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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...
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...