SA Scientist of the Year appointed as SAHMRI Executive Director

SAHMRI has appointed clinical nutritionist Professor Maria Makrides as its next Executive Director.

Makrides will take over from the institute’s inaugural ED Professor Steve Wesselingh later this year, having been the leader of the SAHMRI Women and Kids Theme for the past decade and serving as the institute’s Deputy Director since 2018.

Makrides is a clinical nutritionist who has earned a range of distinctions including her election as a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science. In 2022 she was named South Australia’s Scientist of the Year.

She will take over from SAHMRI’s inaugural Executive Director, Professor Steve Wesselingh — who announced in 2020 that his current term with SAHMRI would be his last — later this year.

“I have had the privilege of admiring Maria’s outstanding talents as a researcher and a leader while we’ve worked in partnership over the past 10 years,” Wesselingh said.

“I have no doubt that Maria is the perfect person to capitalise on the opportunities before SAHMRI, to continue forging its reputation as an institute of global renown.”

The Chair of SAHMRI’s Board, the Hon. Hieu Van Le AC, said, “The search for our next Executive Director, alongside international recruitment specialists Odgers Berndtson, began in earnest in the latter stages of last year.

“We were extremely impressed by the calibre of candidates who applied from across Australia and beyond.

“After an exhaustive process, it was the unanimous view of the selection panel and our board that Maria has all of the qualities essential to continue SAHMRI’s evolution.

“Her breadth of research and leadership experience is highlighted by the work she has guided that is delivering the world-first ‘test-and-treat’ program that’s identifying women with low omega-3 status who require supplementation to reduce their risk of preterm birth.

“She also brings to the role invaluable knowledge of the local, national and international research landscape and a diverse network of strong professional relationships.”

Wesselingh was appointed as SAHMRI’s inaugural ED in October 2011. Two years later, the institute’s research programs began in earnest following the opening of its iconic ‘Cheesegrater’ headquarters in what is now the Adelaide BioMed City precinct.

“The physical transformation of SAHMRI and the precinct in that time is truly remarkable,” Le said.

In less than 10 years since opening its doors, SAHMRI has delivered incredible impact across the broad range of its research areas.