Dr Hengel is an early career researcher based with the Surveillance, Evaluation and Research Program at the Kirby Institute, who has been working alongside Aboriginal communities for around 15 years, primarily focused on reducing STIs and improving reproductive and pregnancy outcomes for women. She has been involved in point of care testing for infectious diseases in Aboriginal communities for the past ten years, more recently as co-coordinator of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander COVID-19 POC testing program, and the MRFF Rapid Applied Research Translation for infectious disease point of care testing in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.