Our Governance
AGRF is governed by eight directors, led by Professor Simon Foote.
The Directors are responsible for overseeing policy, strategic direction and risk management.
Professor Simon Foote
Chairman
BMedSci, MBBS, PhD, DSc, FFSc (RCPA), FAA, FAHMS, FTSE
Professor Foote is an Emeritus Professor at The John Curtin School of Medical Research at The Australian National University. He has been Director of the John Curtin School, Dean of the School of Medicine at Macquarie University, Director of the Menzies Research Institute at the University of Tasmania and Divisional Head at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Melbourne. Professor Foote was elected to the Australian Academy of Science in 2016 and was a founding member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences (AAHMS), after being elected to the Academy in 2014, and is also a Council Member of the AAHMS. In addition, he was elected as a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) in 2009, and he was a postdoctoral fellow at the Whitehead Institute at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Professor Nick Samaras
Deputy Chairman
BSc (Hons), PhD, MBA, FAIM, FAICD, FWCLP
Member of the Finance, Audit & HR Committee
Professor Samaras has worked in senior positions of several global life sciences companies for over 30 years. Professor Samaras has served on the boards of several Australian-based technology companies and is currently the chairman of Genetic Signatures Ltd. He is also an Enterprise Professor at the University of Melbourne and Professor (Practice) at Monash University. He has extensive experience in the global life sciences and advises the AGRF Board on current technological advances, market trends and industry engagement.
Professor Ingrid Winship AO
MBChB, MD (Human Genetics), FRACP, FACD, FAICD
Professor Winship has a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Cape Town (1986) and accreditation as a Clinical Geneticist from the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (1995). She is currently a Chair of the Australian Health Ethics Committee and a member of the NHMRC Council. She is a director of the Boards of Global Variome and the Human Genome Organisation (HUGO). Professor Winship was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in 2020 for distinguished service to medicine, particularly to clinical genetics and research, to cancer prevention, and as a role model and mentor. She has more than 35 years’ experience working in medicine and clinical genetics, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to AGRF.
Anneke du Toit
Partner, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu
With over 20 years’ experience in assurance services, Anneke is an audit partner at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, working with multinational companies across a range of industries however she has specifically focused on health and biotech organisations. Anneke is the signing audit partner for the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI) as well as Melbourne Genomics. This provides Anneke an in-depth understanding of the health industry and medical research. She has worked with a large number of not-for-profit organisations which gives her a deep understanding of the common issues faced by these organisations as well as the governance requirements under the ACNC.Anneke is the Victorian Market Leader for Deloitte Private business and a member of the National Deloitte Private Executive. She is also a member of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand and a registered Company Auditor.
Professor Benjamin Kile
BSc (Hons), LLB (Mon), PhD
Member of the Finance, Audit & HR Committee
Professor Kile is the Executive Director, Garvan Institute of Medical Research. He previously held positions as Executive Dean, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, and Head of Department, Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University. He has also held leadership roles at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. His key contribution to the Board has been to act as an independent director and intermediary to the medical research sector.
Professor Brandon Wainwright AM
BSc (Hons), PhD
Professor Wainwright is an Affiliate Professor and Group Leader at the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at The University of Queensland. As well as acting as a representative of The University of Queensland, he provides services to the AGRF Board as a liaison with the Queensland Government
Associate Professor Vanessa (Ness) Tyrrell
BAppSc, MBA, ARCPA, FHGSA, GAICD
Vanessa Tyrrell is Head of the Clinical Translation Research Division and Program Director of the Zero Childhood Cancer National Precision Medicine Program at Children’s Cancer Institute, Ness brings over 30 years of expertise in genetic testing and a distinguished record of leadership. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), she has served on advisory committees for state and federal governments, played a pivotal role in professional bodies, and notably served as the President of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia. Ness's multidisciplinary background uniquely positions her to lead the ZERO program, addressing policy challenges in the clinical application of emerging genomic technologies for improved health outcomes.
