Inge and Kath first met as Honours students at Swinburne University of Technology, after completing their undergraduate psychology degrees at The University of Melbourne, and have been friends and close collaborators ever since.

They went on to complete their clinical PhDs at Swinburne under the supervision of Maja Nedeljkovic and Jessica L. Mackelprang, with Andrea Phillipou also supervising Inge.

Deeply committed to their work, they bring a shared ethos to research and practice: to take the work seriously, while holding themselves lightly. Their collaboration is marked by intellectual rigour, openness, and a working culture that values both focused scholarship and genuine connection.

In 2026, Kath and Inge founded the BEAM Lab to bring together their shared research and clinical interests, with a particular focus on body image and eating disorders, and to create a shared space for students, early-career researchers and likeminded individuals to work together. The lab aims to contribute to building a strong, pipeline of talent, and to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing and support to others working in this area.

Dr Inge Gnatt

Dr Inge Gnatt (she/her) is a registered psychologist at Eir Practice and lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology. Inge is a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician registered with Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders.

Inge's research focuses on eating disorders and body image, the impact of trauma, and the psychology of performance and wellbeing. Inge’s work involves co-designing and evaluating compassion-based interventions and exploring the psychological impacts of eating and related behaviours across clinical and performance populations.

Inge conducts applied research across clinical, educational, and performance settings, using qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods approaches to translate psychological science into practical and sustainable strategies that bridge research and practice.

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Dr Kathleen de Boer

Dr Kath de Boer (she/her) is a Lecturer in Psychology at Swinburne University of Technology and a clinical psychologist at Stillwater Clinical Psychology. Kath is a Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician registered with Australia and New Zealand Academy for Eating Disorders

Kath has a special interest in trauma, eating disorders, with particular interest in weight stigma and social consciousness. Her research focuses on developing and evaluating evidence-based approaches to understanding and treating complex trauma responses, co-designing interventions, and exploring the psychological impacts of weight stigma and fat phobia.

Kath’s work spans qualitative and mixed-methods research, and she contributes to clinical trials and digital interventions development aimed at improving mental health outcomes. She is committed to advancing collaborative, impactful research that bridges clinical science and practice.