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Executive Committee

Burnet’s executive committee are committed to achieving our purpose - to create and translate knowledge into better health so no-one is left behind.

Professor James Beeson

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, RESEARCH STRATEGY; HEAD, MALARIA IMMUNITY AND VACCINES GROUP; ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, MONASH UNIVERSITY

James is a medical researcher and Public Health Physician (registered in Australia). He completed hi...
Professor Brendan Crabb AC

DIRECTOR AND CEO; CO-HEAD, MALARIA VIRULENCE AND DRUG DISCOVERY GROUP; CHAIR AUSTRALIAN GLOBAL HEALTH ALLIANCE AND CHAIR PACIFIC FRIENDS OF GLOBAL HEALTH

Professor Brendan Crabb AC PhD FAA FAHMS FASM is an infectious disease researcher with a special int...
Geoff Drenkhahn

DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC FUNDING, PARTNERSHIPS, INNOVATION AND COMMUNICATIONS (SF PIC)

Geoff Drenkhahn is an executive with 20+ years of experience in the R+D sector with...
Professor Heidi Drummer

SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR FOR RESEARCH TRANSLATION; SCIENTIFIC DIRECTOR, BURNET DIAGNOSTICS INITIATIVE; PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, BURNET VACCINE INITIATIVE; CO-HEAD, VIRAL ENTRY AND VACCINES GROUP

Professor Heidi Drummer is Scientific Director for Research Translation and co-Head of the Viral Ent...
Christine Elmer

EXECUTIVE GENERAL MANAGER, COMMUNICATION AND MARKETING

Christine Elmer is an award winning corporate affairs leader and an accredited Strategic...
Professor Margaret Hellard AM

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, PROGRAMS; ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, MONASH UNIVERSITY, DEPM.

For almost two decades Margaret's work has centred around infectious diseases, preventing...
Professor Caroline Homer AO

DEPUTY DIRECTOR – GENDER EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION; CO-HEAD, GLOBAL WOMEN'S AND NEWBORN HEALTH GROUP

Professor Caroline Homer AO is the leading midwifery researcher in Australia and has an internationa...
Chad Hughes

DEPUTY DIRECTOR, INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS; HEAD, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

A public health practitioner, Chad has specific expertise in strategic planning for responding to th...
Leanne Lawrence

CHIEF PEOPLE OFFICER

Leanne is an accomplished senior executive leader and has held a number of senior roles in high prof...
Jessica Lightfoot

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND DIRECTOR CORPORATE SERVICES

Jessica started life as a lawyer and practised in both private and public sector. In the late 1990s ...
Mary-Ann Nicholas

CO-HEAD, STRATEGY INSIGHTS AND IMPACT; HEAD, DEVELOPMENT EFFECTIVENESS

Mary-Ann joined Burnet in 2009 with a proven track record in international program...
Paul Rathbone

CHIEF OF STAFF

Paul is responsible for the initiation, general management and the implementation of key...