Nominations are now open for the 2026 HIV Community Champions program.
This year there are five categories:
- Health Ally Champion
- Peer Champion
- First Nations Champion
- Bolder (Better Older) Champion
- Emerging Champion
Submissions open: 29 June 2026
Submissions close: 20 September 2026
2025 Community Champions
We are proud to introduce our 2025 Community Champions.
Together with Gilead Sciences ANZ, NAPWHA celebrates five remarkable individuals who are creating safer, more inclusive futures for people living with and affected by HIV.
This year’s Champions bring lived experience, leadership, and compassion to their communities, breaking stigma, strengthening connection and supporting people to navigate care with dignity.
2024 Community Champions
2023 Community Champions
2022 Community Champions
2021 Community Champions
David Polson (he/him)
HIV Advocate
“When I was first diagnosed, I made a pledge I would do anything I could to help medical science increase its knowledge about HIV/ AIDS. Anything. I’m not a doctor or a medical professional, so all I could do was participate in the trials when they came up – and that’s what I did.”
Phillip Keen (he/him)
Coordinator of the NSW HIV Prevention Partnership Project (NHPPP), Kirby Institute
“Many people work in HIV prevention because they are committed on a deeply personal level. I have the privilege of working with over forty of these dedicated individuals from partner organisations who have helped enable the success we’ve achieved today.”
Emil Cañita (he/she/they)
Peer Navigator & GenNext Coordinator at Living Positive Victoria
“Problems with migration and access to timely support and quality treatment are still some of the many issues migrating people living with HIV face to this day. I hope to have more spaces in our HIV movement for people of different genders, sexuality, cultures and ethnicities to be in positions of power and influence. Our bodies are not just for marketing material, area of research and frontline work. It’s time for people like us to also have a seat at the table.”
Dr Jennifer Power (she/her)
HIV Researcher, Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society at La Trobe University
“The science of HIV treatment and prevention has been an incredible success story, but there is a lot of work to be done to support quality of life for people living with HIV, stigma and social support.”
Andrew Buchanan (he/him)
Policy, Research and Evaluation Manager, Bobby Goldsmith Foundation
“It doesn’t matter how significant a role you play – everyone’s role is meaningful. We achieve our best outcomes by collaborating, sharing ideas and insights and working together as one community.”
Why is it important to celebrate
the Community Champions?
At the end of 2021, there was an estimated 29, 460 people living with HIV in Australia. Over the last ten years there has been a steep 48% decline in new notifications with continued improvements in treatment and support for people living with HIV, and focus on prevention through PrEP and U=U (1).
However, to ensure that we get to zero new transmissions in Australia, we need to do more. This is particularly necessary in higher risk groups including our Indigenous and migrant communities. We also need to help all people living with HIV in Australia to live their best lives.
Celebrating the Community Champions showcases some of the incredible success stories in our HIV response and help ensure the focus and momentum on HIV remains.
1. UNSW Kirby Institute. HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia Annual surveillance report 2022. Available online. Last accessed December 2022.
Thank you to all our
nominators and nominees
