Health Equity Matters, Australia’s HIV and LGBTIQA+ health federation, has appointed Dash Heath-Paynter as its new Chief Executive Officer. Heath-Paynter takes on the new role after serving as deputy CEO for almost eight years. During that period, he oversaw policy development, political advocacy and engagement. This encompassed the national community response to Mpox, including co-chairing the National Mpox Taskforce. Health Equity Matters President Mark Orr AM said, “Dash brings deep, sustained experience in HIV and LGBTIQA+ health advocacy and policy. Dash’s skills and experience will serve our communities well as we push for the virtual elimination of HIV transmission and a more robust community-led response to the health needs of LGBTIQA+ communities.” Heath-Paynter is a member of the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) PICO Advisory Sub-Committee (PASC); the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Advertising Consultative Committee; the National HIV PrEP Guidelines Committee; and the National HIV Testing Policy Expert Reference Committee. “My predecessor, Adjunct Professor Darryl O’Donnell, established strong foundations for us to make monumental progress towards better health responses for LGBTIQA+ people, the virtual elimination of HIV transmission and continuing support for people living with HIV,” Heath-Paynter said. Prior to joining Health Equity Matters, Heath-Paynter worked as a senior policy analyst at Health Equity Matters’ Victorian member organisation, the Victorian AIDS Council, now Thorne Harbour Health. Heath-Paynter is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales and holds degrees in law and arts. He is a graduate of the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government Executive Leadership Program. Image credit: iStock.com/simon izquierdo

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