Executive Team

Professor Di Stephens OAM arrived in Darwin with her husband in 1998 as the first Intensive Care Specialist in the NT. From 1998 to 2016, she was the Director of the ICU at Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) and helped develop the ICU service in Darwin into a nationally accredited training and research unit focusing on improving critical care outcomes for the community of the Top End.

During this time, she led the RDH ICU response to the Bali bombings and served with the RAAF specialist reserves in Iraq. In 2016 Di and her family lived in Fiji for a sabbatical year teaching intensive care medicine to doctors in Fiji.

Professor Stephens returned to Darwin to the role of medical Director of the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) and enjoyed teaching and capacity building in health disaster response across the Pacific. She then worked in the NT Health COVID-19 response before moving to CDU as the Foundation Dean of the School of Medicine in 2022.

“Medicine and the NT have provided me with a very rich and rewarding professional career, and I look forward to guiding the next generation of NT doctors through the medical program and into a profession filled with possibilities.”

Associate Professor Sufyan Akram is the Discipline Lead for Medicine and the Medical Program Coordinator. Sufyan completed his medical qualification and basic medical training in Pakistan before pursuing his PhD in molecular oncology at the Young Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore. His academic journey has since taken him through various teaching and leadership roles at medical schools in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

Dr Akram has been at Charles Darwin University since 2018 and has served in various leadership roles in the Faculty of Health, advocating for innovation in learning and teaching. He has been involved extensively in curriculum development and student engagement. His passion for advancing health professions education also led him to earn a master’s degree in medical education.

His key research interests are in the molecular basis of cancer and the use of immersive technology in medical education. He has collaborated actively with researchers in several other disciplines, published many peer-reviewed articles, and contributed to textbooks.

Associate Professor Ian Lee, the Medical Program First Nations Lead at Charles Darwin University, is a proud Larrakia man who was born and completed his schooling in Darwin. After high school, Ian pursued his interest in computing through an Aboriginal computer traineeship in Jabiru. He later moved to Canberra, earning a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Science at the University of Canberra. Returning to Darwin, Ian applied his skills to support Aboriginal communities, working with organizations like the Northern Land Council, Australian Bureau of Statistics, ANKA, and ATSIC.

In 2011, Ian began studying medicine through the NTMP. Although his journey of becoming a doctor ended, he continued contributing to healthcare as part of the Consumer Engagement Team with the Patient Advocate at the Royal Darwin and Palmerston Hospitals.

When CDU announced its medical program, Ian joined the First Nations Advisory Group to share his insights. In 2023, he commenced in the First Nations Health and Cultural Specialist role within the Faculty of Health, and in 2024, he became the Medical Program’s First Nations Lead, part of the executive team. Ian is dedicated to training and supporting future doctors to be culturally safe practitioners in the NT and across Australia.

Donna is an experienced healthcare professional with more than twenty years working in the Northern Territory health sector. As a member of the CDU Menzies Medical Program leadership team, she brings a unique blend of clinical insight, strategic planning, and educational innovation to CDU’s strategy in shaping the future medical workforce to meet the needs of remote and regional communities.

Donna has a strong background in designing and leading transformative workforce programs, including initiatives that support Aboriginal health workforce development, remote area nursing, and inter-professional education tailored to the NT context. She previously held senior roles at NT Primary Health Network (NTPHN), where she led Territory-wide workforce development strategies, expanded professional learning opportunities, and enhanced cross-sector collaboration.

Her approach is grounded in cultural responsiveness, data-driven decision-making, and a commitment to quality and equity in healthcare. 

Donna holds a Bachelor of Nursing and postgraduate qualifications in neonatal intensive care, health services management, and leadership. She is currently completing an MBA in Health Services.