Dr Leanna Read

Chair of the Board

Dr Leanna Read has broad-ranging executive, board and investment experience in health translation and in a range of technology-based enterprises, particularly biotechnology. As CEO and Chair of the CRC for Cell Therapy Manufacturing (CTM CRC) until October 2019, she had oversight of research translation programs focused on cancer immunology as well as smart surfaces for implanted medical devices. She has an ongoing role as chair of CTM CRC’s spin-out companies, Carina Biotech Pty Ltd and TekCyte Pty Ltd, which are commercialising the technology in these fields.

Leanna has recently completed a four-year term as Chief Scientist for South Australia and brings extensive experience on boards that address innovation across government, industry and academic sectors. She is a current member of several private and public sector boards including Uniseed venture capital investment company, Biosensis Pty Ltd, RSPCA SA and the Federal Government Biomedical Translation Fund Committee.  She also chairs the recently established Agtech Advisory Group for the SA Government.

Susan Hillier

Professor Susan Hillier is an academic and clinician with teaching and research interests in the broad field of neuroscience and rehabilitation. One of her main research areas is on the effectiveness of rehabilitation approaches after stroke. The influence of rehabilitation on neuroplasticity is also a focus.

Susan also has an interest in movement education and intervention approaches for other populations such as children with developmental coordination disorder or people who are ageing. As well as conducting clinical trials to produce primary evidence, Susan also is an experienced Cochrane reviewer (vestibular rehabilitation, HIV, self-management after stroke, task-specific training).

Susan’s current role at the University of South Australia is Dean: Research (and Research Education) for the Division of Health Sciences.

Alison Kitson

Professor Alison Kitson is Vice-President & Executive Dean College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University. She was the former Dean of Nursing and Head of School at the University of Adelaide and is now a University Titleholder. She is an Associate Fellow of Green Templeton College, University of Oxford in the UK. Alison is internationally recognised for her work in Knowledge Translation (KT) and as the originator of one of the most widely cited and used KT frameworks, the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) Framework.

Jonathan Craig

Professor Jonathan Craig is an internationally recognised clinician and scientist and holds the position of Vice President and Executive Dean of the College of Medicine & Public Health.

Professor Craig holds many board and advisory panel positions, including as a member of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Advisory Group on the Synthesis and Translation of Research Evidence, a member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, a member of the Medicare Services Advisory Committee, a member of the International Advisory Panel for Singapore’s Agency for Care Effectiveness, and President of the Australia-NZ Society of Nephrology.

Kim Hosking

Kim Hosking is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Country SA PHN with a career long engagement in health-related activities in rural areas. He has an extensive history of Board engagements with rural ambulance entities, hospitals and health services and Divisions of General Practice and was past CEO of Country North SA Medicare Local, Mid North Division of Rural Medicine, and past Director of the Country Services SA Ambulance Service.

Deb Lee

Deb Lee is Chief Executive Officer Adelaide PHN and was previously CEO of the Northern Adelaide Medicare Local. She has extensive senior management experience within Community and health sector and is a member of the AASW with extensive Mental Health qualifications and experience. She holds a Masters in Business Administration.

Shane Mohor

Shane Mohor is currently Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Health Council of SA Ltd (AHCSA). He has worked in Aboriginal health as a Registered Nurse (including remote Kimberly work, hospital and forensic health), Senior Executive in Government, University and Non-Government Organization’s for over 25 years in South Australia including interstate.

Steve Wesselingh

Professor Steve Wesselingh, Executive Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), is currently the Research Director for HTSA.

Professor Wesselingh is an Infectious Diseases Physician and researcher in Neurovirology, HIV and vaccine development. He has consistently worked towards the integration of high quality medical research with health-care delivery, leading to improved health outcomes for Australia and the poorly resourced countries of the region.

Alex Brown

Professor Alex Brown is an Aboriginal medical doctor and researcher and in July 2012, Alex joined SAHMRI to lead Aboriginal health research. He leads projects encompassing epidemiology, psychosocial determinants of chronic disease, mixed methods health services research in Aboriginal primary care and hospital settings, and randomised controlled trials of pharmacological and non-pharmacological chronic disease interventions.

He sits on a range of national committees, including the Heart Foundation, chairs the Cardiac Society Indigenous Cardiovascular Council and was a member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality Council (2009-2012). In November 2012, Alex was awarded the prestigious Viertel Senior Medical Research Fellowship to further his research into the impacts of psychosocial determinants on cardiovascular disease in Aboriginal communities.

Andrew Zannettino

Professor Andrew Zannettino is the Pro-Vice Chancellor of Health Partnerships (University of Adelaide) and Executive Director of Research Strategy (Central Adelaide Local Health Network). He is also the Professor of Experimental Haematology and heads the Myeloma Research Program at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute.

For the last 2 decades, Professor Zannettino’s research interests have centred on identifying the molecular and cellular mechanisms responsible for myeloma disease progression. Notably, Professor Zannettino has co-authored more than 230 refereed publications, which have received in excess of 17,000 citations.

Prof. Zannettino is a member of the Medical and Scientific Advisory Group (MSAG) of the Myeloma Foundation of Australia. In addition, he serves on the Health and Medical Industries Ministerial Advisory Panel, is a member of the Executive management boards for the Cancer Council of South Australia, the Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide Biomed City, and is a Non-Executive Director for AusHealth.

Dr Mike Cusack

Dr Michael Cusack is from the United Kingdom and joined the Department for Health and Wellbeing in February 2020 as the Chief Medical Officer. Prior to his current role, he was the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network Executive Director for Medical Services.

He qualified as a doctor in 1992 and subsequently trained as a Cardiologist at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. On completing his training, he took up his consultant post at a newly commissioned regional cardiothoracic centre in Wolverhampton and subsequently became the Clinical Director for Cardiothoracic Services. This unit went on to become the largest centre in the West Midlands region with nationally recognised outcomes and an active clinical research programme.

Michael has additionally held a number of leadership role in the National Health Service (NHS) including Cardiovascular Network Clinical Director, surgical Divisional Director and Medical Director for a large acute NHS Hospital Trust.