Members of the Council of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2021.

Professor
Bruce
Robinson
AC
Chairperson
Professor Bruce Robinson is an endocrinologist. He was appointed as Chair of the Council of NHMRC in 2015 and is also Chair of the Australian Government's Taskforce of expert clinicians charged with reviewing the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
Professor Robinson's research has focused on identifying genetic changes, which either predispose or directly cause endocrine tumours. Other career highlights include the formation of an international consortium of families from around the world to study medullary thyroid carcinoma and phaeochromocytoma.
He has been Head of the Cancer Genetics Unit at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Royal North Shore Hospital, since 1989, where he continues to practice. Professor Robinson was the Dean of Sydney Medical School from 2007 until 2016. Since 2001, he has been Chairman of Hoc Mai Foundation, a major program in medical and health education and exchange with Vietnam.
Professor Robinson has supervised 37 PhD students and has more than 300 research publications.
Declaration
- Board Member, Centenary Institute and Board Member, Woolcock Institute (on leave)
- Board Member, Royal Flying Doctor Service (SE) Division
- Board Member, Firefly Health Pty Ltd
- Board Member and shareholder of Mayne Pharma Group Limited
- Board Member, QBiotics Group Limited
- Advisory Board Member for AstraZeneca, Bayer Australia Limited and Eisai Australia

Professor
Sharon
Lewin
AO
Chair – Health Translation Advisory Committee
Professor Sharon Lewin is the inaugural director of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, a joint venture between the University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital; consultant infectious diseases physician, Alfred Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; and an NHMRC Practitioner Fellow. She is an infectious diseases physician and basic scientist. She leads a large multi-disciplinary research team that focuses on understanding why HIV persists on treatment and developing clinical trials aimed at ultimately finding a cure for HIV infection.
Professor Lewin has published over 250 papers and given over 100 major international invited talks on the topic of HIV cure. She is an elected member of the Governing Council of the International AIDS Society (IAS), and represents the Asia Pacific region. She is co-chair of the IAS’s Strategy Towards an HIV Cure, which advocates globally for increased investment from the public and private sector in HIV cure research. In 2014, she was co-chair of the 20th International AIDS Conference – the largest health conference ever held in Australia with over 14,000 participants.
In 2014, Professor Lewin was named Melbournian of the Year, an annual award from the City of Melbourne to an inspirational role model who has made an outstanding contribution to the city in their chosen field. She received the Peter Wills Medal from Research Australia in 2015.
Declaration
- Recipient of: NHMRC Project grant, Program grants, Practitioner Fellowship and Partnership Project grant. Current, past and likely future application to NHMRC for research and people support.
- Receives funds from the Australian Centre for HIV and Hepatitis, The Victorian Department of Health, National Institutes for Health, Wellcome Trust, American Foundation for AIDS Research and University of Malaya for research projects. I have received funding to support investigator initiated projects from ViiV Healthcare, Merck, Gilead Sciences and Tetralogic.
- Chair, Ministerial Advisory Committee on Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmitted Infection, the peak advisory group to the Minister of Health of Australia.
- Member, Scientific Advisory Board of the Agence National de Recherche du SIDA
- Member, The Hadassah Australia Medical Research Collaboration Foundation (HAMRC) – agency with the goal of fundraising for and promoting medical research collaborations between Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and medical research institutions in Australia.
- Consultant to Tetralogic Pty Ltd, Calimmune Pty Ltd, Geovax Pty Ltd and Abivax Pty Ltd
- Invited Member of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Committee on HIV, World Health Organisation (WHO). Advisory committee to WHO on strategic, technical and scientific issues in HIV.
- In the last 5 years, participated in educational activities organised by ViiV, Merck and Gilead. All honoraria have been paid to my institution
- Key Opinion Leader and Chair, International Association of Providers of AIDS Care, Fast-Track Cities Initiative for Melbourne.
- Executive member of the Governing Council, International AIDS Society. One of 6 members of the executive, the core decision making group for the IAS.
- I have participated in advisory boards to Merck, Gilead, ViiV, Bionore, Abivax, Calimmune and InniVirVax. Payments are made to my institution
- Member, Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF Panel), Ministerial Advisory Committee on Health and Medical Research (Victoria).
- Member of the Leadership Team, Global Virology Network
- I have received honoraria paid to my institution for providing advice to Gilead Sciences, Merck and Bristol Myers Squibb
- Member of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Medical Research in Victoria, the peak advisory group to the Minister of Health of Victoria.
- Member of the Scientific Advisory Board, Vaccine Research Centre, National Institutes for Health.

Dr
Katherine
Woodthorpe
AO
Chair – Health Innovation Advisory Committee
Dr Katherine Woodthorpe is a professional company director on a number of government, corporate and not-for-profit boards. Prior to this she was the Chief Executive of AVCAL, the Australian Private Equity and Venture Capital Association for seven years. Prior to AVCAL, she held a broad range of management and board positions, both in Australia and overseas.
She has deep knowledge of the private equity industry and the superannuation industry in the financial sector and a strong track record in a broad range of technology orientated industries including mining and healthcare. Dr Woodthorpe has considerable experience, expertise and a long track record in public affairs including government relations. She has deep knowledge of the private equity and superannuation industries in the financial sector and a strong track record in a broad range of technology orientated industries including mining and healthcare. Katherine has a strong background in commercialisation and R&D.
Dr Woodthorpe has a BSc (1st Class Hons) from Manchester University and PhD in Chemistry. She is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (and sits on their NSW Council), Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering and was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Technology Sydney.
Declaration
- Chairman, Hearing Cooperative Research Centre
- Director, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute
Professor
Ingrid
Winship
AO
Chair – Australian Health Ethics Committee
Professor Ingrid Winship is a clinician scientist in Clinical Genetics, Cancer Genetics and Dermatology. In 2006, she became the Inaugural Chair of Adult Clinical Genetics at the University of Melbourne and the Royal Melbourne Hospital. She was also at this time appointed as Melbourne Health’s Executive Director of Research and during her 12-year tenure launched the Melbourne Health Clinical Trials Research Centre. She is Director of Genomic Medicine at Melbourne Health.
Professor Winship is currently a member of the Victorian Cancer Agency Reference Group and a Director of the Boards of the Australasian College of Dermatologists, the Australian Genome Research Facility and Global Variome. She is a member of the Health Research Strategy External Advisory Group for New Zealand.
Declaration
- Governor of the Florey Institute
- Geneseq Bioscinec Board of Directors
- Superannuation: Director of Gain Superannuation (a self-managed superfund by Ingrid Winship and Gary Gordon) Director of GD and IM Gordon (Family Trust)
- Pacific Life Re
- Board Membership – no payment: Member, Victorian Cancer Agency Reference Group Director, Board of Global Variome
- Appointed to the Board of the Australasian Genome Research Facility (AGRF).
- Paid Employment: Melbourne Health & University of Melbourne
- IW member of the External Advisory Group for the New Zealand Health Research Strategy

Professor
Steve
Wesselingh
Chair – Research Committee
Professor Steve Wesselingh is the inaugural Executive Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). Prior to that appointment, he was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University, from 2007–2011. Prior to taking up the Deanship, he was Director of the Burnet Institute.
He is an Infectious Diseases Physician and researcher in HIV, vaccine development and the impact of the microbiome on human health.
Professor Wesselingh has consistently worked towards the integration of high quality medical research with health-care delivery, leading to improved health outcomes for Australia and the poorly resourced countries of the region.
Declaration
- Employment – Executive Director, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). Honorary Director & Chair, Health Translation SA (previously South Australian Academic Health Science & Translation Centre)
- Board Memberships from 2000–Current: Board Director: South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) Director: SAHMRI Investments Pty Ltd Director: Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) Director: Australian Academy of Health & Medical Sciences (AAHMS) Honorary Director & Chair: Health Translation SA Chair: Australian Health Research Alliance Council (AHRA) Chair: Doherty Scientific Advisory Board Director: NHMRC Council Chair: NHMRC Research Committee Director: Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research (Inc.) Chair: Breakthrough Mental Health Advisory Council

Professor
Sandra
Eades
Chair – Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus
Expertise in the health needs of Aboriginal persons and Torres Strait Islanders
Professor Sandra Eades is the Dean of Medicine at Curtin University and former Associate Dean (Indigenous) at the University of Melbourne's Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. She is a Noongar woman from Mount Barker, Western Australia, and is Australia's first Aboriginal medical doctor to be awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy (2003).
Her research career has focussed on Indigenous health including child and adolescent health, CVD and diabetes, dementia and mental health within primary care and community settings. Over the past 20 years, Professor Eades has made substantial contributions to the area of Aboriginal health and has provided leadership at a national level in Aboriginal research. Professor Eades is Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, Chair of the NHMRC Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus and a Member of the NHMRC Council.
Declaration
- Employment – Since 2008 I have been employed by Baker IDI, as independent medical research institute
- Outback Stores Board Member
- Recipient of: NHMRC Project grant and previously held NHMRC People Support grant. Current, past and likely future application to NHMRC for research and people support.

The Hon
Judi
Moylan
AO
Chair – Community and Consumer Advisory Group
Expertise in Consumer Issues
The Hon Judi Moylan AO was elected as the federal Member for Pearce in 1993 and served until her retirement from politics in 2013. Her Ministerial portfolios included Family Services and the Office of the Status of Women.
In 2013, she was appointed Independent President and Chair of the Board of Diabetes Australia, retiring from that position in December 2018. Mrs. Moylan is now the Government Affairs Adviser to Diabetes Australia.
With a long involvement in health advocacy, especially in diabetes, from 2013–15 Mrs Moylan was co-chair of the National Diabetes Strategy Advisory Group (NDSAG) and is currently co-chair of the Implementation Reference Group of NDSAG.
In January 2018, Mrs Moylan was appointed to the Advisory Board of Access Care Network Australia (ACNA), a subsidiary company of the Silver Chain Group. Mrs Moylan is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Her awards include: an Order of Australia (AO) in 2016, the Sir Kempson Maddox award, Diabetes Australia Outstanding Services award, the Alan Missen Medal for "serving democracy with integrity" 2013, and lifetime achievement awards from Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Novo Nordisk.
Declaration
- Government Affairs Adviser, Diabetes Australia
- Member of Advisory Board ACNA (a Subsidiary of Silver Chain Group)
- Member, Mitochondrial Donation Expert Working Committee
- Co Chair National Diabetes Strategy Advisory Group – Implementation Reference Group

Professor
Brendan
Crabb
AC
Expertise in Medical Research Issues
Since 2008, Professor Brendan Crabb AC PhD FAHMS FASM has been the Director and CEO of Burnet Institute, a research organisation focused on the health of especially vulnerable populations. He is the past-President of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), the peak body for independent medical research institutes in Australia.
Professor Crabb is a molecular biologist with a particular interest on infectious diseases and on health issues of the developing world more generally. His personal research is the development of a malaria vaccine and the identification of new treatments for this disease.
He is currently a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (FAHMS) and of the Australian Society for Microbiology (FASM).
He also serves on the International Advisory Boards of the Sanger Institute (UK) and on the WHO Malaria Vaccine Advisory Committee (MALVAC) in Geneva. Professor Crabb was the Co-Founder of the 1st Malaria World Congress and of the Molecular Approaches to Malaria Conferences. In his home state of Victoria, is President of the Victorian Chapter of AAMRI.
Professor Crabb was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2015 for eminent service to medical science as a prominent researcher of infectious diseases, particularly malaria, and their impact on population health in developing nations, as an advocate, mentor and administrator, and through fostering medical research nationally and internationally.
Declaration
- Employment: Since 2008 employed as Director and CEO, Burnet Institute, Melbourne
- Support for Travel: Since 2008 – Member, PATH/MVI Vaccine Science Portfolio Advisory Council (VSPAC), USA (since 2008)
- Support for Travel: 2019 – Member, WHO Malaria Vaccine Advisory Committee (MALVAC), Geneva
- Support for Travel: Since 2012 – Member, Scientific Advisory Board (malaria), Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, UK
- Activities: Since 2012 – Member, Scientific Advisory Board, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS)
- Activities: Since 2012 – Chair, Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research International Buttressing Coalition
- Activities: 2019 – Member of Victorian Medical Research Strategic Advisory Committee
- Board Membership: Since 2001 – Member, Board of the Gene Technology Access Centre (GTAC), Victoria
- Board Memberships: Since 2010 – Director, Board of AMREP Animal Services Pty Ltd, Victoria
- Board Memberships: Since 2013 – Member, Alfred Medical Research & Education Precinct Council, Victoria
- Board Membership: Since 2014 – Chair, Victorian Chapter of Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI)
- Recipient of: NHMRC Project grants and NHMRC Program grant. Current, past and likely future application to NHMRC for research and people support.
- Multiple publications relating to Malaria research

Professor
Ian
Frazer
AC
Expertise in Medical Research
He heads a biotechnology company, Admedus Vaccines, working on new vaccine technologies, and is a board member of several companies and not-for-profit organisations. He is the current president of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, a member of the Commonwealth Science Council and Chair of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board advising the Minister for Health on disbursement of the Medical Research Future Fund.
Professor Frazer was recognised as Australian of the Year in 2006. He was recipient of the Prime Minister's Prize for Science, and of the Balzan Prize, in 2008, and was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of London in 2012. Professor Frazer was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia in 2013.
Declaration
- Chair – University of Queensland Advancement Board
- Chair – Medical Research Future Fund Advisory Board
- Board Member – Bellberry Ltd
- Board member and consultant – Jingang Medical Pty Ltd
- Board Member – Implicit Bioscience – a biotech company working on immunotherapy
- Inventor of intellectual property used in HPV vaccines

Dr
Michael
Gannon
Professional medical standards
Dr Michael Gannon is Head of Department, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at St John of God Subiaco Hospital in Perth. He is an obstetrician and gynaecologist specialising in medical problems in pregnancy. He works in the Perinatal Loss Service at King Edward Memorial Hospital and sits on the WA Perinatal and Infant Mortality Committee.
He graduated from the University of Western Australia, before training at Royal Perth Hospital, KEMH, the Rotunda Hospital Dublin and St Mary's Hospital London.
Dr Gannon was President of the Australian Medical Association from 2016 to 2018. Between 2014 and 2016 he was also President of AMA (WA) and Chair of the Federal AMA Ethics & Medicolegal Committee. Dr Gannon is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Board Member of MDA National Insurance.
Declaration
- Telethon Kids Institute – Investigator/Clinical Advisor RSV-M-301 Trial
- Founding Member of Stakeholder Advisory Group of SPHERE, a NHMRC-funded Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) into Sexual and Reproductive Health for Women in Primary Care
- Principal Investigator – Preterm Birth Prevention study University of Western Australia, King Edward Memorial Hospital, St John of God Subiaco Hospital
- St John of God Healthcare – Head of Department, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, SJOG Subiaco Hospital
- MDA National Insurance – Mutual Board Member

Professor
Ingrid
Scheffer
AO
Medical research and other appropriate expertise
Professor Ingrid Scheffer is a paediatric neurologist and laureate professor at The University of Melbourne, Director of Paediatrics at Austin Health, and a paediatric neurologist at the Royal Children's Hospital. She is an Honorary Fellow at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Professor Scheffer's research has focused on the genetics of the epilepsies and epilepsy classification; her work has helped to transform the diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. In 2014, she was elected to the Australian Academy of Science and as a founding fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences; she is currently its President-Elect.
Among her many awards, Professor Scheffer received the Prime Minister's Prize for Science in 2014 with her collaborator Professor Sam Berkovic AC for their work on the genetics of epilepsy. She was also appointed as an Officer for the Order of Australia in 2014. In 2018, she was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of London.
Declaration
- Published translational work for families with individuals with epilepsy: Nation J, Cross H, Scheffer IE. Ketocooking: A practical guide to the ketogenic diet. The Homewood Press, UK 2012
- Received funding for travel from: UCB, Athena Diagnostics, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Eisai, BioMarin, Weizmann Institute, Ramaciotti Foundation, International League Against Epilepsy Has also received funding for travel from various universities, hospitals and associations
- GlaxoSmithKline Award for Research Excellence
- Member of Editorial Board (Journals, no funding): Neurology, Epilepsy Currents, Epileptic Disorders, Progress in Epileptic Disorders Series
- Member of Scientific Advisory Committee, The Clive and Vera Ramaciotti Foundation 2013–2015; Member, Singapore Prime Minister's National Research Foundation Programme Expert Panel 2018–
- Recipient of: NHMRC Program grants and NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence grants and NHMRC Practitioner Fellowships. Current, past and likely future application to NHMRC for research and people support.
- Victorian Independent Medical Advisory Committee on Medicinal Cannabis 2016–2018
- Clinical Trials conducted with: UCB, Zogenix, Ultragenyx, GWPharma, Zynerba, Cann Pharmaceuticals
- Received revenue for patent: Diagnostic and therapeutic methods for EFMR (WO/2009/08659)
- Scientific Advisory Board/Steering committee for BioMarin, Nutricia, GSK, UCB, Xenon Pharmaceuticals Inc.
- Is a member of the following associations: International League Against Epilepsy, Epilepsy Society of Australia, International Child Neurology Association, Australian Epilepsy Clinical Trials Network Executive Committee, L'Oreal For Women in Science Fellowships Committee, Australian Academy of Science, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences Founding Vice-President; Chair Mentorship Committee Twitter: @ingridscheffer Website: www.ingridscheffer.com
- Received honoraria/ payment for lectures from: UCB, Eisai, Athena Diagnostics, Transgenomics, GlaxoSmithKline, BioMarin
- Has given over 450 lectures (international and national) for various associations, universities and hospitals. Has given lectures for Eisai, GSK, Transgenomics, Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, BioMarin, UCB

Professor
Caroline
Homer
AO
Expertise in the nursing and midwifery profession
Professor Caroline Homer is Co-Program Director of Women and Children's Health at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne and Visiting Distinguished Professor of Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney. She is the immediate Past President of the Australian College of Midwives.
She has more than 25 years of experience as a midwife in clinical practice, research, education and international development. She has been involved in the development and evaluation of maternity services in Australia and other countries, including Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Cambodia and Timor Leste. She has held grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, and the Wellcome Trust (UK). She has more than 220 publications in peer reviewed journals and has supervised to completion more than 40 PhD, Masters by Research and Honours students.
Professor Homer has previously been a member of NHMRC's Research Committee and has chaired more than 20 grant review panels for NHMRC. She is a member of the Women and Health Science Committee and was a member of NHMRC Track Record Working Party.
Declaration
- Employment: Burnet Institute and the University of Technology Sydney
- Published range of peer reviewed articles in last five years on issue being considered by the National Antenatal Guidelines.
- Consulted for Australian Commission for Quality and Safety in Healthcare on behalf of the Burnet Institute under a fee for service arrangement.
- Recipient of: NHMRC Project grants, NHMRC Partnership Project and NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence grant. Current, past and likely future application to NHMRC for research and people support.
- Co-Chair National Pregnancy Care Guidelines Expert Advisory Committee
Professor
Maree
Teesson
AC
Other appropriate expertise – mental health
Professor Maree Teesson is Professor and Director of The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, Director of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Prevention and Early Intervention in Mental Illness and Substance Use (PREMISE) and an NHMRC Principal Research Fellow at The University of Sydney.
Her vision is to build the world's leading dedicated translational research program for the prevention and treatment of comorbid mental health and substance abuse.
In 2018, Professor Teesson was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to medicine, particularly to the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders, as a researcher and author, to innovate mental health policy development, to education and as a role model for young researchers. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, and a National Mental Health Commissioner. She is also a founding member of TheMHS Management Committee since 1991.
Declaration
- Employment – employee and senior academic of the University of NSW. Director NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use (2012–2018).
- Recipient of: NHMRC research grant and Centres of Research Excellence grants. Current, past and likely future application to NHMRC for research and people support.
- Holds research grants and centre grants as CI from Department of Health and Aging, NSW Department of Health.
- Director, ClimateSchools PTY LTD. A company established in 2015 to disseminate evidence based education resources.
- Receives occasional honoraria for lectures, examination of theses and ad hoc committee work.
- Holds unremunerated appointments on the following:
- Director, NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use
- Director, NHMRC Centre if Research Excellence in Prevention, Early Intervention Mental Illness and Substance Use
- Professorial Fellow Black Dog Institute
- Chair, NSW ACT Branch, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
- Fellow, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
- Council Member, Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences
- Council Member, National Health and Medical Research Council
- Fellow, Australian Academy of Social Sciences
- Member of Research Committee, Orygen
- Member, Science Advisory Panel for New Zealand’s A Better Start National Science Challenge
- Member, Board of Management, The Mental Health Services Conference of Australia and New Zealand Inc.

Professor
Alison
Venn
Expertise in Public Health
Professor Alison Venn is the Director of the Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, and a Professor of Epidemiology. She has a diverse background including immunology and epidemiology. Her breadth of experience from lab to policy has seen her take on a number of leadership roles, identifying multidisciplinary approaches to solving complex problems.
Professor Venn's current research interests are in the causes, prevention and management of chronic disease. She has a particular focus on the factors in childhood that lead to the development of cardiovascular disease and diabetes later in life. Professor Venn holds positions on a number of committees and is Director of the Tasmanian Data Linkage Unit and the Tasmanian Cancer Registry, both based at the Menzies Institute for Medical Research.
Declaration
Nil

Professor
Carol
Pollock
AO
Expertise in medical profession and postgraduate medical training
Professor Carol Pollock is an academic nephrologist with more than 390 publications in basic research and clinical medicine. She was awarded an Order of Australia (AO) in 2021 for distinguished service to medical research, education and science, to nephrology, and to clinical practice and governance. She is an inaugural Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (2015), was conferred a Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Research Supervision (2012) and was recognised as a 'Distinguished Professor' by the University of Sydney (2012).
Professor Pollock was the 2014 recipient of the Ministerial Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Research. She was Scientific Chairman of the 2013 World Congress of Nephrology, held in Hong Kong. She is Chair of Kidney Health Australia, Deputy Chair of the Board of the Australian Organ, Tissue and Transplant Authority; Chair of the NSW Cardiovascular Research Network and inaugural Chair and then co-chair of the Research Advisory Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology in 2017–2018.
Health leadership roles include inaugural Chair of the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, immediate past Chair of the NSW Clinical Excellence Commission, remaining as a director of both organisations till April 2016. She was Chair of the Northern Sydney Local Health District Board since its inception in 2011 till December 2016, was appointed to the Board of the NSW Bureau of Health Information in April 2016 and assumed Chairmanship of the Bureau in November 2016.
She is the current Convenor of the NSW Council of Board Chairs of Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks. She is on the scientific advisory committee of Australian Biotech Company Pharmaxis Pty Ltd, is a Director of Certa Therapeutics and a clinical advisor to Quantium Health. In November 2018 she was made an Ambassador of Business Events Sydney.
Declaration
- Deputy Chair Australian Organ Tissue and Transplant Authority (2017–2021)
- Speaker Support Speaker – Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Novartis, Vifor – Honorarium
- Member Local Advisory Boards (Vifor, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Boehringer Ingelheim, Otsuka)
- Chair, NSW Bureau Health Information (2016–2020)
- Member of International Advisory Board (AstraZeneca)
- Chair, Kidney Health Australia (Dec 2017–ongoing)
- Chair, Clinical Trial Steering Committee for CHINA (Baxter USA)
- Scientific Advisory Board Pharmaxis (2017–)
- Chair, NSW Cardiovascular Research Network (2013–Ongoing)
- Director, Certa Therapeutics (2018–)
- Travel and Accommodation support – Amgen, Astra Zeneca and Roche within the last 5 years

Professor
Paul
Kelly
Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer
Professor Paul Kelly is the Chief Medical Officer at the Australian Government Department of Health. Prior to this appointment, he was the Acting Chief Medical Officer, leading the Government's health response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. A public health physician and epidemiologist by training, Professor Kelly first joined the Department in March 2019 as the Chief Medical Adviser, Health Products Regulation Group and became the Deputy Chief Medical Officer in February 2020 following the response to the Summer 2019–2020 bushfires. Prior to these appointments, Professor Kelly spent 8 years as Chief Health Officer for the Australian Capital Territory and Deputy Director-General of Population Health in the ACT Government Health Directorate.

Dr
Kerry
Chant
PSM
Chief Health Officer, New South Wales
Dr Kerry Chant is a public health physician, Chief Health Officer for New South Wales (NSW) and Deputy Director-General, Population and Public Health, NSW Health. Prior to this she was Director, Health Protection and Deputy Chief Health Officer, NSW Health.
Dr Chant has extensive public health experience, having held a range of senior positions in New South Wales public health units since 1991. She has a particular interest in blood-borne virus infections, communicable disease prevention and control, and Indigenous health.
Declaration
- Employment – NSW Ministry of Health
- Member of AFPHM
- Holds shares – Wesfarmers and Telstra

Dr
Brett
Sutton
Chief Health Officer, Victoria
Dr Brett Sutton is Victoria's Chief Health Officer. He is a medical graduate from Melbourne University with extensive experience in tropical medicine and infectious diseases as well as emergency medicine. He has also worked in complex humanitarian environments including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Kenya and Timor-Leste.
As Chief Health Officer, Dr Sutton has unique statutory functions under health, food and emergency-related legislation. He is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to promote and protect public health; providing advice to the Minister and the Secretary; publishing a comprehensive report on public health and wellbeing in Victoria every two years; and performing the functions or powers specified in the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008.
Declaration
- Employment – Chief Health Officer, Victoria

Dr
Jeannette
Young
PSM
Chief Health Officer, Queenslan
Dr Jeannette Young has been the Chief Health Officer for Queensland since 2005 and is also the Deputy Director-General for the Prevention Division in Queensland Health. Prior to this she held the position of Executive Director of Medical Services at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane and has worked in a range of positions in Queensland and Sydney.
Dr Young has specialist qualifications as a Fellow by Distinction of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators. She is an adjunct professor at Queensland University of Technology, Griffith University and the University of Queensland.
Dr Young is a member of numerous state and national committees and boards, including the Council of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee and the Queensland Clinical Senate.
Declaration
- Employment – Chief Health Officer, Queensland
- Senior Executive In Queensland Department of Health with responsibility for the Office of Medical Research
- Appointed as Adjunct Professor University of Queensland
- Adjunct Professor at Griffith University
- Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology
- Member of QIMR Berghoffer Council
- Member of NHMRC Audit Committee
- Funding received as an investigator for a grant into Hendra research
- My husband Graeme Nimmo has previously received NHMRC funding and may apply for funding in the future

Dr
James
Williamson
Assistant Director General, Western Australia
Dr James Williamson is Assistant Director General in Western Australia (WA) leading the Clinical Excellence Division of the Department of Health. After completing a PhD at the Walter & Eliza Hall Institute, he continued specialty training and post-doctoral research in Edinburgh and Sydney, where he was a Laboratory Head. He moved to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Perth where he became Medical Co-Director and also set up the Department of Medicine at Joondalup Health Campus.
Dr Williamson established the WA Drug Evaluation Panel and was appointed Clinical Lead for the State eHealth Program and the Musculoskeletal Health Network. He has served the Royal Australasian College of Physicians as Chair of the Specialist Advisory Committee in General Medicine and as a member of the Committee for Physician Training.
Declaration
- Employment – Assistant Director General, WA Department of Health
- Board Member, WA Health Translation Network
- Member, External Advisory Group, NW London Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (NIHR)

Professor
Anthony
Lawler
Chief Medical Officer, Tasmania
Professor Anthony Lawler is the Chief Medical Officer with the Tasmanian Department of Health. He is also Professor in Health Services at the University of Tasmania and a member of the Australian Medical Council's Special Education Accreditation Committee. He was previously the Medical Advisor to the Minister for Health, Deputy Head of the Tasmanian School of Medicine, Tasmanian Branch President of the Australian Medical Association and Director of HealthDirect Australia.
Professor Lawler is a Specialist Emergency Physician and is a Board Member and Immediate Past President of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. He is a Director of the Postgraduate Medical Education Council of Tasmania.
Declaration
- Employment – Chief Medical Officer, Tasmanian Department of Health
- Member, Australian Medical Council's Specialist Education Accreditation Committee and Recognition of Medical Specialties Subcommittee
- Member, Clinical Principal Committee to AHMAC

Dr
Hugh
Heggie
PSM
Chief Health Officer, Northern Territory
Dr Hugh Heggie currently is the Chief Health Officer and Executive Director of Public Health and Clinical Excellence for the Northern Territory (NT) Department of Health.
Dr Heggie having been a research pharmacologist has been a rural generalist practitioner for 40 years, with advanced skills in obstetrics, emergency medicine and indigenous health and has worked in remote settings across the NT since 2002. He has held a number of leadership positions over the last 10 years, participates in a wide variety of local forums, including the Clinical Senate and has led public health reforms across the NT.
Dr Heggie represents the Northern Territory at a number of national committees and advisory groups including the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, the Clinical Principal Committee, the Council of the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency and the Digital Health Agency.
Declaration
- Employment – Northern Territory Department of Health as Chief Health Officer and Executive Director of Public Health and Clinical Excellence
- Member of the Clinical and Technical Advisory Committee – Digital Health Agency
- Board Member Health Providers Alliance NT
- Member of Radiation Health Advisory Council – Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency