A/Prof Steve Macfarlane graduated from Monash University in 1991. He is a geriatric psychiatrist and past Chair of the Faculty of Psychiatry of Old Age for the RANZCP. He has held Director positions in two public hospital aged psychiatry services in Melbourne and has been Head of Clinical Services with Dementia Support Australia since 2016. He remains involved in medical student and postgraduate teaching. Steve has published over 50 peer-reviewed academic articles, has presented numerous times at international conferences, and has been active in Alzheimer's disease clinical trials for over 25 years, serving as lead investigator on a number of local, national and international studies. He continues to maintain a small private practice.

Prof Macfarlane appeared as an expert witness before the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety on two occasions, and was co-editor of 'The BPSD Textbook,' the first comprehensive book to deal with the assessment and management of the behaviours and psychological symptoms of dementia. Steve was deeply involved in working with the Commonwealth to establish the national network of Special Dementia Care Units.