Sparked Bright Sparks: Juliana Iles-Mann

We spoke to Juliana about her involvement in the Sparked Community, here’s what she had to say!

❓ What is your background?

I have an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science and have worked in the public pathology sector for the majority of my working life. Initially working in the lab, doing testing and analysis in Haematology and Transfusion, I gradually moved into a section lead role, and eventually into a Management role. I completed my MBA and took on various organisational roles including Business Manager, Operations Manager until finally taking on the ICT Group in the network I worked in. That’s where my journey in ICT started and has led me now to being the Program Director for the delivery of “Fusion” for NSW Health Pathology. Fusion is a program of work with the state-wide Laboratory Information Management System at the core, as part of the Single Digital Patient Record underway in NSW, but it also includes a range of other programs to support and streamline lab workflows across our organisation. My passion is about making a difference in the lives of the people who entrust their care to our system. I feel privileged to be in a role where I can influence that that looks like.

❓ How did you first hear about Sparked and what made you want to become involved?

I’ve been a Digital Health Adviser with the ADHA since 2018, so have been aware of the development of the national digital health strategy for some time. I became more involved in early 2024, when I started attending the Sparked community events. Given that the vast majority of information that goes into a patient’s medical record is pathology, aligning this with the ambitions of the Sparked program for standardisation, mandatory uploading to My Health Record, supporting electronic workflows for pathology ordering and the massive program I am currently leading, there was a natural synergy and I wanted to be in position to influence the direction and provide a voice for the public pathology sector.

❓ What do you see as the best outcomes that Sparked has delivered or is working towards?

The best outcomes for me are 1) The “community” – bringing like-minded and passionate individuals together, getting different perspectives from across the health sector, being able to sit at a table with an industry vendor representative, a patient and consumer advocate, a government advisor, the private sector and clinicians – all stakeholders coming together and leaving their agendas at the door for the greater good. And 2) The commitment from government and the community to make our systems better to empower patients and support health and wellness, to reduce inequity, to put the consumer and patient squarely at the centre, to truly embrace a bottom-up approach to consultation, and to build a connected system.

❓ How is Sparked different to projects you’ve been involved in before?

The level and breadth of true collaboration is striking across industry WITH patients. It’s the collaboration, connectedness, shared vision and purpose that makes Sparked a powerful igniter of change. The bottom-up approach to consultation is the key to acceleration. That so much has been achieved in such a short timeframe is a testament to the common goal – enabling a system and society which empowers its citizens to have and use their health data, working with their care providers to improve overall health outcomes.

❓ What is something you’ve learnt from being part of the Sparked community?

I’ve learned more about how government processes work, I’ve learned about different perspectives from other health sector stakeholders. I’ve learned how critical this process of bottom-up collaboration is to inform the national digital health dialogue. Whilst it seems intuitive to ask the experts at the coalface what they think to inform the strategy, the fact that this approach has not been taken before by government and yet, so much has been achieved in such a short space of time and is accelerating at pace, shows that new ways of thinking and approaches are essential to progress the dialogue.

❓ Can you share one of your favourite or memorable moments from participating in Sparked?

I, with my son Harry, am one of 4 related couples participating in Sparked. There’s us – mother and son, a father and daughter, father and son and a married couple. We did a photo shoot for this unique group and Harry unexpectedly picked me up and the photo was snapped. A great moment captured on film, a proud moment to share with my son whose passion and commitment driven by adversity inspires me every day. To witness that through this shared journey is priceless.

❓ What excites you most about the future with Sparked?

The future of the Sparked is exciting because it represents a dynamic and innovative approach to solving real-world challenges through collaboration and cutting-edge technology. It brings together diverse ideas and talents to create solutions that will have a lasting, positive impact on society. The blending of expertise from different fields allows for fresh perspectives and creative solutions to emerge. The continued opportunity for learning, growth, and the chance to connect with like-minded individuals who share my passion for science, technology, and progress is motivating.

❓ What’s something unexpected that you’ve learnt/been a part of/connected with through Sparked?

Understanding the variety of perspectives and ways of operating from parts of the health sector that I haven’t really given much thought to has been enlightening. Hearing from the coalface how disconnected we are and the challenges this places on different stakeholders has strengthened my passion to continue to contribute to a program and strategy that will bridge those gaps to ultimately benefits our patients and consumers.

❓ How would you explain Sparked to someone not yet involved?

The Sparked Accelerator Program is about bringing a community of like-minded individuals together to collaborate and develop ways, using technology, to make healthcare smarter, more efficient, and easier to access, so that people can live healthier lives. Health data has typically been stored in separate silos and in different formats, despite the increasing demand for digital health services. The Sparked program’s foundational mission is to agree upon a common language for the exchange of data in healthcare and to develop solutions to make that data accessible and meaningful to support and empower patients to manage their own care.

❓ What piece of advice would you share to someone who may not yet be a part of Sparked?

My advice would be that if you want change, you have to make the effort, be in the room, as part of the community to influence the direction.

❓ If you had to describe Sparked in three words, what would they be?

That’s a hard one. I’m not sure I can describe it in 3 words!

Exciting, collaborative, motivating

Connectedness, purpose, value

Standards, aspirational, inclusive

❓ If Sparked had a theme song, what would it be?

Alicia Keys – Girl on Fire

❓ Describe Sparked using only emojis

🌅 New start, new direction, new experiences

⏳We are not done yet!

🌠 Let’s be aspirational and shoot for the stars!