NHMRC announces new council

The federal government has announced the membership of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Council for the 2024–2027 triennium.

Under the leadership of Professor Caroline Homer AO, a distinguished midwifery researcher and expert in maternal and newborn health care, the new council will serve until 30 June 2027.

The members bring together expertise in public health and medical research, the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the medical profession, and postgraduate medical training, nursing and healthcare training, as well as business and consumer perspectives, and the Chief Medical Officers or Chief Health Officers of the Commonwealth and all states and territories.

Among the appointed members of NHMRC Council are:

• Associate Professor Stephen Adelstein, allergy specialist and immunologist, who will provide expertise in professional medical standards.
• Professor Yvette Roe, leading First Nations researcher, who will provide expertise in the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Professor Anushka Patel, cardiologist, who will provide expertise in public health research and medical research issues.
• Bronwyn LeGrice, experienced executive in health technology commercialisation, venture capital and industry advocacy, who will provide expertise in business.
• Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM, infectious diseases consultant and physician, who will provide expertise in public health research and medical research issues. 
• Professor Raymond Chan, oncology nurse and leading researcher in cancer care, systems and policy, who will provide expertise in the nursing profession.
• Professor Susan Hillier, academic and clinician with expertise in neuroscience and rehabilitation, who will provide expertise in healthcare training.
• Adjunct Professor Darryl O’Donnell, health leader with experience in community, research and public sector roles, who will provide expertise in public health and health policy.
• Professor Stephen Robson, clinician specialist in reproductive medicine, and former president of the Australian Medical Association, who will provide expertise in the medical profession.
   

NHMRC CEO Professor Steve Wesselingh said, “As NHMRC CEO, I am looking forward to working with the new council and having their support. Together we will shape and support Australia’s health and medical research workforce and assist the Department of Health and Aged Care to develop a National Health and Medical Research Strategy.

“The diverse range of skills and expertise of the new membership will ensure that the advice provided is nuanced and considers the health of all Australians.

“To all council members appointed under today’s announcement, welcome. Your governance and leadership will help NHMRC deliver its vision of a healthy Australia.”

The newly established NHMRC Council comes at a time of significant change in the leadership and governance of health and medical research.

This includes the reform to the Australian Government’s investment in health and medical research and improving alignment and coordination of NHMRC’s Medical Research Endowment Account (MREA) and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) administered by the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Health and Health Medical Research Office (HMRO).

Under the new advisory arrangements, the NHMRC Council will jointly meet with the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB).

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