Anneka Bowman

Anneka Bowman

Adelaide Medical School

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Dr Anneka Bowman is a Senior Research Fellow for the Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance (ACRA) in the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) Women and Kids Theme. She has a unique breadth of knowledge that draws on her extensive experience as a national clinical trial coordinator, as well as experience managing and conducting epidemiological research through national datasets. Her statistical experience, understanding of effective research translation, and experience in working with vulnerable populations are essential to ensure the best prevention of poor outcomes during the perinatal period.

Anneka currently undertakes collaborative research work at a national level to inform and develop guidelines to NHMRC standards, specifically the Care after Stillbirth and Neonatal Death guidelines as well as the South Australian Safer Infant Sleeping Guidelines.

As an investigator on the project undertaking Cultural adaption of the Safer Baby Bundle (a preventative campaign developed by the Stillbirth CRE to educate and promote awareness of stillbirth prevention across Australia) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, Anneka's work for the Department of Health through the Stillbirth CRE's adaption of the Safer Baby Bundle will target the prevention of stillbirth in Australia's most vulnerable populations.

Through Anneka's work with ACRA, she leads a number of clinical trials working with Aboriginal communities and families. Specifically examining the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in South Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander infants; a trial examining support packages and the impact on nutrition specific to women giving birth to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander babies, and also a trial examining an enhanced antenatal care package to help reduce the harms associated with cannabis use, alcohol use and social stress among pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their significant support person/partner.

Anneka's research focuses on the impact of lifestyle, environment and sociodemographic factors on perinatal outcomes, primarily stillbirth. Her initial work in risk of stillbirth across high-income outcomes has included identification of over 40 risk factors of stillbirth that could be addressed to decrease stillbirth rates in South Australia and globally. 

As a senior researcher with the Centre for Research Excellence in Stillbirth, Anneka is also an Investigator on the "Stronger Bubba Born" project, adapting stillbirth prevention resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families - https://strongerbubbaborn.org.au/. This research involved extensive community consultations, qualitative data analysis and working with a range of stakeholders, community members, and Elders from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia. 

Anneka's work in research translation has seen application of her rigorous methodological expertise, and research findings through national and international guidelines. Her role as a support methodologist with the Australian Pregnancy care guidelines led to her role as the lead methodologist on the NHMRC and PSANZ Care Around Stillbirth and Neonatal Death guidelines for Australia and New Zealand. She has also been instrumental as an advisor on the South Australian Safer Infant Sleeping Guidelines.

Currently Anneka supports the Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance (ACRA) as a senior research fellow to guide research projects, publications, grant applications and the work of the alliance. Anneka mentors fellow researchers, and provides training opportunities to capacity build the team.

As well as her personal research endeavors, Anneka is a member of numerous committees in an advisory capacity including the South Australian Safer Infant Sleeping guideline working group, Red Nose Foundation Indigenous Project Advisory Group, the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ) event and conferences committee, and the SAHMRI Women and Kids consumer advisory board. 

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2022 - 2025 Affiliate Lecturer University of Adelaide
    2022 - ongoing Senior Research Fellow Aboriginal Communities and Families Health Research Alliance (ACRA)
    2022 - 2022 Research Fellow South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
    2014 - 2022 Clinical Trial Coordinator South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide
    2010 - 2014 Clinical Research Assistant International Musculoskeletal Research Institute (IMRI)

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2017 - 2022 University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy
    2011 - 2014 Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia Masters of Research Management and Commercialisation
    2011 - 2012 Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia Graduate Certificate of Research Commercialisation
    2004 - 2010 University of Adelaide, Adelaide Australia Bachelor degree of Health Sciences - Reproductive Health

  • Research Interests
    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Obstetrics & Reproductive Medicine Paediatrics and Reproductive Medicine
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