The WISC2026 Team
Dr Rachel Harris
OLY MBBS IOCDipSpPhy FACSEP
Dr Rachel Harris is a Sport and Exercise Physician based in Perth, serving as Project Lead for the AIS Female Performance and Health Initiative and Chief Medical Officer for Swimming Australia. A former Olympic swimmer and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, she has held senior medical roles across multiple national teams including Paralympics Australia, Water Polo Australia, AFLW, and women’s cricket.
Prof Shona Halson
PhD
Prof Shona Halson is the Deputy Director of the SPRINT Research Centre at Australian Catholic University, with a distinguished career in elite athlete recovery. She previously served as Head Recovery Physiologist at the Australian Institute of Sport for over 15 years, shaping national strategies in performance and recovery science.
Assoc Prof Clare Minahan
PhD
Assoc Prof Clare Minahan is an Associate Professor at Griffith University, renowned for her expertise in elite female athletes and women in sport. She has led the Griffith Sports Science group since 2002, following her earlier role as a Sports Scientist at the Queensland Academy of Sport.
Justin Crow
DPT, MEnt (Exec Leadership), MAppSc (Ex Rehab), BPhysio
Justin Crow has over 15 years of experience in professional football, working across both the AFL and A-League in high-performance roles. He was the Performance Support Manager for the Australian Paralympic Team at the Tokyo 2020 Games, contributing to athlete preparation and recovery at the elite level.
Assoc Prof Emma Beckman
PhD,AEP, AES, ASpS L2
Assoc Prof Emma Beckman specialises in Paralympic sport research and integrates her academic expertise with her role as Para Sport High Performance Manager at the Queensland Academy of Sport and Paralympics Australia. She also serves as President of Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA), advocating for excellence in sport science and athlete development.
Assoc Prof Ebonie Rio
Bach of App Sci, Bach Physio (hons), Masters Sports Physio, PhD, Grad Certificate Pain Science, GAICD
Assoc Prof Ebonie Rio is a Sports Physiotherapist with extensive experience across major international events including the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, London 2012 Paralympics, and the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. She is Principal Research Fellow at La Trobe’s Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre, Chair of the VIS Research Council, Co-Deputy VIS Physio Manager, and a member of both the AOC and ONOC Medical Commissions.
Miranda Menaspà
B. Physio; M. Sports Physio.; FACP
Miranda Menaspa is a respected leader in high-performance sport, currently serving as Director of National Performance Support Systems. She oversees interdisciplinary programs—including the Female Performance and Health Initiative (FPHI)—to drive evidence-based, collaborative strategies that elevate athlete and organisational outcomes.
Dr Paolo Menaspa
PhD
Dr Paolo Menaspa is a sport scientist with two decades of international experience across Olympic, Paralympic, and professional sport environments. He is passionate about translating high-quality research into world-leading performance practices that impact elite athletes and teams.