Inspiring Health
Transforming Care

Executive & Institute Staff

Our team consists of passionate individuals who share the same goal to inspire health and transform care in our local, and national, community.

We work closely with members from our local health districts, our university partners and the general community to improve health through community-driven medical research.

Board of Directors

Terry Goldacre is the Managing Director of Harrington Estates (NSW) Pty Ltd, which since 1993 has been responsible for the development of the leading residential estate Harrington Park. Prior to this, he held executive positions in the civil engineering and land development industries

He is past president of the Urban Development Institute of Australia (NSW Division) and is a founding trustee of the Harrington Park Foundation.

Amanda Larkin is the Chief Executive of South Western Sydney Local Health District. Previously Amanda worked as the General Manager of Camden and Campbelltown Hospitals and the Queen Victoria Memorial Home.

Dr. Larkin has a Bachelor of Social Work, Associate Diploma in Environmental Service and is working towards a Doctorate in Business Administration.

Amanda has over 25 years of experience in health service management working in the areas of community health, corporate services and acute service management in small and large health services.

Amanda currently serves as a Board member of the Ingham Institute of Applied Medical Research and the South Western Sydney Medicare Local.

She has done extensive work with management committees and boards of non-government organisations including neighbourhood centres, day care centres, short term and accommodation facilities for men and women. Her specific areas of focus are leadership, governance, patient quality and safety and health service planning and development.

Professor Annemarie Hennessy AM is the Dean and Foundation Chair of Medicine at Western Sydney University.

She was the Director of the Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy (HDP) Unit at the Royal Prince Alfred Women and Babies (RPAWB) from 1998 until October 2006 and continues in an honorary capacity within the unit.

Annemarie has a commitment to medical research in her capacities as Dean of the School of Medicine, WSU.
She is also the group leader of the Vascular Immunology Group at the Heart Research Institute, Director of the NHMRC Baboon Colony, Chair of the NSW University Physician Training Council and Executive Director of the PEARLS Research Group.

Annemarie is a Renal Physician with a research interest in Hypertension and Hypertension in pregnancy, which she has now been working on for 17 years.

“The broad range of research at the Ingham Institute is very exciting. Its particular strength … is the translation of its research into everyday medicine.”

— Professor Hennessy

 

Arnold Vitocco is a local Macarthur resident and licensed builder. His family’s development company, D. Vitocco Constructions Pty Ltd, has been building and developing in the Liverpool and Macarthur region since the late 1950s. Notable developments by his family company include the Narellan Town Centre and Gregory Hills, a 2,500-lot subdivision and 43 hectares of employment zone.

Arnold is a member of Narellan Chamber of Commerce and is a committee member of the St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown. He was a Board Director of the South Western Sydney Area Health Service 1997-2003 and a committee member of the Health Research Foundation Sydney South West, which successfully helped raise $8 million.

“The Ingham Institute is about medical research and the wellbeing of people. [Medical research requires] forward planning. If you plant a tree today, in 15 years you will have shade. It’s the same with medical research. We must invest in research to reap those long term rewards.”

— Arnold Vitocco

 

Debbie is a Director and Co-owner of Ingham Property Group which is involved in the development of property assets across New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.

Debbie’s passion of thoroughbred horse racing is manifested through being a Director of Ingham Racing & Woppitt Bloodstock. She is also a lucky being part owner of the champion racehorse Winx.

Debbie founded & sits on the board of Pamarma Private Ancillary Fund. A charitable foundation focusing grants to grass root charities.

‘Seeing Dad’s vision for Southwest Sydney blossoming through the amazing work of the researchers & clinicians of the Ingham Institute makes me incredibly proud.”

 

Jim Marsden OAM is the Senior Partner at Marsdens Law Group. His firm is based primarily at Campbelltown with offices at Liverpool, Camden and the City of Sydney.

Jim has a history in a number of areas of community involvement. His past involvement includes Chairman of West Magpie Rugby League, Wests Tigers, the Chamber of Commerce, and board membership of NSW Rugby League and Odyssey House.

Jim currently Chairs The Macarthur Club and the Macarthur Development Advisory Group based out of Campbelltown.

“Medical research is essential and exciting. I was born and raised in south-west Sydney, and the Ingham Institute gives me the opportunity to participate in the delivery of significant research outcomes in my territory.”

— Jim Marsden

 

John is a serial entrepreneur, active across diverse sectors including marketing, agriculture, property development, technology, horse breeding and racing.

After a highly successful marketing career at Ingham Enterprises, John continues to build brands as a Director of Upstart Marketing, and Chair of the Ingham Institute Marketing and Fundraising Committee.

As Director and Co-owner of Ingham Property Group, John has a strategic and governance role in the development of property assets across New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.

Complimenting Johns wealth of experience, horse breeding and racing is another passion for John, as Director of Ingham Racing, Rockingham Thoroughbreds and James Harron Bloodstock. Previously John held Director roles with the Australian Jockey Club and the Australian Stud Book (2008 – 2012).

A founding investor and Director of farming and livestock SAAS company Agriwebb, brings John’s heritage in food production together with his curiosity for agriculture and technology.

 “The incredible contribution that our research teams are making to the health of our local and national community, and in fact global health issues, makes me feel humble and proud.” John Ingham

Karen is the General Manager of Liverpool Hospital. Karen has experience in leading teams for the planning, building and commissioning of the Fiona Stanley Hospital in Western Australia, as well as experience in implementing service delivery models, achieving activity and financial performance targets, operations management, financial accountability, emergency management and strategic planning and Population Health.

Karen is also an Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Surveyor.

Mark Perich is a Director of Greenfields Development Company, a family-owned development company responsible for the delivery of Oran Park, a vibrant new community along with other major development projects in South Western Sydney.

It is in this role, that Mark began to work in partnership with the South Western Sydney Local Health District which strengthened his interest in Health and wellbeing.

Drawing on his diverse experience in successfully collaborating with various stakeholders and the Perich family’s long-standing support of charities and research foundations in the Macarthur region, Mark hopes to help guide the Ingham Institute to achieve their vision to transform lives in the local community.

Professor Martin Gallagher is Head of the Clinical School and Precinct in South Western Sydney for the University of New South Wales, and a Clinical Academic in Renal Medicine at Liverpool Hospital. Prior to taking up his current role, he was a Clinical Academic at Concord Hospital and the University of Sydney. He completed a Harkness Fellowship at Yale University in 2009-10 and his research interests encompass acute kidney injury, clinical trials and renal epidemiology. He’s led a team of clinical renal researchers at the George Institute for Global Health, along with international collaborators.

Martin has also made important policy contributions to healthcare, including leading national evidence implementation projects, leading elements of the Australian Governments National Chronic Disease Strategy and projecting the future burden of kidney disease. He has been Departmental Head at two renal units, held senior committee roles within the Australia and New Zealand Society of Nephrology and led major clinical trials.

 

Morris Iemma served as Premier of NSW from 2005-2008 and prior to that held the ministerial portfolios of Treasury, Health, Sport and Recreation, Public Works and Services, and Minister Assisting the Premier. During his Parliamentary career he held the seats of Hurstville and Lakemba, in the South District.

Mr Iemma is currently a board member of TAFE NSW and is Chairman of Riverwood Community Centre, Miracle Babies Foundation and NSW Cancer Institute. He has also served on the Boards of Beyond Blue, the SCG Trust and as Chair of the South East Sydney Health District.

 

Dr Teresa Anderson is the Chief Executive of the Sydney Local Health District,  providing services to more than 600,000 people in Sydney and beyond.

Dr Teresa Anderson has worked in the NSW public health system for more than 30 years and has extensive experience as a clinician, manager and health service leader. She has held positions as the Director, Clinical Operations, Sydney South West Area Health Service, General Manager, Liverpool Hospital and Director of Community and Allied Health Services for the Liverpool Health Service.

She serves on the boards of the Ingham Institute, Centenary Institute, Heart Research Institute, ANZAC Research Institute and Healthshare, and is also the Chair of the Sydney Research Council.

Dr Anderson is focused on supporting collaboration and building partnerships to provide excellent health care. She is widely acknowledged for supporting and mentoring her staff in fostering new ideas to drive efficiencies and best practice.

Tim Bryan is the Chief Executive Officer of the Perich Group and a Chartered Accountant.

He is a Founding Director and Chairman of the Finance Committee, Kids of Macarthur Health Foundation and Chairman of St Gregory’s College Finance Advisory Committee.

Tim has a special interest in research into childhood diseases.

“What excites me most … is the motivation and passion of the researchers who call Ingham Institute home.”

— Tim Bryan

 

Scientia Professor Vlado Perkovic is the Dean of Medicine and Health at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, an active clinician and a leading clinical trialist. Prior to commencing his current role in 2019, Professor Perkovic was Executive Director of The George Institute, Australia. He is a part time (0.1 FTE) Staff Specialist in Nephrology at the Royal North Shore Hospital. His research focus is on clinical trials and epidemiology, in particular in preventing the progression of kidney disease and its complications. He has served on the Steering Committees of a large number of international clinical trials including some that have completed- CREDENCE (Chair), TESTING (Chair), CARMELINA (Co-Chair), SONAR and CANVAS- and several that are ongoing- FLOW (Chair), ZEUS (Co-Chair), ASPIRED (Co-Chair), RESOLVE, and TRACK.

He has played a central role in the development of an affordable dialysis system, which was a Eureka Prize finalist in 2017 and won first prize in the World Innovation Summit for Health 2020 Innovation Booster competition.

He has previously been a member of the National Health and Medical Research Council Principal Committee on Research Translation, the Board of the Australian Clinical Trials Alliance. was President of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI), and was Chair of the International Society of Nephrology Advancing Clinical Trials (ISN-ACT) group.

He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, has been classified as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate (among the top 0.1% of most cited authors worldwide in 2019 and 2020) and serves on the Editorial Boards of a number of leading specialist and general journals, including the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, Circulation, and the New England Journal of Medicine.

Executive Staff

Darryl Harkness joined the Ingham Institute after nearly 30 years with Johnson & Johnson, most recently as Vice President of Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery and member of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Australia & New Zealand Board.  During his career Darryl had a number of overseas postings which included leading the Ortho Clinical Diagnostics businesses in Asia Pacific and being a member of their Global Management Board.

His business experience also includes leadership of Johnson & Johnson companies working in bariatrics, minimally invasive surgery, low temperature sterilisation, hand hygiene and cardiology.  These diverse roles provided many opportunities to work with leading clinicians as new technologies were developed, evaluated and eventually made available to treat patients.

Darryl served two terms on the Board of the Medical Technology Association of Australia including one term as Treasurer.  He was fortunate to be involved in many of Johnson & Johnson’s community initiatives and served as chair of their Diversity & Inclusion Council.

“Its hard to imagine anything more important than improving people’s health.  The work being done by the gifted and dedicated researchers at the Ingham Institute is nothing short of amazing and it is a tremendous privilege to be playing a role supporting them”

You can contact Darryl on 02 8738 9000 or darryl.harkness@inghaminstitute.org.au

Professor Les Bokey  AM., M.S., F. R.A.C.S., F.R.C.S.  (Glas.) (Hon.) is Foundation Professor of Surgery and Clinical Dean, Western Sydney University at Liverpool Hospital.  He is the Director of Research for the South Western Sydney Local Health District, Institute Director at The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research amd Director of Surgery at Liverpool Hospital. His research interests include screening, and early diagnosis of bowel cancer, outcomes after surgery for bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, robotics and automation in health.  He is the Director of The South Western Institute for Robotics and Automation in Health (SWIRAH).  His expertise and technical innovations, especially in rectal cancer surgery, are acknowledged internationally.

Professor Bokey has worked at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.  Before joining Western Sydney University, he was Head of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Associate Dean of Surgical Sciences at Sydney University.

In 2016, he was appointed Interim Director of ‘Maridulu Budyari Gumal’ The Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research & Enterprise (SPHERE) and was instrumental in fostering clinical academic groups across the partnership which subsequently led to NHMRC AHRTC accreditation of SPHERE.

He has been awarded The Order of Australia Medal for service to medicine as colorectal surgeon and establishment of surgical education programs, research, and medical administration. He has received several honorary degrees from various International Universities and Societies.

Katie joined the Ingham Institute in 2022 as Chief Operations Officer. In this role Katie’s focus is on developing and implementing optimal governance and operating models, ensuring legal and regulatory compliance, and directing operational delivery across the Institute’s rapidly growing network.

Katie is a healthcare operations leader with international experience in strategic analysis, action planning, process implementation and relationship management. Katie has a background in business development, having led bid and grant teams across university, corporate and government settings. She is experienced in navigating challenging political environments, especially during times of transition and change.

Katie repatriated to Australia in 2021 after eight years in the Middle East, where she supported activation of a 400-bed children’s and women’s hospital, medical education and biomedical research centre. She activated ambulatory and inpatient services, structured clinical governance, devised reporting frameworks, and designed service plans. She is passionate about working with academics and clinicians to achieve operational excellence.

Katie previously worked in Research Development at the University of Technology, Sydney. Before this she was Commercial Reporting Manager and Bid Writer for Brookfield Multiplex’s new business team, focusing on PPPs in the healthcare space. A graduate of the University of Sydney and the University of Technology, Sydney, she is currently completing a Masters of Literature at Deakin University.

 

Luisa joined the Ingham Institute in 2017 at a time of expansion. In her capacity as Chief Financial Officer, she is responsible for overseeing and managing the Institute’s financial operations. Along with a strong finance team, she supports the Institute’s researchers and other stakeholders with financial management and control and is responsible for ensuring financial processing and reporting compliance across the Institute’s expanding business model.

Luisa has extensive financial experience in a variety of sectors, including service, private equity, information technology, wholesale, and logistics. She has had success throughout her career in simplifying procedures and putting in place strict financial controls to guarantee financial compliance. As a manager, Luisa has contributed to the overall success of the companies she has worked with and is also accountable for the smooth implementation of improvements to accounting systems.

Luisa graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Bachelor of Business (Accounting), subsequently earning a Master of Business Administration. She is currently completing a Bachelor of Law and is a qualified CPA.

In her role as Executive Director, Research Services, Natalie brings a wealth of knowledge in research administration, garnered over 25 years of service in the medical research sector. Natalie has worked in varied roles supporting research management both in Melbourne and Sydney. As Executive Director, she leads the Research Services team here at the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research. She and her team continue to design, develop and streamline systems that will reduce the administrative burden associated with conducting research.

More recently in her role as Executive Director, Research Services, she has provided leadership in the development, delivery and implementation of the Institutes’ research strategy and developed strategies for a number of internal initiatives. These initiatives collectively challenge current behaviours to optimise research performance and infrastructure support across the Institute, including optimising the delivery of research services, coordination of existing and new systems and establishing and implementing the Institutes’ research performance.

Natalie has led teams and stakeholders to deliver large submissions to state and federal government.  In particular, her role in the Institute’s strategic review involved extensive engagement with researchers, research support staff as well as external partners and stakeholders in order to best capture research impact.

Natalie is committed to building and supporting organisational excellence and innovation in medical research. She is inspired by the challenges faced by the medical research sector and is continually striving to make a difference in the area of research support. Natalie is driven to bridge the gap between research and ‘management’ in a way that supports the researchers to focus on what they do best – that being research, continually reducing the burden that comes with conducting research.

Helene joined the Ingham Institute in September 2020 as Executive Director People & Culture. In this role Helene is focused on strengthening our People & Culture capability to ensure that we attract, develop and retain the talent we need to support our research efforts and to put in place systems to support our future growth. Helene is a seasoned People & Culture leader with significant experience across the Pharmaceutical, Healthcare and Clinical Research sectors in Australia, New Zealand and Asia Pacific. Helene has a proven track record in bringing people together to drive collaboration, creating systems and processes in fast growing organisations, as well as supporting leaders and their teams to ensure a people focus, and productive engaging culture.

Fundraising and Marketing

Ingham Institute Research Leadership Committee

Professor Apte is internationally acknowledged as a leading researcher in the fields of alcohol-induced pancreatic injury, pancreatic fibrogenesis and stromal-tumour interactions in pancreatic cancer.

Professor of Medicine and Director, Pancreatic Research Group, UNSW Sydney

An internationally renowned medical researcher into pancreatic disease, Professor Minoti Apte’s contribution to the University of New South Wales and the wider community extends well beyond her laboratory. In 2014, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia and she received the 2015 NSW Premier’s Award for Woman of the Year, in recognition of her contribution to medical research, tertiary education and the community. Most recently, her work in pancreatic cancer research was recognised with the Professor Rob Sutherland Make a Difference Award presented at part of the Cancer Institute NSW 2016 Premier’s Awards for Outstanding Cancer Research. In 2017, she was awarded the Lady Mary Fairfax Distinguished researcher Award by the Ingham Institute.

A Professor of Medicine and Director of the Pancreatic Research Group at UNSW, Prof Apte is internationally acknowledged as a leading researcher in the field of pancreatic injury and is particularly recognised for her pioneering work in pancreatic fibrogenesis, having been the first in the world to develop a method to isolate and culture pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs).

Her Group was the first in the world to establish the role of these cells in the scar tissue of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. This scar tissue is responsible for significant pancreatic dysfunction and for cancer progression. Her group was also the first in the world to show that the pancreatic stellate cell helped pancreatic cancers grow and spread, and she is currently leading pre-clinical studies of a new combination therapy to help improve treatment outcomes. Professor has published over 120 research papers, and her work has received over 6400 citations. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Pancreatology, one of the two leading specialist journals in the field.

Professor Apte served as postgraduate coordinator within the South Western Sydney Clinical School from 2001-2016, where she nurtured the talent of our PhD, Masters and Honours students, in addition to direct supervision of her own higher degree students. She has served/serves at senior levels on several key committees within the University as well as on committees of national and international organisations relevant to her Discipline, including the GESA Research Committee.

In addition to her role within UNSW Medicine and the wider discipline of Pancreatology, Professor Apte is an active member of the Marathi Association of Sydney, which serves Sydney’s large Indian population. She is an accomplished Indian classical dancer and choreographer, and has served on the Association’s organising committee, provided programs for community radio, plays an active role organising and performing in cultural events and provides mentorship and career advice to new migrants in her community.

Lois Holloway leads the medical physics group at the Ingham Institute and Liverpool and Macarthur Cancer Therapy centres. She has a long interest in mathematical modelling for radiotherapy and is excited by ongoing developments and opportunities in both imaging and machine learning in this area. She leads the OzCAT (Computer Assisted Theragnostics) working to link distributed datasets to develop prognostic models for radiotherapy, particularly for situations where randomised clinical trial evidence is limited.

Professor C. Soon Lee, MBBS (Melb), MD (Melb), FRCPA, FRCPath (UK), MIAC, AFRACMA

Prof Lee is the Foundation Professor and Chair of Pathology at Western Sydney University. He is also Clinical Professor at University of Sydney, Conjoint Professor at University of New South Wales, and Senior Pathologist at Liverpool Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Prof Lee is a certified pathologist for genomics testing and heads the Molecular Pathology Service at Liverpool Hospital that provides diagnostic molecular testing for patients from Sydney South West Local Health District, St George and Wollongong Hospitals.

Prof Lee’s research interests include genomics and biomarkers of colorectal, lung and head and neck cancers. He heads the Cancer Pathology and Cell Biology Laboratory, Ingham Institute. His research group has made significant contributions that have influenced and led to changes in the clinical practice of pathology including the detection of EGFR and HPV in head and neck cancers, detection of the human herpes virus 8 in the diagnosis of early stage Kaposi’s sarcoma, and the use of the EWS/FLI1 fusion transcript in the diagnosis of Ewing’s sarcoma.

He has published over 210 original research articles in international peer-reviewed journals with over 8,400 citations for his publications; and an H-index of 53. Professor Lee has mentored and graduated over 20 higher degree students, many of whom have gone on to forge successful careers as Professors, Associate Professors and Heads of Departments.

Prof Lee was the recipient of the 2017 Lady Mary Fairfax Distinguished Researcher Award and the 2018 Distinguished Pathologist Award of the International Academy of Pathology. He was previous Editor of the journal, Pathology (2000-2009) and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical Pathology (2010-2016). He holds international appointments as the Distinguished Visiting Scholar at the Graduate Medical School, Duke University-National University of Singapore (since 2015) and Visiting Professor and International Advisor at Sunway University in Malaysia (since 2017).

Darryl Harkness joined the Ingham Institute after nearly 30 years with Johnson & Johnson, most recently as Vice President of Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery and member of the Johnson & Johnson Medical Australia & New Zealand Board.  During his career Darryl had a number of overseas postings which included leading the Ortho Clinical Diagnostics businesses in Asia Pacific and being a member of their Global Management Board.

His business experience also includes leadership of Johnson & Johnson companies working in bariatrics, minimally invasive surgery, low temperature sterilisation, hand hygiene and cardiology.  These diverse roles provided many opportunities to work with leading clinicians as new technologies were developed, evaluated and eventually made available to treat patients.

Darryl served two terms on the Board of the Medical Technology Association of Australia including one term as Treasurer.  He was fortunate to be involved in many of Johnson & Johnson’s community initiatives and served as chair of their Diversity & Inclusion Council.

“Its hard to imagine anything more important than improving people’s health.  The work being done by the gifted and dedicated researchers at the Ingham Institute is nothing short of amazing and it is a tremendous privilege to be playing a role supporting them”

You can contact Darryl on 02 8738 9000 or darryl.harkness@inghaminstitute.org.au

Professor Les Bokey  AM., M.S., F. R.A.C.S., F.R.C.S.  (Glas.) (Hon.) is Foundation Professor of Surgery and Clinical Dean, Western Sydney University at Liverpool Hospital.  He is the Director of Research for the South Western Sydney Local Health District, Institute Director at The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research amd Director of Surgery at Liverpool Hospital. His research interests include screening, and early diagnosis of bowel cancer, outcomes after surgery for bowel cancer, inflammatory bowel disease, robotics and automation in health.  He is the Director of The South Western Institute for Robotics and Automation in Health (SWIRAH).  His expertise and technical innovations, especially in rectal cancer surgery, are acknowledged internationally.

Professor Bokey has worked at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Goteborg and the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.  Before joining Western Sydney University, he was Head of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Associate Dean of Surgical Sciences at Sydney University.

In 2016, he was appointed Interim Director of ‘Maridulu Budyari Gumal’ The Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research & Enterprise (SPHERE) and was instrumental in fostering clinical academic groups across the partnership which subsequently led to NHMRC AHRTC accreditation of SPHERE.

He has been awarded The Order of Australia Medal for service to medicine as colorectal surgeon and establishment of surgical education programs, research, and medical administration. He has received several honorary degrees from various International Universities and Societies.

Research Support Staff