Led by the CEO, our leadership and governance ensure NHMRC operates effectively and efficiently at all levels. This allows us to remain focused on the health care areas that matter most to Australia. Our leadership team has considerable experience in research strategy and programs, evidence-based medicine, research policy and translation, and corporate operations. We use their collective skills to develop strategic initiatives to improve Australian health and support health research.
The NHMRC Organisation Structure is available in the Downloads section below.
Professor
Steve
Wesselingh
NHMRC CEO
Professor Wesselingh took up the position of the CEO at NHMRC in August 2023. The CEO is the accountable authority for NHMRC under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
Professor Wesselingh is an infectious diseases physician and researcher in HIV, vaccine development and the impact of the microbiome on human health. He undertook his undergraduate and doctoral training at Flinders University/Flinders Medical Centre in South Australia and his post-doctoral training at Johns Hopkins in the United States.
Until mid-2023, Professor Wesselingh was the inaugural Executive Director of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and the Research Director of Health Translation SA. He was also a member of NHMRC Council, Chair of Research Committee, and the president of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.
Professor Wesselingh brings a wealth of medical experience, clinical leadership as well as national and international success. Between 2007 and 2011, he was Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. From 2002 to 2007, he was Director of the Burnet Institute an independent medical research institute specialising in infectious diseases, immunology and global health.
Throughout his career, Professor Wesselingh has consistently worked towards the integration of high-quality medical research with health-care delivery, leading to improved health outcomes for Australia and the poorly resourced countries of the region.
Ms
Prue
Torrance
General Manager
Ms Torrance commenced as the General Manager at NHMRC in March 2023 and was previously the Executive Director of the Research Quality and Priorities branch.
Ms Torrance has extensive leadership experience in science and research policy and programs, as well as having held senior public service management roles in corporate governance and finance. Ms Torrance holds a Master of Studies (Public Policy) from the Australian National University and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons in Political Philosophy) and Science (Psychology) from Monash University.
Dr
Julie
Glover
Executive Director, Research Foundations
Dr Glover’s team manages NHMRC’s largest research funding schemes, coordinates peer review training activities, manages NHMRC’s grants and funding arrangements with research institutions, and leads NHMRC’s evaluation and impact strategies.
Dr Glover completed a PhD in the Faculty of Science at the Australian National University and held research positions until entering the public sector at the Bureau of Rural Sciences in 2002. In 2007, Dr Glover moved to the Innovation Division of the Australian Government Department of Industry and spent 4 years developing and delivering key innovation policies. Dr Glover joined NHMRC as a Director in 2011.
Mr
Chris
Jennaway
Executive Director (acting), Research Partnerships
Chris currently leads NHMRC’s Research Partnerships branch, which is responsible for promoting collaboration and delivering strategic and health priorities through innovative research partnerships. The branch manages funding schemes that support priority driven research, translation of findings into policy and practice, and initiatives to strengthen consumer and community involvement in health and medical research.
Chris and his team work closely with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to support the development of the National Strategy for Health and Medical Research and to advance research translation activities across Australia.
Chris has more than 15 years’ experience at NHMRC – spanning roles in project grants, clinical trials, targeted research calls, international collaborations, dementia research, and the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Most recently, he led NHMRC’s Research Strategy and Engagement section, overseeing international engagement, research translation strategy, health priorities, dementia, and several advisory committees.
Dr
Maria
Trainer
Executive Director, Research Quality and Advice
Dr. Maria Trainer will join NHMRC in June 2026, following a period working with the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APMVA), most recently as their Executive Director of Science and Assurance, where she led international engagement efforts, shaping operational policy, and drafting contemporary guidance to support regulatory clarity and scientific integrity. Before joining the APVMA in 2019, Maria held senior positions in both the private and public sectors in Canada. This includes more than 7 years as Managing Director for Science and Regulatory Affairs with CropLife Canada and 3 years as Program Director with the Council of Canadian Academies where she had the lead responsibility for the Expert Panel on the Integrated Testing of Pesticides.
Mr
Simon
Mair
Executive Director, Technology and Data
Simon Mair's branch leads the organisations IT management, it is responsible for data analytics and reporting on grants; and oversees the operation of NHMRC's grant system, Sapphire.
Mr Mair is a senior public servant with more than 20 years IT experience working in Canberra and Melbourne. He is an empowering leader and builder of high performing teams with extensive experience in portfolio, program, and project management, governance, IT operations and strategic policy development. Mr Mair joined NHMRC in 2024.