer. He’s a simple man with many talents, some of which include playing guitar, flying RC planes and cooking. You might think his hobbies stray slightly from his degree of Biomedical Engineering and Medical Science, but not to worry!! Brian has great intentions and aspirations for SUABE. He is versatile, he is knowledgeable. He is someone who can appreciate others’ ideas but also bring his own pizazz to the table when needed. Do not be fooled by Brian’s tranquil facade, because once he sets his mind to something, he can be a whirlwind of both tenacity and excitement!
Secretary jess perchman
When she isn’t engrossed in murder mystery documentaries, shooting baskets or DIYing some funky jewellery, Jess can be found upholding SUABE’s reputation as being supportive and welcoming to all. She’s empathetic, passionate and strong-willed. She plans to bring her expansive knowledge of medical science and engineering into a niche in the healthcare industry, such as solving pressing issues in women’s healthcare. Jess is fueled by motivation to help people (and maybe by too many TerraCotta coffees or a quick study nap). Jess’ background in marketing and leadership keeps the team strong and resilient through thick and thin, and SUABE couldn’t ask for a better secretary or friend!
Sponsorship Officer nathan lui
This bright and humble sponsorship officer is one of the most welcoming individuals you’ll find at PNR. Nathan’s passion for engineering began with the fun of building legos but after taking apart a broken iPod, his love for engineering bloomed. This man is on a mission to start his own company for affordable prosthetic limbs - talk about ambition! When he’s not studying hard, you can find him on the tennis courts winning every match. Feel free to ask him about what new projects he’s 3D printing and watch as his eyes light up. Nathan is not afraid to get SUABE out there and foster stronger industry connections… Nobody more qualified for the role of sponsorship officer!
Marketing Officer ellen gibbs
You may find her riding a wave, practising yoga headstands or sipping an extra chocolatey mocha - whatever she's doing, Ellen will give it her all, which is why we are thrilled to have her on board as SUABE's marketing officer! Ellen hopes to help SUABE's image flourish by designing eye-catching cover pictures and stylish new merch! When Ellen isn't by the beach you can find her chatting away to everyone and anyone (possibly in Spanish) lighting up PNR with her warm and welcoming attitude. Ellen is determined to get the most out of life, which is why she's willing to go anywhere and everywhere biomed takes her. Get keen for all the creativity Ellen will bring to SUABE this year.
Second Year Representatives
aish singh
With her signature coffee in hand there is nothing in this world Aish couldn't achieve. Her enthusiasm, infectious energy and all round 10/10 personality makes her a force to be reckoned with. In her spare time our new Second Year Representative can be found reading, painting or watching netflix. A true Hermione Granger at heart, Aish aspires to work in the groundbreaking areas of prosthetics or stem cell technology. But until then she’s excited to devote her endless talents to engaging with and advocating for the entire biomed cohort to make SUABE a second home for everyone!!
gevindu abeydeera
Rising from our subcommittee, Gevindu has nothing but passion to assist SUABE in continually fostering the tight knit network of biomedical engineers here at the university. If you can’t find him in PNR, you will probably find him in level 9 Fisher library or shooting some hoops with mates. While cooking eggs is all he can do at the moment, he has vowed to be a master chef at making and flipping pancakes. Once Gevindu sets his mind on something, he will get it done even if he might fail along the way. There is no doubt that he will pour his heart and soul into SUABE just as much as he pours into his friendships and studies. Next time you see him around, don’t be afraid to say hi!
First Year Representatives
alessia pernice
A bubbly and extremely affable individual, the one, the only, drum roll please *drum rolls* Alessia! Her passion for Biomed is unrivaled as she loves to organise and work behind the scenes and help out wherever she can. Her friendly and happy presence makes it irresistible to smile with her, so don’t be afraid to pop into PNR and talk to her about anything, whether it be concerns about biomed, life, or even just to make a new friend, she’ll be more than happy to talk with you. And when she’s not in PNR, she’ll be watching musicals and enjoying a lovely oat milk chai latte. Alessia is such a lovely person and such a brilliant addition to our executive team as one of our amazing first year reps.
lexi osler
She’s audacious. She’s organised. She’s bubbly. She’s Lexi! An absolute go-getter at heart, she inspires those around her to live life to the fullest. Her laid back nature coupled with a tremendous work ethic is really something to admire. While she’s not dominating on the basketball courts or composing symphonies, she’s exploring Sydney’s hidden pizza joints in the search for that perfect slice. Lexi hopes to travel the world in the future, making an impact on the biotech industry. Needless to say, Lexi is an astounding new addition to the executive team as one of our newest first year reps.
Faculty Member Professor Gregg Suaning
As the Head of School of Biomedical Engineering and Technology (BMET), Professor Suaning, is an integral part of the SUABE team. He is our greatest supporter and is always there when we need him most.