About PENNSW
The Paediatric Epilepsy Network New South Wales (PENNSW) was established to formalise the interaction between the many different groups involved in caring for children and adolescents with epilepsy. The mission of the Network and the purpose of the website is to improve the standard of care and quality of life for each child or adolescent living with epilepsy across NSW, Australia.
The information available on this website was written following rigorous consultation with key epilepsy personnel and families affected by epilepsy, and in reference to evidence-based literature.
Current Steering Committee
- Associate Professor Annie Bye (AM)
- Dr Rob Slade
- Dr Tej Kandula
- Dr Hooi Teoh
- Dr Denise Chan
- Dr Sandi Kariyawasam
- Ms Erin Beavis
- Ms Fleur Le Marne.
Original Steering Committee
Associate Professor Annie Bye (AM) (MB BS Syd, FRACP, Doctorate of Medicine)
Associate Professor Annie Bye (AM) is a Senior Paediatric Neurologist at Sydney Children’s Hospital and former Departmental Head of Neurology. She is also Conjoint Associate Professor in the Discipline of Paediatrics in the School of Women's and Children's Health. She served as Vice-President of the Epilepsy Society Australia from 2010-2012 and was a member of the Education Committee from 2006-2010.
Dr Bye has an extensive portfolio of research into paediatric epilepsy and neurology, with over 90 original research articles together with 100 abstracts published in international and national peer-reviewed journals. Research topics include neonatal seizures, neuropsychological and language profiles in paediatric epilepsy, MRI correlates of childhood epilepsy syndromes, quality of life in paediatric epilepsy, and education of epilepsy to patients and medical staff.
She was awarded her MD for publications in epilepsy in 1996. In 2017 she was recognised as a recipient on The Queen's Birthday Honour List.
Dr Rob Slade (Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, Diploma of Paediatrics. Fellow, Royal Australasian College of Physicians.)
Dr Rob Slade currently serves as a Staff Specialist and Department Head of Paediatrics at the Northern Beaches Hospital (Sydney). He is the Clinical Lead for the Southern Children's Healthcare Network. He was the Chief Resident Medical Officer at Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick in 2010 and was Convenor of the PENNSW Steering Committee during the establishment of the Paediatric Epilepsy Network.
Professor Peter Procopis (AM)
Professor Peter Procopis (AM) is a Senior Staff Neurologist at the Children's Hospital Westmead. He was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children 1985-2005. He is a Past President of the NSW Medical Council and its predecessor the Medical Board of NSW. He was the NSW Practitioner Member of the Medical Board of Australia from 2010 to 2015.
Peter has held many College appointments including President of the Australian College of Paediatrics from 1993-1995, Chair of the Committee for Examinations and Chair of the Board of Continuing Education of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians. He was Secretary-General of the 21st International Epilepsy Congress in 1995 and has published extensively on paediatric neurology and epilepsy topics.
Erin Beavis (Certificate in Paediatric Intensive Care and in Midwifery).
Ms Erin Beavis has worked as a Clinical Nurse Consultant at Sydney Children’s Hospital (SCH), Randwick since 2008. Previous to this she was employed at SCH in the Children's Intensive Care Unit, Paediatric Emergency, and in the Neonatal Emergency Transport Service.
Ms Beavis holds certificates in both Paediatric Intensive Care and in Midwifery. She is currently a member of the Complex Epilepsy team at CH (Randwick), dedicated to the delivery of the highest standard of care to children with epilepsy and their families.
Fleur Le Marne [Master of Clinical Neuropsychology, Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology)(Honours), Bachelor of Business].
Ms Fleur Le Marne is currently employed within the Complex Epilepsy Team as the Epilepsy Intervention and Evaluation Coordinator in the Department of Neurology (Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick). Her role is focussed on research and education of patients, caregivers and clinicians. She is currently a conjoint lecturer with the Faculty of Medicine at the University of New South Wales.
Ms Le Marne has experience working across a range of quality health improvement projects and is currently the PENNSW website editor.
Have questions?
Email us: SCHN-PENNSW@health.nsw.gov.au