Our Council and Patron

Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, is the Patron of QIMR Berghofer. Dr Young has been a strong supporter of the Institute, serving as a Council Member from 2005 until 2019. Her Excellency was sworn in as the 27th Governor of Queensland on 1 November 2021.

Prior to her appointment, the Governor was the Chief Health Officer for Queensland, with responsibility for leading the State’s preventative health and public health agendas, including response to public health emergencies. In January 2020, when the COVID-19 virus outbreak was declared a pandemic, the Governor became the State Health Incident Controller. It is an honour for the Institute to be represented and supported by Her Excellency.

Appointed: 4 July 2019

Current term: 14 September 2023 to 30 June 2027

Professor Arun Sharma has played a leading role in developing Australia’s research capability in information and communication technology. He has extensive academic experience in Australian and international universities, and has served on advisory councils and panels guiding innovation ecosystems, research funding, and economic growth.

Professor Sharma was previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President (Research and Innovation) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT), where he helped establish the Translational Research Institute and three Australian Research Council Centres of Excellence.

Among Professor Sharma’s other achievements, he co-founded National ICT Australia Limited – now CSIRO’s Data61. He is an advisor to the chairman of Adani Group and head of the group’s Sustainability and Climate Change function.

Appointed: 4 July 2019

Current term: 14 September 2023 to 30 June 2027

Dr Sonya Bennett is a primary and public health physician. She has had Executive roles in the Australian Defence Force, Queensland Health, the academic research sector, and the Department of Health and Aged Care, acquiring broad executive leadership experience to complement her health sector expertise.

Dr Bennett is a Rear Admiral in the Royal Australian Navy and the current Surgeon General-Commander Joint Health of the Australian Defence Force. She is a current member of the Australian Health Protection Committee.

Dr Bennett was previously Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Queensland’s Deputy Chief Health Officer. Among other national committees, she has been a member of the Communicable Disease Network of Australia, which she chaired for the first 18 months of the pandemic.

Appointed: 14 September 2023

Current term: 14 September 2023 to 30 June 2026

Michael Finney is a successful lawyer and experienced senior executive with over 25 years’ experience in the intellectual property, commercialisation and technology sectors. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and has been admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of Queensland and the High Court of Australia.

Mr Finney is one of only seven lawyers in Australia to have met the Certified Licensing Professional requirements, recognising his experience and proficiency in the licensing and commercialisation of intellectual property.

Appointed: 9 February 2023

Current term: 9 February 2023 to 30 June 2026

Professor Maria Kavallaris is an internationally recognised scientific leader in cancer biology and therapeutics. She is Founding Director of the Australian Centre for NanoMedicine at the University of New South Wales and Head of Translational Cancer Nanomedicine at the Children’s Cancer Institute.

Professor Kavallaris chaired the Australian Institute for Policy and Science and is a life member and past president of the Australian Society for Medical Research. She has contributed to numerous government funding and policy panels including the National Health and Medical Research Council Research Committee and Medical Research Future Fund Expert Advisory Panels.

Professor Kavallaris has received numerous awards and recognition, including the highly prestigious Lemberg Medal and two Australian Museum Eureka Prizes, and received an Honorary Doctorate from Aix-Marseille University in 2026.

Professor Kavallaris was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to medicine and medical research.

Appointed: 14 September 2023

Current term: 14 September 2023 to 30 June 2026

Margo MacGillivray is an experienced corporate executive, lawyer and governance adviser with a strong commitment to supporting better health outcomes. Her career includes senior roles as General Counsel at Budget Direct insurance and as a partner at DLA Piper. She is currently a senior governance adviser at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.

With more than 15 years’ non-executive director experience, Ms MacGillivray has contributed to a range of organisations in the health and research sectors, including Metro South Health, Prince Charles Hospital Foundation and Australian Clinical Trials Alliance. Her expertise spans corporate governance, climate governance and data protection.

Appointed: 4 July 2019

Current term: 14 September 2023 to 30 June 2027

Celeste Neander is a senior finance professional with extensive experience in financial and investment markets spanning 38 years. Ms Neander was senior portfolio manager for BT Managed Accounts and has performed senior relationship management roles at the Commonwealth and Westpac Private Banks, and was a private client advisor for JB Were.

Ms Neander has a strong sense of community. She is an active patrolling member of Yamba Surf Life Saving Club as well as treasurer of Marine Rescue Iluka/Yamba.

Appointed: 4 July 2019

Current term: 14 September 2023 to 30 June 2027

Mitchell Petrie is an experienced director and former partner of KPMG Australia. He has significant experience in corporate governance, enterprise risk management and statutory financial reporting.

In addition to his role as an external audit partner, he was the partner in-charge of the KPMG Queensland Risk Advisory Services practice and the national Major Projects Advisory practice.

Mr Petrie is currently a director of Titles Queensland, STA Australia Ltd, Gladstone Area Water Board and is also a member of the audit committees of a number of Queensland Local Government Councils. Mr Petrie is also currently an Adjunct Teaching Fellow at Bond University.

Appointed: 4 July 2019

Current term: 14 September 2023 to 30 June 2027

Professor Emeritus Janet Verbyla served the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) in a range of roles including as Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor as well as Interim Vice-Chancellor. She has substantial expertise in strategy development and operational deployment having led major multifaceted change projects. She has a significant track record in leading or guiding successful funding applications having herself obtained over $63 million in external funding. A qualified performance coach and board director, Professor Verbyla continues to coach academics and researchers across Australia. She regularly delivers workshops on grant writing, research leadership or career management, serves on a range of corporate and academic committees, and undertakes external reviews.