| Medicine home | About | Future students | Current students | Research | Alumni | Contact us |
| Staff (Intranet) | Staff directory | A-Z index | Site map |
| Medicine home | About | Future students | Current students | Research | Alumni | Contact us |
| Staff (Intranet) | Staff directory | A-Z index | Site map |
Monash Medical Research Advisory Board
Mr George PappasChairman, Committee for Melbourne and Chair, MMRABGeorge is a Senior Advisor of The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) having retired as a Senior Vice President in June 2002. Since May 2005, George has been Chairman of the Committee for Melbourne, continuing a nearly 20 year association with the Committee. Following PCEK’s merger with The Boston Consulting Group in 1990, George became a member of BCG’s worldwide Executive Committee and the Administrator of the Australian and New Zealand offices, positions held until July 1994. He has also been Chair of BCG’s Worldwide committee responsible for the election of Senior Vice Presidents. George has extensive experience developed over nearly 30 years from consulting work in the United States, Japan, Asia and Australia. He has undertaken worldwide competitive studies for manufacturing and mining companies, worked extensively in retail and wholesale distribution sectors, and advised clients in financial and other professional service businesses. He has directed many acquisition projects, as well as post merger integration efforts.
Mr Rod ChadwickDeputy Chair, MMRABMr Chadwick is also Deputy Chair of the Monash University Medical Research Advisory Board. He was, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Dunlop Ltd from 1995 to 2001. Currently, he is a business consultant and a company director of several Australian companies and, as well, holds advisory board membership for Oracle Corporation, Australia and New Zealand. He is the immediate past National Deputy President of Australian Industry Group’s. As an industry leader, his past positions include the Chair of Population Policy Steering Committee, Business Council of Australia; member of the Committee for Melbourne; Director of the Australia/Japan Business Cooperation Council; and member of the International Business Leaders Advisory Council for the Mayor of Shanghai, China. Mr Chadwick is a graduate of the Advanced Management Program of the Harvard Business School.
Professor Nick BirrellDirector, Monash Asia-Pacific Centre for Science & Wealth, Monash UniversityNick Birrell is a Professorial Fellow and Director of the Monash Asia Pacific Centre for Science and Wealth Creation. He has 20 years’ experience in the finance industry, and is a part-time Venture Executive with venture capital company Innovation Capital. Until July 2005 he was Regional Director Asia Pacific of INVESCO, a major global asset management company. He founded and was Chief Executive of what is now Credit Suisse Asset Management Australia and was the second Chief Executive of County Investment Management, a Melbourne headquartered asset management company. Earlier in his career he was a consultant and project manager involved in advanced information technology projects. Dr Birrell holds a Ph.D. in mathematical physics from London University and is the author of numerous research papers and two books. When Chief Executive of County Investment Management, he was very active in the promotion of medical research funding and biotechnology commercialisation as an opportunity for Australia and Melbourne in particular.
Professor Edward Byrne AOProfessor Ed Byrne has had an active career in clinical neurology and basic neurological research. He received his MBBS with first class honours from the University of Tasmania in 1974. The following year he moved to Adelaide and became a Neurology Registrar in 1978. Professor Byrne was the Muscular Dystrophy Research Fellow at Queen Square in London in the early 80’s and in 1983, he returned to Australia to be Director of Neurology at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne, becoming Professor/Director in 1992. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Science from the University of Melbourne in 1995, was the Founding Director for both the Melbourne Neuromuscular Research Institute and the Centre for Neuroscience, and was Professor of Experimental Neurology at the University of Melbourne. As Director of the Centre for Neuroscience, he played a major role in driving the establishment of Neurosciences Victoria and Neurosciences Australia. His research group has made significant contributions in muscular dystrophy and mitochondrial research. He is a board member of Cochlear Pty Ltd, Neurosciences Australia and Neurosciences Victoria and Editor-in-Chief of the Internal Medicine Journal. He is a member of the Neuromuscular Steering Group of the World Federation of Neurology and was Secretary General and Chair of the program committee of the 9th International Neuromuscular Congress. Professor Ed Byrne was the Dean of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University from 2003 to 2007. In March 2007 he took up the role of Executive Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences and Head of the Medical School at University College London (UCL), however he provides an important international link by remaining a member of this board. Sir Roderick Carnegie ACChairman, Pacific Edge GroupSir Roderick Carnegie was born in November 1932 in Melbourne, Australia. He attained a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Melbourne in 1954, a Master of Arts and a Diploma of Agricultural Economics from Oxford University in 1957, and a Master of Business Administration (with Highest Distinction) from Harvard University in 1959. Sir Roderick became a Consultant with McKinsey & Company, Inc. in 1958, working in the United States and Europe. In 1962 he founded the Australian practice of McKinsey in Melbourne. In 1967 he returned to New York to become a Director of the Company. In June 1978 in Queens Birthday Honours he was created a Knight Bachelor for services in Mining. He was appointed a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia in 2003 for service to the promotion of innovative leadership and to the development of competitive practices in business, both national and international. He is a Fellow of Trinity College, Melbourne. He serves as Patron of the Australian Centre for Blood Diseases.
Professor William Charman, PhDDean, Victorian College of PharmacyProfessor Bill Charman received his PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry from the University of Kansas in 1985, and from 1986 to 1989 was a Senior Scientist/Group Leader at the former Sterling-Winthrop Research Institute in Rennselear, New York. He returned to Australia in 1989 where his research interests include enhanced absorption and bioavailability of poorly water-soluable drugs, lymphatic drug transport, lead candidate optimisation, and the discovery and development of drugs for neglected diseases. He received the GlaxoWellcome International Achievement Award in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain in 1999, the Drug Discovery Project of the Year by the Medicines for Malaria Venture (Geneva, Switzerland) in 2002, the APSA medal in 2005, and the Controlled Release Society international career achievement in oral drug delivery in 2006. He has published over 330 scientific papers and communications, is a member of four international editorial boards, and is an Associate Editor of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. He is an elected fellow of the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, a previous member of two corporate boards, a member of various scientific advisory boards and is Chairman, Seeding Drug Discovery Funding Committee of the Wellcome Trust.
Professor Edwina CornishDeputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Monash UniversityEdwina Cornish is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at Monash, a position she took up on 16 February, 2004. Edwina played a key role in building one of Australia’s first biotechnology companies, Florigene Limited. Under her leadership the company developed and successfully commercialised the world’s first genetically modified flowers. She is currently a member of the Board of the Australian Research Council. She has also served on the Prime Minister’s Science and Engineering Council and the Victorian Government Science and Engineering Technology Taskforce.
Ms Barbara CrookMs Crook’s energy and experience for the past decade has been in the legal and professional services industry, overseeing internal change and the merger of two significant law firms. This background paved the way for her entry into the consumer goods industry as a Commercial Manager with Uncle Ben’s, which in turn led to her undertaking a series of supervisory roles in manufacturing and to a new career in production and plant management. From there, she joined Country Road as a Production Manager, acquiring supervisory, contract and accessory sourcing experience. She was recruited by ADI as General Manager Operations, for the clothing division. Later she was recruited by the Smorgon Group as General Manager of the ARC Division Operations, with ultimate responsibility for supplying most of Australia’s large infrastructure projects.
Mr Jerry EllisMA Oxon. HonDEng C.Q.U. FTSE FAICD FAIM HonFIEAustMr Jeremy Ellis is the Chancellor of Monash University. He began his career with Imperial Chemical Industries in the United Kingdom and in Australia, and in 1967 he joined the then Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited in Melbourne to work in planning and development. He rose through the company’s management structure, and in 1982 he was appointed as General Manager of Group Subsidiaries and of Corporate Planning. In 1991 he was appointed as a Director of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, and Executive General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of BHP Minerals. In 1996 he was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, and he served as Chairman of the Company from 1997 to 1999. Mr Ellis is the Chairman of the boards of directors of a number of companies, and holds a number of directorships in the fields of finance, mining and engineering. He holds the Honorary degree of Doctor of Engineering from Central Queensland University, and he is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Wollongong. He is a Fellow and a Member of the Council of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, and an Honorary Fellow of the Institution of Engineers, Australia. Mr Ellis is Chairman of Landcare Australia Limited, Chairman of Future Directions International, Chairman of Golf Australia and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowships. Professor Christine MitchellHead of the School of Biomedical Sciences
Professor Christina Mitchell trained as a physician scientist specialising in Clinical Haematology. She received her medical training from Melbourne University and consultant training in Haematology at the Alfred Hospital Melbourne. Her advanced clinical training in Haematology included a PhD characterising the natural anticoagulants protein C and protein S. Her post-doctoral studies were undertaken in the field of intracellular signalling in Professor Phil Majerus' laboratory at Washington University Medical School, St Louis, USA. In 1991, she returned to Australia and became an independent investigator at the Department of Medicine, Box Hill Hospital. In 1999 she was appointed Professor and Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University and, in June 2006, was appointed Head of School of Biomedical Sciences at Monash University.
Dr Hugh NiallExecutive Director Australian Stem Cell CentreDr Niall brings significant biotechnology management experience to the Advisory Board. He was chief executive officer of Biota, a listed Australian biotech company from 1995 – 2002. Previously he has held senior academic and commercial positions, including four years as VP of Research Discovery at Genentech. Dr Niall was a Board Member of the Howard Florey Institute from 1996 - 2003 and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard University’s Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He is also the Chairman of the Diabetes Vaccine Development Centre. He was a founding director of the Australian Stem Cell Centre Ltd and was Chief Executive Officer of the Centre from July 2003 to July 2006.
Professor Leon Piterman AMDeputy Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences at Monash University, Professor of General Practice and Head of the School of Primary Health Care. Professor Piterman is also a member of the Monash University Medical Research Advisory Board. He is expert in General Practice education, establishing Australia 's largest and most successful university-based diploma/masters program for general practitioners. Almost 1,000 GPs locally, nationally and internationally have now participated in this course since its inception in 1992. Special interest in primary mental health and cardiovascular disease. Chair of several Faculty Committees, including the Faculty Foundation Working Group and the International Advisory Committee.
Mr David PittVice-President Finance & Chief Financial Officer, Monash UniversityDavid Pitt oversees the financial management, funding and capital works programs of Monash world-wide. Previously held several senior positions at Telstra, most recently as Director of strategic projects, where he was responsible for strategic analysis, mergers and acquisitions, business restructuring and evaluating major investment proposals. During his time at Telstra, he developed and implemented the company's new superannuation scheme and developed the strategy for implementing the early rollout of Telstra's Pay TV cable network. His experience as a company director includes the boards of various high technology and communications organisations, international start-ups and joint ventures. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia and has a first class honours science degree majoring in pure mathematics and statistics, a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from RMIT.
Ms Sue RenkinManaging Director – Intuitively Focussed Pty Ltd
|
 |
Robert Smorgon has worked in his family’s business for over 35 years. He more recently was involved in the establishment of Smorgon Steel, and was one of the inaugural directors when it was floated as a public company in 1998. Robert served as a Director until early 2001.
He is currently Deputy Chairman of his and his brother Jack’s family’s business –– the Escor Group with interests in flexible packaging, Bang & Olufsen audio and visual products in Australia and New Zealand, securities trading, property development, venture capital and investment.
Robert and his brother Jack have established a philanthropic foundation. Its focus includes medical research and community welfare, with particular attention to youth. The foundation was recently the instigator of ACCYO, whose aim is to promote standards for youth organisations. Robert is the Director of ACCYO.
He was recently awarded a commendation by Victoria Police for commitment to the disadvantaged young people in the State of Victoria.
 |
Rob Thomas is currently Senior Advisor, Citigroup Australia.
Mr Thomas has over 30 years experience in the securities industry. In 1986 Mr Thomas joined County NatWest Securities Australia Limited (CNWSAL) to establish its stockbroking operations and was appointed Managing Director of CNWSAL. This ultimately involved the acquisition of a small 30 person Sydney operation, JM Bowyer & Co., which was built up to 220 staff with operations in Melbourne, London, New York, Auckland, and Tokyo with a consistent No.1 Market Share rating in Australia. In April 1998, County NatWest Securities was taken over by Salomon Smith Barney and later became a part of Citigroup where Mr Thomas was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Australia and New Zealand. Subsequently he became Chairman of the Citigroup Global Corporate and Investment Bank, finally retiring from that position in September 2004.
He is the Chairman of two ASX listed companies, Heartware Limited and Australian Wealth Management Ltd and is on the Board of Virgin Blue Ltd. He is Chairman of the Security and Derivatives Industry Association and is a Director of Grahger Capital Investments. He is a member of the Library Council of NSW and remains a consultant to Citigroup Australia.
Mr Thomas has a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University 1963-1966. He has been a member of the Securities Institute of Australia since 1976 and was appointed as a fellow to the Institute in 1997. He is a Master Stockbroker and is a Fellow of the Institute of Company Directors.
On a personal level Mr Thomas is married to Kyrenia with four boys. His hobbies include racing & breeding slow horses, golf and he also enjoys collecting antique maps.
 |
Professor Bryan Williams was appointed as the Director of the Monash Institute of Medical Research from January 1 2006 and also heads up the Centre for Cancer Research at MIMR.
Prior to this appointment, Professor Williams was the Chairman of the Department of Cancer Biology at the Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, a position he had held since 1991. He was also an Associate Director of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Cleveland.
Professor Williams has a distinguished history in cancer research. He has previously worked in New Zealand, England, Canada and America, specialising in the molecular biology of tumour suppression, and focusing on the role tumour suppressor genes may play in regulating cell growth, maturation and apoptosis (programmed cell death). He is internationally recognised for his contributions to research on Wilms Tumour, a cancer of the kidney that primarily affects children, for studies on protein kinase R, an important cellular signalling molecule and for work on innate immunity.
 |
Mr Wise is an experienced corporate lawyer and manager in the resources and energy and corporate sectors. He has had extensive practical experience in Australia and internationally with a wide range of business, corporate management and dispute resolution issues, including governance at board level. Prior to becoming a legal consultant and company director, he spent 24 years with WMC Limited (10 of which as General Counsel) and four years as Counsel to a New York law firm.
He is the non-executive Chairman of the ASX listed gold mining company, St Barbara Limited, Chairman of its Remuneration Committee, and a member of the Audit Committee. He is a non-executive director of Victoria’s largest healthcare provider, Southern Health, Chairman of its Quality Committee and a member of the Audit Committee.
He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
 |
Michael Wooldridge is a Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University and an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne.
He chairs a number of public and private companies.
He also chairs the Ministerial Advisory Committee on AIDS, Sexual Health and Hepatitis [MACASHH]
He was a member of the Australian Parliament from 1987 to 2001 and Commonwealth Minister for Health from 1996 to 2001.
