We work with some of Victoria’s leading clinicians, researchers and changemakers.

Program team


Professor Clara Gaff

Executive Director

Clara is a nationally renowned change leader, who’s guided Melbourne Genomics since its inception.

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Naomi Burke

Chief Operating Officer

Naomi has led the design and delivery of complex health, ICT and commercialisation programs.

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Dr Melissa Martyn

Evaluation Manager

A highly experienced researcher, Melissa designs innovative methods to evaluate genomics programs.

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Dr Amy Nisselle

Lead, Genomics Workforce

Amy is a sought-after science communicator, researcher and project manager with a doctorate in multimedia genetics education.

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Zayne D'Crus

Communications and Engagement Manager

Zayne specialises in strategic communications, brand identity and copywriting. His role is to get new audiences excited about genomics.

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Katie Arkell

Program Manager, Genomics in Practice

Katie Arkell leads the Genomics in Practice stream of work.

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Keeley Reade

Lead, Genomic Information Management

Keeley is passionate about solving problems in digital health and manages digital projects for the Alliance.

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David Cloake

PMO Manager

Coming from a commercial background, David has over 30 years of program management experience.

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A/Prof Belinda McClaren

Research Lead

Belinda McClaren leads research for the Genomics in Practice stream.

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Amelia Rahardja

Communications Advisor

Amelia works with the team and the member organisations to create cut-through content on the value of genomics.

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Chriselle Hickerton

Community Engagement Coordinator

Chriselle works with the Community Advisory Group and the program team to help enable the community voice to advise, participate in and inform projects conducted by Melbourne Genomics.

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Dr Emma Weisz

Senior Project Clinician

Emma is working with the paediatrics state-wide project to develop, implement and evaluate ways to support paediatricians to use genomic tests. 

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Amy Clarke

Project Manager

Amy Clarke is Project Manager for the Clinical Change Projects.

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Dr Trang Do

Postdoctoral Research Officer

Dr Trang Do is a Postdoctoral Research Officer with the Genomics in Practice team.

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Rigan Tytherleigh

Research and Program Evaluation Data Manager

Rigan designs data collection systems and manages data for the evaluation of Melbourne Genomics’ projects.

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Irene Dinatale

Project Officer

Irene manages Melbourne Genomics' clinical projects, working to place genomics in practice.

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Danielle Ariti

Research Assistant/Education Project Assistant

Danielle is a Research Assistant with the Genomics in Practice team and an Education Project Assistant with the Genomics Workforce team.

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Dr Tim Hastings

Technical Advisor

Tim is an experienced software engineer who provides technical leadership advisory .

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Vicki Crowley

Project Coordinator

Vicki works with the team to coordinate all projects within the Genomic Information Management stream.

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Community Advisory Group


Kellie-Ann Jolly

Chair, Community Advisory Group

Kellie-Ann has over 30 years’ experience as a leader in public health and health promotion.

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Heather Renton

Member

Founder and President of Syndromes Without a Name (SWAN) – an advocacy group for families with undiagnosed children.

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Margaret Sahhar AM

Member

Margaret’s distinguished career spans more than 40 years at the forefront of genetic counselling and patient support.

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Dr Janney Wale

Member

Consumer editor at The Cochrane Collaboration and a health consumer voice both locally and nationally.

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Christine Walker

Member

Board member of the Consumer's Health Forum, a member of the Medical Services Advisory Committee Evaluation Subcommittee and a practising sociologist.

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Spase Veljanovski

Member

Spase has a strong interest in social justice and has over 20 years’ experience in improving marginalised communities’ access to health and community services.

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Stacey Ong

Member

Stacey is an experienced management consultant with over 15 years’ experience in both private, public and community sectors.

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Sue Emery

Member

Sue is an experienced healthcare consumer representative (HCR) with established community connections and networks.

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Maya Pinn

Member

Maya is a passionate advocate and volunteer who applies capacity building approaches at all levels, including through research, policy and beyond.

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Our Board


Catherine Walter AM

Board Chair

A lawyer and a company director, Catherine is Chair of the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance Board.

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Prof Shelley Dolan

Board Member

Chief Executive of The Royal Melbourne Hospital

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Bernadette McDonald

Board Member

CEO of The Royal Children's Hospital

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Prof Mike McGuckin

Board Member

Associate Dean Research, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at The University of Melbourne

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Carolyn MacDonald

Board Member

Chief Operating Officer of WEHI

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Prof Kathryn North AC

Board Member

Director, Murdoch Children's Research Institute

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Prof Brett Sutton

Board Member

Director of the Health and Biosecurity Business Unit at CSIRO

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Dr Joe Baini

Board Member

CEO of the Australian Genome Research Facility

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Prof Jason Payne

Board Member

Chief Executive of the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

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Adam Horsburgh

Board Member

CEO of Austin Health

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Dr Angus Henderson

Board Member

General Manager, Research Strategy at Monash Health

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Our experts


A/Prof Cate Kelly

Technical Advisor

A/Prof Cate Kelly is an experienced healthcare executive working on our Genomics in Hospitals project.

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Dr Kortnye Smith

Medical Oncologist

Dr Kortnye Smith is a medical oncologist involved in Melbourne Genomics’ state-wide cancer project.

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Dr Norelle Sherry

Infectious Diseases Physician & Clinical Microbiologist

Dr Norelle Sherry is an infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist at Austin Health and a clinician-researcher at the University of Melbourne. She is working on the Melbourne Genomics Controlling Superbugs project.

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Dr Kushani Jayasinghe

Nephrologist

Dr Kushani Jayasinghe is a consultant nephrologist who is leading one of our Clinical Change Projects.

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Dr Aamira Huq

Clinical Geneticist

Dr Aamira Huq is a consultant clinical geneticist who is leading one of our Clinical Change Projects.

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Prof Paul James

Clinical Geneticist

Prof Paul James is a clinical geneticist who is leading one of our Clinical Change Projects.

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Melbourne Genomics acknowledges the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, on whose lands we work, and all First Nations peoples across Victoria. We pay respect to Elders past and present. We also acknowledge the First Nations health professionals, researchers and leaders who are shaping the future of genomic medicine.

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