Appointment of a new Executive Director, Health Translation SA
The Health Translation SA (HTSA) Board of Partners are very pleased to announce that Tom Symonds has been appointed to the role of Executive Director of HTSA, taking over from Wendy Keech who has led this collaborative organisation over the past 7 years. He commenced in this role on June 23, 2025.
HTSA is South Australia’s statewide, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) accredited Research Translation Centre (RTC). It is one of 14 accredited RTC’s across Australia that come together as the Australian Health Research Alliance. HTSA has eleven active partners who work together to prioritise the translation of health and medical research into policy and practice to ensure that research has impact and benefits the South Australian public.
HTSA’s partners include SA Health and all Local Health Networks, SAHMRI, University of South Australia, Flinders University, University of Adelaide, Torrens University, the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, Adelaide and Country SA Primary Health Networks and CSIRO.
HTSA focusses on building research translation capacity and delivering impactful research translation projects with clinicians, researchers, academics, consumers and community-based organisations that respond to the needs of the health system.
The HTSA Board of Partners would like to thank Wendy for her outstanding leadership over the last 7 years in building the capabilities and success of HTSA across a range of critical projects and training activities. As a result of Wendy’s untiring efforts, HTSA is now positioned as vital part of the South Australian Health and Medical research translation landscape.
The Board is very pleased that Tom brings to the Executive Director position a wealth of valuable work experience, networks and skills. He is currently the Chair and Board Director of the Adelaide Primary Health Network and national charity, the Cure4CF Health Foundation. He is also a Board Director and Council Member of the Australian Medical Council.
He has experience in leadership roles at Southern Adelaide Health Services (now SALHN), Flinders University and in the SA Government’s Department of the Premier and Cabinet at the Lot Fourteen Innovation District. Additionally, he has successfully led multi-partner initiatives that align closely with the work and mission of HTSA. Tom is known as a natural collaborator with a proven ability to bring people together, build trust, and foster impactful partnerships.
The chair of the HTSA Board of Partners, Dr Leanna Read, commented,
“As a result of Wendy’s strategic vision and leadership, HTSA is very well positioned to play a leading role in health research translation in SA and we look forward to it continuing to thrive and grow under Tom’s leadership.”
