SA Scientist of the Year to be new executive director at the SAHMRI ‘cheesegrater’
SA’s 2022 Scientist of the Year will become the SA Health and Medical Research Institute’s new boss as its inaugural leader calls time on his run with the organisation.
SA News
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South Australian Scientist of the Year Professor Maria Makrides has been appointed to lead the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) as its next executive director.
Prof Makrides take over from the institute’s inaugural ED Professor Steve Wesselingh later this year, having been the leader of the SAHMRI Women and Kids Theme for the past decade and serving as the institute’s deputy director since 2018.
Prof Makrides’ research as well as administrative skills has won global acclaim – it includes breakthrough work showing omega-3 supplements can help prevent preterm birth in women with low levels of the fatty acids.
Her work as a clinical nutritionist has earned distinctions including her election as a Fellow of both the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science.
In 2022 she was named South Australia’s Scientist of the Year.
Prof Makrides welcomed the challenge ahead.
“I am deeply honoured by this appointment and feel a great sense of responsibility to steer South Australia’s sole independent health and medical research institute as we continue to innovate in pursuit of ways to improve health and wellbeing for everyone,” she said.
Prof Makrides succeeds SAHMRI’s inaugural executive director, Prof Wesselingh, who announced in 2020 his current term with SAHMRI would be his last.
“I have had the privilege of admiring Maria’s outstanding talents as a researcher and a leader while we’ve worked in partnership over the past 10 years,” Prof Wesselingh said.
“I have no doubt that Maria is the perfect person to capitalise on the opportunities before SAHMRI, to continue forging its reputation as an institute of global renown.”
Chair of SAHMRI’s Board, the Hon. Hieu Van Le AC, congratulated Prof Makrides, saying she will bring ideas, experience and skills to build on Prof Wesselingh’s legacy.
“The search for our next executive director, alongside international recruitment specialists Odgers Berndtson, began in earnest in the latter stages of last year,” he said.
“We were extremely impressed by the calibre of candidates who applied from across Australia and beyond.
“After an exhaustive process, it was the unanimous view of the selection panel and our board that Maria has all of the qualities essential to continue SAHMRI’s evolution.
“Her breadth of research and leadership experience is highlighted by the work she has guided that is delivering the world-first ‘test-and-treat’ program that’s identifying women with low omega-3 status who require supplementation to reduce their risk of preterm birth.
“She also brings to the role invaluable knowledge of the local, national and international research landscape and a diverse network of strong professional relationships.”
Prof Wesselingh was appointed as SAHMRI’s inaugural leader in October 2011.
Two years later, the institute’s research programs began in earnest following the opening of its iconic “Cheesegrater” headquarters in what is now the Adelaide BioMed City precinct.
“The physical transformation of SAHMRI and the precinct in that time is truly remarkable,” Mr Le said.
“What is even more remarkable however is the variety of life-changing research that has flourished under Steve’s guidance in that time. Steve’s eminence as a researcher is unquestioned. We at SAHMRI have been fortunate to reap the benefit of his outstanding leadership and his innate ability to foster fruitful partnerships between individuals and institutions.”
In less than 10 years since opening its doors, SAHMRI has delivered incredible
impact across the broad range of its research areas. SAHMRI was at the forefront of
developing the groundbreaking South Australian Aboriginal Health Research
Accord, is internationally recognised as a leader in leukaemia research and has a
series of cardiac research programs that are highly integrated with clinical care to
improve outcomes for people with heart conditions.
The institute is also a major partner in the collaboration that is delivering Australia’s
first cancer-fighting proton therapy centre, to be housed in the building that is under
construction adjacent to SAHMRI’s Cheesegrater.
Originally published as SA Scientist of the Year to be new executive director at the SAHMRI ‘cheesegrater’
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