Leadership, management and guidance
The Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI) is a company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001. We are also registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. Our founding partners and key stakeholders, the University of Wollongong (UOW) and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), engage us to provide research leadership, support, services and infrastructure to grow quality research under four-year funding and service agreements. In addition both partners provide in-kind support to us to advance the shared vision of improving the health of Illawarra residents through research excellence. Since 2014, we have been recognised as an independent Medical Research Institute (MRI) by the New South Wales (NSW) State Government, making us eligible for funding from the Medical Research Support Program administered by the Office of Health and Medical Research in the NSW Ministry of Health. Our patron is renowned scientist Dame Bridget Ogilvie (AC, DBE, ScD, FRS, FAA).
Our people
Board of Directors
IHMRI is governed by a Board of Directors comprising two directors each from UOW and ISLHD, as well as five independent directors. The conduct of IHMRI and the board are guided by the:
- IHMRI Constitution [pdf 180 kb]
- IHMRI Board Charter [pdf 204 kb
- IHMRI Board Code of Conduct [pdf 115 kb]
The IHMRI Chair is appointed by the board from among the independent directors. Click on the tabs below to view our current Board of Directors.
Dr Stephen Andersen OAM (Chair)
MBBS, BSc, MBA, FRCPA, FAICD, Hon.D.Sc View Stephen Andersen’s profile
Professor Simon Gandevia (Deputy Chair)
MD, PhD, DSc, FAA, FAHMS, FTPS
Deputy Director and Foundation Scientist, Neuroscience Research Australia
Maree Kerr
GAICD, Dip Bus, Dip Mgt, Adv Cert Training & Development Principal Director, Relish Consulting View Maree Kerr’s profile
Patrick Reid
BPharm, MRPharmS, FACP, FAIM, GAICD IRT Group CEO View Patrick Reid’s profile
Tom Ellicott
Dip Law (SAB), Managing Director, Access Law Group View Tom Ellicott’s profile
Professor Jennifer L Martin AC
BPharm, MPharm, DPhil (Oxon)
Deputy – Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)
Professor Paul Wellings CBE
CBE DL FRSN FRSA
Vice-Chancellor and Principal View Professor Welling’s profile
Dr Peter Jansen
MBchB, FRNZCGP(Dist), FRACMA Executive Director of Medical Services and Clinical Governance, ISLHD View Peter Jansen’s profile
Professor Denis King OAM
MB, BS, FRACS Chair, ISLHD Board View Professor King’s profile
Executive Management Team
The IHMRI Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer reports directly to the Board of Directors and provides overall leadership, strategic management and direction for IHMRI. The Executive Director is assisted in the high-level management of IHMRI’s research program and operations by the Clinical Director, who also acts as IHMRI’s Deputy Executive Director. Click on the tabs below to read profiles on our Executive Management Team.
Distinguished Professor David J. Adams
+61 2 4239 2264 djadams@uow.edu.au
Distinguished Professor David J. Adams. Photo by MOD Photography.
Distinguished Professor David J. Adams joined IHMRI in December 2015 and is former Director of the Health Innovations Research Institute at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University. He was an ARC Australian Professorial Fellow from 2010 to 2015 and was previously Professor and Chair of Physiology at the University of Queensland, Head of Department of Physiology & Pharmacology (1998-2000), Head of the School of Biomedical Sciences (2000-07) and Professorial Research Fellow in the Queensland Brain Institute (2008-09). He is a Chief Investigator on an NHMRC Program Grant (2005-2019) to identify novel pain therapeutics based on venom peptides (conotoxins) from cone snails. He has published over 180 refereed journal articles (112 as first or senior author) in leading journals and 16 book chapters. He has been principal supervisor and co-supervisor of more than 30 PhD students. Distinguished Professor Adams is the past President of the Australian Physiological Society, a former member of the National Committee for Biomedical Science, Australian Academy of Science and a member of five Editorial Boards of international scientific journals. He is currently a member of NHMRC Assigners Academy and a member of the Research Management Council for Multiple Sclerosis Research Australia.
Associate Professor Bruce Ashford
+61 2 4221 4333 bruceash@uow.edu.au 
Associate Professor Bruce Ashford was appointed Clinical Director at the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute in 2021. A/Professor Ashford is also a head and neck cancer surgeon in public and private clinical practice and has an academic appointment as the Associate Professor of Surgery within the School of Medicine at UOW. Following Dental and Medical School, he completed 6 years of surgical training in Australia. This was followed by a further 3 years of post FRACS Fellowships including a head and neck surgical oncology fellowship at the University of Toronto in 2009. He is an active teacher and researcher in cancer biology and surgery, and has in 2020 been appointed as the Executive Director of Research for the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District. During his career, A/Prof Ashford has served with the Royal Australian Air Force and has seen operational service in Afghanistan, Timor Leste and Bali as a Trauma Surgeon.
Kara Lamond
+61 2 4252 8941 klamond@uow.edu.au
Kara Lamond. Photo by Mark Newsham.
Ms Lamond was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in August 2016 and is responsible for the general management of IHMRI’s governance, communications, planning, finances and infrastructure. With senior-level experience in both the public and private sectors, Ms Lamond has led major reforms and initiatives in service delivery and infrastructure management. Her most recent positions include Executive Manager of Strategy, Planning and Innovation at the NSW State Emergency Services, and Executive Director at Migration Law Australia. Ms Lamond also gained extensive experience leading health and justice projects as Senior Manager for the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet. She holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wollongong. She also has a Graduate Law degree from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of New England.
Scientific Advisory Committee
The Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) provides advice on IHMRI’s research priorities and research strengths, as well as guidance on funding opportunities. The SAC also participates in reviews of research initiatives and provides a broad perspective of national and international trends in health and medical research. The SAC consists of up to eight members, including IHMRI’s Executive Director and Clinical Director, and external members who serve for an initial term of three years. Drawn from a range of external Australiasian institutions and universities, the external committee members are highly successful and experienced international researchers.
Professor Robin Anderson
Head, Translational Breast Cancer Program, Olivia Newton John Cancer Research Institute View Professor Anderson’s profile
Professor David Craik
Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland View Professor Craik’s profile
Professor Melissa Little
Theme Director of Cell Biology, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute
View Professor Melissa Little’s profile
Professor Dena Lyras
Professor Microbiology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute View Professor Dena Lyras’s profile
Associate Professor Tomas Kron
Director of Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
View Associate Professor Tomas Kron’s profile
Professor Pankaj Sah
Research themes
Our multidisciplinary researchers work within and across three broad research themes. Each theme contains a broad cross-section of researchers, from those involved in basic science, through to researchers working in clinical, population and public health. IHMRI research themes organise activities to bring diverse researchers together to promote collaborative research opportunities. In 2020 IHMRI appointed new theme leaders for 2020-22. Each theme is facilitated by a scientific leader and a clinical leader.
Researchers in this theme explore the fundamental mechanisms of disease. They use this knowledge to design, test and evaluate new drugs, as well as medical devices. They work together to increase treatment options and quality of life for patients with complex medical conditions.
Theme leaders
Professor Marie Ranson
Scientific School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong View Professor Marie Ranson’s profile
Professor Morteza Aghmesheh
Clinical Medical Oncologist (Cancer Specialist), Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District View Clinical Professor Morteza Aghmesheh’s profile
Researchers in this theme examine the mechanisms, causes, prevention and treatment of a wide range of chronic and complex psychiatric illnesses, neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. Together they seek to address the burden of mental illness and neurodegenerative diseases in the region.
Theme leaders
Associate Professor Lezanne Ooi
Scientific School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Molecular Horizons, University of Wollongong View Associate Professor Lezanne Ooi’s profile
Professor Nagesh Pai
Clinical Academic Leader of Psychiatry, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District View Professor Nagesh Pai’s profile
Researchers in this theme study the links between disease and lifestyle risk factors, such as excess weight, poor diet, high blood pressure, drug addictions and physical inactivity. They work together to find better treatments and prevention strategies to extend healthy ageing.
Theme leaders
Senior Professor Tony Okely
Scientific Director, Early Start Research, University of Wollongong View Senior Professor Tony Okely’s profile
Professor Kate Curtis
Clinical Emergency Nurse Clinician, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District View Professor Kate Curtis’s profile
Affiliate Stakeholder Advisory Panel (ASAP)
The purpose of the ASAP is to support the IHMRI Executive and Operations Team to ensure that IHMRI strategic initiatives are relevant to our affiliate base, which is diverse both geographically and by research area.
Equity, diversity and inclusion committee
IHMRI has a strong commitment to the values of equity, diversity and inclusion in defining our workplace culture. The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDI) was formed to provide advice and guidance to the Executive Management Team on EDI issues. The EDI Committee consists of representatives from across the organisation, including affiliated researchers and students, as well as administrative and technical services staff. The Committee meets four times per year.
Professor Thomas Astell-Burt
School of Health and Society Faculty of Social Sciences University of Wollongong
Clare Atkinson
Senior Technical Officer IHMRI Technical Services Unit
Dr Yee Lian Chew
School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health University of Wollongong
Kara Lamond (Chair)
Chief Operating Officer IHMRI Executive Management Team
Dr Natalie Matosin
School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health University of Wollongong
Heema Vyas
School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health University of Wollongong
Professor Justin Yerbury
School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health University of Wollongong
Joanna Harrison (Secretary)
Executive Assistant IHMRI Operations Team
Research integrity
To promote research integrity and help ensure compliance with the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, IHMRI worked closely with the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) Research Integrity Office to secure a Research Integrity Advisor to represent our organisation. Associate Professor Martina Sanderson-Smith represents IHMRI as a Research Integrity Advisor, complementing other IHMRI researchers who act as Advisors in different areas of health and medical research.
Professor Chao Deng
Medicine (Animal Research)
Associate Professor Martina Sanderson-Smith
IHMRI
Dr Jonathan Shemmell
Medicine (Human Research)
Dr Jenny Sim
Nursing
Organisational chart
