Dr Karyn Matterson
President

Dr Karyn Matterson is a specialist General Practitioner, with a further Fellowship in advanced rural training (FARGP-RG) with extended skills in Emergency Medicine. She started her medical career in the Australian Defence Force and worked 11 years in the Royal Australian Airforce before transitioning into community practice. Career highlights in RAAF include being an active member in expeditionary health including deployment on humanitarium exercises in Timor-Leste and assignment as designated Aviation Medical Officer to Squadrons. Karyn remains an active Reservist for RAAF. Since leaving the Australian Defence Force, Karyn has spent time in locum roles across Australia providing much needed general practice specialty skills and working in Aboriginal medical services and rural hospital Emergency Departments. She has travelled to and worked in communities from Palm Island, Clermont, Walgett, Collerenabri, Corowa, Wangaratta, Charleville, Augathella and Quilpie. Prior to medicine she was a clinical dietitian, operating her own business working largely in aged care and private practice. One of her career highlights was representing the dietitic profession at the House of Representatives 2018 Obesity Enquiry. Her breadth of experience spans practical medical and allied health skills, business ownership, customer service and advocacy and as such she is a passionate champion of accessible primary health care for all Australians, all of the time.

Karyn is passionate about contributing back to the medical profession and takes active roles on various professional committees, including the Queensland Faculty of the RACGP and the Council of General Practice AMA Queensland. Karyn has been a member elected Board Director of General Practice Registrars Australia (GPRA) since November 2021 and in January 2023 became President of GPRA. In 2023 she commenced as a Medical Educator for RACGP. She is also employed on a casual basis as Lead GP Advisor QLD by Brisbane North PHN, the lead agency for QLD consortium for the Workplace Priority Program. She serves as a member on the grant review panel for the Emergency Medicine Foundation for the “patient flow” studies in Queensland. Karyn is a volunteer assessor for Multi-Mini interview (MMI) at University of Notre Dame Sydney medical student selections (2022, 2023, 2024) whre she gained her postgraduate medical degree. In 2023, Karyn became a graduate of the Company Directors Course (GAICD).

Karyn lives in Brisbane with her husband, Simon, and has two adult children residing in NSW.

Dr Juliet Smith
Director

Dr Juliet Smith is a fellowed GP in Brisbane, who currently works in both an Aboriginal Medical Service and a Dermatology clinic. Originally from country New South Wales, Juliet has lived in Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle and London, working in public and private hospitals, including major paediatric centres, private GP practice, nursing home settings, and Aboriginal Medical Services.

Juliet has an interest in academia, with a recently completely Master of Philosophy and several published articles including in the Australian Journal of General Practice (AJGP). Outside of work, Juliet enjoys cooking new recipes, interior design, and travelling with her husband.