Annie McPherson has been living with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) for over 50 years. This inflammatory arthritis condition affects her mobility and flexibility including her back, neck, and peripheral joints. After complications from her AS, related osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, Annie was forced to retire aged 47 years.
In 2005, Annie co-founded the Ankylosing Spondylitis Victoria Inc. peer support group and remains President. Annie has been a consumer representative with the ANZMUSC network since its conception. She is passionate about health advocacy, awareness, and supporting people with Axial Spondyloarthritis (ax- SpA). She has been involved in health consumer representation, advocacy work, medical student education, and research within the musculoskeletal community in Australia for over 15 years, including as a consumer representative on local and international health advisory committees, projects, and seminar presentations for over 10 years.