Inspiring Stories

Discover how Professor Alicia Spittle’s groundbreaking research is transforming care for infants and children at high risk of neurodevelopmental impairments. From preterm babies to those with cerebral palsy, she shares insights on early intervention and targeted care to improve developmental outcomes. 

As Associate Dean of Research and a globally recognised leader, Professor Spittle blends professional expertise with per...

Professor Martha Hickey, a renowned expert in women’s health, as we explore the transformative power of embracing ageing and breaking the stigma around menopause. In this episode, we discuss Professor Hickey's groundbreaking research, including her work on the first Core Outcome Set for Menopause (COMMA) and her leadership in the global Menopause Priority Setting Partnership (MAPS). 

Beyond her scientific contributions, ...

Michelle Gallaher is an award-winning health technology entrepreneur with a particular interest in artificial intelligence, clinical trials and ethics. Recently commencing as the inaugural CEO of Cerulea Clinical Trials, Michelle’s current focus is on building a world-leading ophthalmic clinical trials site specialising in gene therapy trials, medical devices, and applying emerging efficiency technology solutions. 

This ...

Professor Anne Kelso spent many years as a biomedical researcher in the field of immunology, later serving as Director of the Cooperative Research Centre for Vaccine Technology and then Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza at the Doherty Institute. From 2015 to 2023, she was CEO of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) where she led significant reform of NHMRC’s grant p...

Professor Separovic is a biophysical chemist and Foreign Secretary of the Australia Academy of Science. Following a post-doctoral fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (USA), Frances joined the University of Melbourne in 1996, becoming the first woman Professor of Chemistry and Head of School. Professor Separovic speaks about obtaining a PhD later in life, breaking down class barriers and following her curiosity.

This pod...

Linda has been Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Regis Aged Care since September 2019, joining the Company during the Royal Commission and just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Linda has over 20 years of executive experience in health and aged care in Australia. Prior to joining Regis, Linda was a chief executive in the Victorian health system and co-chaired the Victorian Metropolitan Hospital Chief Executive group.

T...

Associate Professor Jen Martin, known for her work as a field ecologist, shifted focus to teaching scientists' effective communication. She founded and led the University of Melbourne’s Science Communication Teaching Program and is a weekly guest on 3RRR radio. Named the 2019 Unsung Hero of Australian Science Communication, she also writes for various publications and hosts the podcast Let’s Talk SciComm. Her book why am I Like Thi...

Professor Michelle Ryan is a world-renowned gender equality expert, a professor of social and organisational psychology, and the inaugural Director of the Australian National University's Global Institute for Women's Leadership (GIWL). Her extensive body of research covers a range of constraints on women's careers such as the impact of COVID-19 on gender inequalities, how perceptions of equality can lead to gender bias, the motherh...

Professor Wendy Chapman is the Associate Dean of Digital Health and Informatics as well as the Director of the Centre for Digital Transformation of Health. Wendy’s background is as a researcher in leveraging data and digital technology to transform healthcare delivery. She’s spent two decades developing and evaluating AI and natural language processing algorithms. She has also led many multidisciplinary programs of work on research...

Professor Sue Matthews is the CEO of the Royal Women’s Hospital and has extensive experience in nursing and health system management. Previously, she was CEO of the Niagara Health System in Canada and advised government on health issues. A Fellow of the Wharton School, she is an Adjunct Professor at Trent and Swinburne Universities and an Honorary Professor at the University of Melbourne. She has received multiple acco...

Professor Sarah Gilbert is a vaccinologist whose research has been on the development of
vaccines against infectious diseases such as malaria, influenza and most notably SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). The vaccine she helped to develop with Oxford University, the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, has had over 3 billion doses delivered to countries worldwide. In this special in-person interview, Professor Natalie Hannan and Professor G...

Associate Professor Misty Jenkins AO is a Gunditjmara woman, leads the immunotherapy program at the Brain Cancer Centre, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute. She focuses on developing treatments for brain cancer by studying lymphocytes. She advocates for greater diversity in science, supporting women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. In 2023, she received an Order of Australia for her distinguished servic...

Laura Mackay is a Laboratory Head and Immunology Theme Leader at the Peter Doherty Institute. In 2022, Laura was the youngest Fellow elected to the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research is focused on T-cells and the immune system, specifically tissue-resident memory T cells, and how memory T cells protect the body against disease. Chatting with Professor Natalie Hannan, Laura talks about how getting glandu...

Dr Flora Hui is an optometrist and a Research Fellow at the Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences in the School of Health Sciences and the Centre for Eye Research Australia. Flora's research is focused on new treatments and diagnostics for eye diseases, including glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease. In this interview, Flora talks about being the first in her family to attend university,

This episode was recorded on 13 June 2023....

Associate Professor Michelle Telfer, Acting Chief of Medicine at the Royal Children's Hospital, is a leading Paediatrician and Adolescent Medicine Physician. Formerly Director of the Royal Children's Hospital Gender Service, she expanded trans-specific health care programs and advised the Victorian Government on transgender health through the Trans and Gender Diverse Expert Advisory Group. She contributed expert testim...

A former Australian politician, she served in the Victorian Parliament from 2006 to 2022 and was Victoria's first female Agriculture Minister. She led major reforms including the establishment of the medicinal cannabis industry. As Minister for Employment, she guided Jobs Victoria through the pandemic, supporting small businesses during lockdowns. In her role as Minister for Innovation, she secured mRNA vaccine capabilities for Mel...

Professor Nicola Phillips is the Provost of the University (Academic Lead, Chancellery) and the standing deputy to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Melbourne. Nicola’s academic interests lie in the areas of global political economy, development, and economic governance. In this discussion, Nicola talks about her motivations for pursuing a career in political science and the University's dedication to ensuring a safe and res...

Associate Professor Shawana Andrews, a Trawlwoolway Palawa woman from Northeastern Tasmania, is the Director of the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health and an Associate Professor in Social Work. She leads initiatives on Indigenous leadership and academic pathways in health. At the Poche Centre, she fosters international partnerships to advance her work. Her research covers Aboriginal graduate experiences, health leadership, motherin...

Lou Harms is the Chair and Head of Social Work at the University of Melbourne, and Deputy Head of the School of Health Sciences, in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. From 2015 to 2019, Lou was Associate Dean (Diversity and Inclusion) for MDHS, reflective of her long-standing concern with facilitating structural and cultural change. Lou’s research focuses on the interplay between adversity, growth and recovery ...