Our team

ASHRA has assembled a stellar group of cardiovascular and stroke researchers, business developers, educators, industry partners, commercialisation experts, and technologists to collectively build a transformational research accelerator that maximises commercial return on Australian discovery and reduces the impact of cardiovascular disease on society. 

Our governance structure enables our members to work together providing coordinated leadership.

The ASHRA Executive Management Committee (EMC) have overall responsibility for delivery of the Centre activities and are accountable to MTPConnect and the Centre Partner Organisations. Two Committees sit under the EMC providing advice to the EMC on the delivery of the ‘Research’ and ‘Capacity Building’ components of the Centre deliverables.

Executive Management Team

Our EMC is led by a team of internationally renowned Australian cardiovascular researchers recognised for their track record in delivering the highest quality science and translational research. The committee provides leadership, operational oversight, strategic direction and risk and budget management. The committee comprises of members of the founding Partner Organisations and a consumer representative.

Prof Clara Chow AM is the Director and Prof Stephen Nicholls is Deputy Director of ASHRA, Mr Craig Taggart is the Independent Chair and Ms Karen Carey is our consumer representative.

  • Steve Nicholls

    Professor Steve Nicholls

    Director

  • Clara Chow

    Professor Clara Chow AM

    Deputy Director

  • Jason Kovacic

    Professor Jason Kovacic

    Research Advisory Committee Chair

  • Bruce Neal

    Professor Bruce Neal

    Education and Training Committee Chair

  • Alex Brown

    Professor Alex Brown

    Indigenous Lead

  • Geoffrey Donnan

    Professor Geoff Donnan

    Stroke Lead

  • Richard Taggart

    Richard Taggart

    Independent Chair

Research Committee

Our Research Advisory Committee (RAC) is responsible for oversight of projects, reporting status, progress and achievements to the EMC, and evaluating potential new projects for recommendation to the EMC. 

The RAC is currently chaired by Prof Jason Kovacic (Director and CEO, VCCRI). National membership includes researchers with expertise across the priority areas and translational spectrum, including commercialisation expertise.

Committee members

  • Jason Kovacic, Chair (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute)

  • James Chong (Westmead Institute of Medical Research, University of Sydney)

  • Sally Dunwoodie (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute)

  • Livia Hool (University of Western Australia)

  • Bruce Neil (The George Institute for Global Health)

  • Johanna Barclay (Telethon Kids)

  • Mark Febbraio (Monash University)

  • Louise Lyons (South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute)

  • Christina Bursill (Australian Cardiovascular Alliance)

Ex officio

  • Asha Puvan (VCCRI)

  • Fraser Taylor (The George Institute for Global Health)


Education and Training Committee

The ETC identify, develop, deliver and evaluate bespoke training and education activities and opportunities for ASHRA, with a strong focus on capacity building of our EMCR cohort. Recommendations for the Education and Training Program are reported to the EMC for consideration.

The ETC is chaired by Prof Bruce Neal (Director TGI) and membership includes the ASHRA Education and Training Manager and training members from the Partner Organisations. 

Committee members

  • Prof Bruce Neal, Chair (ASHRA Executive Committee)

  • Prof Jamie Vandenberg (Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute)

  • Prof Chris Semsarian (University of Sydney)

  • Prof Rebecca Ritchie (Monash University)

  • Prof Alex Brown (Australian National University)

  • Dr Elizabeth Barr (Menzies School of Health Research)

  • Dr Parisa Glass (The George Institute for Global Health)

  • Ms Dina Titkova (University of New South Wales)

  • Prof Jason Kovacic (ASHRA Research Committee)

  • Dr Karen Kool (ASHRA Education and Training Manager, ex officio)

Core academic partners

Monash University
University of Sydney
Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute
The George Institute for Global Health
University of New South Wales
Australian National University
The University of Melbourne
Menzies School of Health Research

Partners and supporting organisations

  • Responsible for leadership, oversight and strategic direction. Leads all activities with responsibility for timely, on budget delivery of all objectives.

  • Responsible for daily running of ASHRA, oversight and support of committees, financial and reporting activities with MTPConnect.

  • Will advise on commercialisation strategies for projects and strategy for expansion of activities to support research and sustainability. Will identify, develop and implement relevant commercialisation and sustainability strategies.

  • Responsible for oversight of projects, reporting status and achievements to the EMC. Will identify and evaluate potential new projects for recommendation to EMC.

  • Will identify, develop, deliver and evaluate training and education activities. Responsible for risk identification and development of mitigation strategies, data collection and annual performance reviews.

  • Will advise on research and commercialisation activities from a stakeholder perspective, including engagement with regard to decision making on new projects and Centre initiatives.

  • Will provide strategic advice regarding overall direction, growth and opportunities. Membership will include national and international researchers with expertise in translation and reflect diversity. The committee will meet annually and provide additional evaluation regarding progress of individual projects and the overall centre, in addition to ongoing activities promoting ongoing sustainability.

ASHRA governance