Leadership Team

Headed by Chairman, Ms Mary Padbury, the Board of Directors are responsible for the overall governance, risk management and guidance of the strategic direction of the Institute.

  • Chair

    Ms. Mary Padbury

    BA, LLB (Hons)

    Chair of Burnet Board from 2019. Director since 2011. Non-Executive Director Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. Former Chair Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board & Blake Dawson/Australia and Vice-Chair of Ashurst LLP.

  • Director and Chief Executive Officer

    Professor Brendan Crabb AC

    BSc(Hons), PhD

    Director and CEO of Burnet Institute since March 2008. Professor Crabb is President of both the Australian Global Health Alliance and the Pacific Friends of Global Health, bodies that advocate for better health equity. He is the past-President of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), the peak body for independent medical research Institutes in Australia. In 2015, he was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia’s highest civilian honour

Directors

  • Ms. Alison Larsson

    BEc, CPA, GAICD

    Director since 2017. Former Chief Risk Officer, Global Technology Services and Operations for ANZ Banking Group.

  • Mr. Ben Foskett

    Director since 2013. Executive Director of Pathway Services Pty Ltd.

  • Associate Professor Helen Evans AO

    BA, B Soc Admin

    Director since 2015. Associate Professor (Hon) The Nossal Institute for Global Health, The University of Melbourne; Director, The Fred Hollows Foundation; Former Deputy CEO of GAVI Alliance.

  • Mr. Leigh Jasper

    BE(Hons), BSc

    Director since 2016. Co-founder, Director and CEO of Aconex Limited.

  • Mr. Michael Ziegelaar

    LL.B(Hons), BEc, LL.M

    Director since 2015. Head of Corporate, Melbourne and Co-Head Equity Capital Markets, Australia at Herbert Smith Freehills.

  • Ms. Miche Hartigan

    Director since 2017. Partner, Newgate Communications (Australia)

  • Mr. Robin Bishop

    LLB(Hons), BCom, BA

    Director 2012–2021, 2022–present. Chair, Investments Committee; Member, Resources Committee; Founder and Managing Partner, BGH Capital; Former Head and Executive Director, Macquarie Capital Australia and New Zealand; Commissioner, Australian Football League Commission; Member, Australian Takeovers Panel

  • Professor Sandra Eades AO

    MMBS, PhD

    Director since 2020. Dean, Curtin University Medical School.

  • Doctor Serge Scrofani

    BSc(Hons), PhD, MBA, GAICD

    Director since 2019. Vice President, Strategy & Corporate Development, CSL Limited; Director, AusBiotech Limited.


The richness and diversity of expertise and skills amongst our outstanding leadership team is matched by their dedication and commitment to lead Burnet's mission.

  • Director and Chief Executive Officer

    Professor Brendan Crabb AC

    BSc(Hons), PhD

    Director and CEO of Burnet Institute since March 2008. Professor Crabb is President of both the Australian Global Health Alliance and the Pacific Friends of Global Health, bodies that advocate for better health equity. He is the past-President of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), the peak body for independent medical research Institutes in Australia. In 2015, he was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia, Australia’s highest civilian honour

Deputy Directors

  • Professor James Beeson

    MBBS, BMedSc, PhD, FAFPHM, FAAHMS

    Deputy Director (People); ARC and NHMRC Research Fellow. Adjunct Professor, Monash University.

  • Professor Margaret Hellard AM

    MBBS, FRACP, PhD, FAFPHM

    Deputy Director (Programs). Adjunct Professor, Monash University, DEPM.


Executive Management


Program Directors


Deputy Program Directors


Discipline Heads


Senior Management

  • Rob Daly

    BA (Hons), MBA, PGDip (Management)

    Executive General Manager, Philanthropy and Supporter Engagement

  • Ms. Serina Cucuzza

    MBA, BSc (Hons), BCom

    Executive General Manager, Commercial Strategy and Industry Partnerships