Membership of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board is announced. They will advise the Commonwealth on investments through the MRFFand “help set” the Australian Medical Research and Innovation Strategy and Priorities.
Kenneth Smith (Walter and Eliza Hall IMR) is deputy chair and members are;
Fabienne Mackay (immediate ex CEO, QIMR Berghofer MRI), Louise Maple Brown (Royal Darwin Hospital), Jack Nunn (Science for All), Judy Searle (Griffith U), Steve Wesselingh (NHMRC), Andrew Wilson (Uni Sydney). Kathryn North (Murdoch Children’s RI) is already announced as chair.
Nick Birbilis (Deakin U) receives the Willis Rodney Award from the Association for Materials Protection and Performance for corrosion science and engineering.
Susan Close joins Flinders U as a professorial fellow. Yes, that Susan Close the former deputy premier of South Australia, who stood down at the recent election.
Michelle Crosby is now Bond U COO, she moves from Charles Sturt U.
Michelle Fitzgerald joins Uni Melbourne as CIO. She was previously at St Vincent’s Health.
Bonnie French becomes Director, International at Uni Tasmania. It is an internal appointment.
Sarah Holland-Batt (UTS) is appointed to the advisory policy group for a new Commonwealth Cultural Policy.
In July Caroline Horner will become ED of the Kids’ Research Institute in WA. She will move from the Burnet Institute in Melbourne.
Stewart King (Monash U) wins the American Popular Culture Association’s Dove Award for research on crime fiction.
Stephen Martin is appointed to Uni Wollongong’s council. He has a lifelong association with the university and is a former federal member for its local electorate.
The Queensland Government appoints four new members of James Cook U’s council. Natalie Maltby, Casie Scott and Michael Spearman are all JCU graduates. Kaylee Boccalatte is the fourth. Marjorie Pagani is reappointed.
Serge da Motta Veiga starts June as Dean of Business and Economics at Uni Melbourne. He moves from NEOMA Business School in France.
Amanda Telford becomes interim Director of Australian Catholic U’s Centre for Education and Innovation for the balance of ’26.