Our team
The PHRN Board, chaired by Professor Ian Smith, provides oversight and strategic direction for the PHRN. The PHRN Board’s Charter outlines the purpose, structure and conduct of the Board.
PHRN Board
Professor Ian Smith
Professor Smith’s unique background in business and research drives his passion for getting entrepreneurs and industry to collaborate, using university research capabilities for innovation.
Currently, he is Managing Director of AIS Life Science Consulting, a Member of the Board of Directors, St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Board Chair of EMBL Australia and Board Member and Chair Research Advisory Committee: National Foundation for Medical Research and Innovation (NFMRI).
As former Vice-Provost (Research & Research Infrastructure) at Monash University, he led research strategy, infrastructure and alliances university-wide. Encouraging industry, large companies and SMEs to innovate and solve problems using the university’s globally recognised research capabilities was a major focus.
Professor Smith has a background in industry and medical research with more than 260 publications and many patents. He regularly speaks at international meetings and his research has directly impacted human health and improved clinical practice. He co-founded a publicly listed proteomics-based biotechnology company and collaborates widely with the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry.
Professor Smith chairs several national and international senior advisory boards, serves on national and international committees, and international editorial boards. He also plays a key role organising national and international scientific meetings.
Professor Anna Nowak
Professor Nowak is passionate about mentoring, collaboration, building a positive culture for research staff and students, and women in science.
As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), at The University of Western Australia (UWA) she leads research policy development, postgraduate education, industry liaison, intellectual property and commercialisation.
Professor Nowak is a medical oncologist and clinician scientist who completed her undergraduate medical degree and PhD in tumour immunology at UWA. A post-doctoral fellowship in clinical trials and quality of life research at the NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre in Sydney gave her a true bench-to-bedside research perspective.
In 2018, the Cancer Council of WA named Professor Nowak ‘Cancer Researcher of the Year’, and in 2021 she received both the International Mesothelioma Interest Group’s prestigious Wagner Medal for her contribution to mesothelioma research, and the Medical Oncology Group of Australia’s inaugural Martin H Tattersall’s Heroes Award for her mentorship, advocacy and contributions to the discipline.
Her research leadership experience includes roles as Associate Dean (Research) of UWA’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Director of the National Centre for Asbestos Related Diseases since 2018, and Chair of the national brain cancer collaborative clinical trials group COGNO from 2017 to 2020. She is a current member of the Cancer Council WA Board and the Cancer Australia Advisory Council.
Professor John McNeil AO
Instrumental developing large-scale clinical registries to improve the measurement and benchmarking of clinical outcomes, Professor McNeil was awarded an AO for services to Public Health in 2017.
He is currently CIA of the ASPREE study, a large-scale NIH-funded randomised clinical trial of low-dose aspirin in people aged 70 and over.
Between 1986 to 2019, he was Head of the Monash University Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine (and subsequently School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine) at the Alfred Medical Research Precinct.
In 2019 he received a Sir John Monash Distinguished Professorship.
His leadership roles include service on Boards of Management of the Alfred and Austin Hospitals, Ambulance Victoria, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, The Victorian Managed Insurance Authority, Orygen Youth Mental Health Research Institute, Dunlop Medical Research Foundation, the Colonial Foundation, the Victorian Public Health Research and Education Consortium and Water Quality Australia.
He has been a member of Ministerial Committees on renal failure services to medical staff salaries, location of organ transplantation services and patent safety and served on committees for the NHMRC, TGA, Victorian Department of Health, Food Authority for Australia & New Zealand, Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, National Blood Authority and various charities and NGOs. He also spent 10 years as Scientific Secretary of the International Society of Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy.
Ms Liddy McCall
Ms McCall brings over 20 years of experience in corporate management of public and private companies resolving multiple and complex issues across various disciplines, including identifying strategic objectives, managing legal, financial, corporate governance, human resources and operational issues. She is experienced in start-up establishment, resourcing and financing including transition of academic research projects through to commercial production companies with regulatory approvals, reimbursement and global product launches. She brings diverse industry expertise across biotechnology, finance/funds, IT, agtech, FMCG.
Prior roles include co-founder and director of venture capital fund Yuuwa Capital group. She is a serial entrepreneur and has co-founded, with multiple director and management roles, including co-founded Dimerix Limited (ASX listed) and a named co-inventor on granted patents in Phase 3 clinical trials; co-founded iCeutica group of companies (sold to Iroko Pharmaceuticals), and co-founded artisan distillery The Tailor Made Spirits Company Limited. Non-executive director roles have included Agworld Pty Ltd (sold to Canadian company Semios), AdAlta Limited (ASX listed) and not-for-profit Ear Science Institute Australia.
Liddy is currently a non-executive director of ASX listed Argenica Therapeutics Limited, Keyview Financial group, a private funds management group and the Population Health Research Network.
Dr Anthony Brown
Dr Brown is passionate about consumer and carer engagement and co-design in health services and research. As Executive Director of Health Consumers NSW, the peak body for health consumers in NSW, he works to ensure health providers, policymakers and researchers involve health consumers, their families and carers as equal partners.
Dr Brown advises health services on building a social license for the use of linked health data for quality improvement and research. He is a member of the Stakeholder Reference Group for Lumos, a NSW program linking de-identified data from general practices with other health system data.
He is the author and co-author of papers on citizens’ perceptions on sharing administrative health data, consumer involvement in health system research, and consumer engagement during COVID-19.
Prior to working at HCNSW, Anthony was the Manager of the Men’s Health Information and Resource Centre at Western Sydney University, overseeing research into men and boys’ engagement with health, community and aged care services. His PhD investigated men’s engagement in their communities following retirement.
Anthony is an Adjunct Fellow at the School of Science and Health at Western Sydney University, and a Visiting Fellow at ACHEEV at the University of Wollongong.
PHRN Participant Council
Dr Merran Smith chairs the PHRN Participant Council (the Council) which includes representatives from each PHRN Participant organisation. The Council advises the PHRN Board on strategy, policy, funding priorities, stakeholder engagement, performance and accountability.
The PHRN Participant Council’s Terms of Reference outline the purpose, structure and conduct of the Council.
Members
PHRN National Office
Dr Merran Smith (Chair)
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Ms Claire Sparke
NSW Ministry of Health
Dr Michelle Cretikos
Queensland Health
Ms Jodi Hallas
Sax Institute
Dr Matthew Gorringe
Tasmanian Department of Health
Mr Kyle Lowe (Acting)
University of South Australia for the SA NT DataLink Consortium
Dr Joshua Ross
Victorian Department of Health
Ms Kate Lucas
Western Australian Department of Health
Mr Nasir David
National Office
PHRN’s National Office is hosted onsite at the University of Western Australia. It leads national activities related to developing and operating data linkage infrastructure, including policy development, client services, contracts and finance, and a privacy consultancy. The PHRN also support training and education opportunities for technical data linkers, researchers, data custodians and Human Research Ethics Committee members.
Dr Merran Smith
Chief Executive
Qualifications: BSc, BA, MSc, PhD, Postgrad Dip (Bus), MAICD
Chief Executive of Australia’s Population Health Research Network since its inception, Dr Smith also chairs the PHRN Participant Council. She is a past Director of the International Population Data Linkage Network (2019-2020) and a current member of the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre Board.
Merran has an extensive background in science, health and economics with strengths in strategic leadership and many years’ experience in Australia’s health and research infrastructure systems. She is well-versed in data management and oversaw the WA Department of Health’s Health Information Centre for more than 10 years. While with the Department, she established data linkage as a core service and served on Australia’s peak national health information committees.
Dr Felicity Flack
Senior Manager, Strategy and Services
Qualifications: BSc (Hons), PhD, CF
Felicity provides strategic support to the Chief Executive and Board, develops national policies, and coordinates the national strategic planning process. She is also responsible for negotiating strategic partnerships with external collaborators who share common goals and managing communications for the national network.
Felicity has considerable national research data infrastructure, research ethics and governance experience, having worked in hospitals, research institutes and universities for more than 20 years.
Ms Alexandra Wood
Manager, Contracts and Finance
Qualifications: BCom, GradDipCA, CA ANZ, CPA Australia
Alexandra is currently on parental leave.
Ms Aggie Bouckley
Acting Manager, Contracts and Finance
Qualifications: BCom, CPA Australia
Aggie manages the reporting, contractual and financial arrangements for PHRN and the Program Office. She ensures obligations under Head Agreement with the Commonwealth are met and provides support to the Chief Executive and PHRN Board to facilitate the implementation of the PHRN strategic plan and national investment in data linkage infrastructure.
Aggie is also joint Operations Manager for The Raine Study, a longitudinal study based in WA where she has senior responsibility for all operational matters, including finance, human resources and corporate support. She also oversees all operational issues related to cohort follow-ups, data and biosample management, communications and participant engagement.
Dr Kate Miller
Senior Specialist, Science and Partnerships
Qualifications: BSc, MHP, PhD
Kate is PHRN’s Coordinator for Science and Partnerships. She implements strategic projects and establishes relationships with our partners, industry collaborations and participants. She has extensive experience facilitating training and developed the online Data Linkage Researcher Training and the Ethics and Data Linkage training provided by the PHRN.
Previously, Kate worked at the Telethon Kids Institute as an epidemiologist with the Strep A Vaccine Global Consortium. In this role she led the development of standardised surveillance protocols to provide standardised case definitions for diseases caused by Strep A and guide researchers with the design and planning of clinical trials to measure vaccine efficacy and safety.
Kate undertook her PhD at the UWA using linked data to explore the relationship between ultraviolet radiation and type 1 diabetes.
Dr Erika Hagemann
Coordinator, Client Services
Qualifications: BAppSc (Hons), PhD
Erika facilitates and promotes access to multi- and cross-jurisdictional linked data for researchers. She works collaboratively with client services officers across Australia, and key external and internal stakeholders, to coordinate the application and approval process. She also manages the PHRN Online Application System (OAS) and is involved in strategic projects and activities which aim to improve and enable innovative data linkage infrastructure and research capacity.
Erika has over 20 years’ experience conducting research projects and considerable experience in ethics, governance, research establishment, and management within research institutes, hospitals and universities. She has worked closely with a range of stakeholders including clinicians, community members, participants, researchers, students, service providers, data custodians, representatives from government departments, organisations and industry. Erika is driven to enable rigorous, impactful research that translates into better outcomes, policies and practice which improves people’s health and wellbeing.
Ms Mikhalina Dombrovskaya
Coordinator, Client Services
Qualifications: BBNSc (Hons), MPH
Together with Erika, Mikhalina advises researchers and coordinates the PHRN’s management of cross-jurisdictional research projects, including operation of the PHRN Online Application System. Maintaining positive relationships with our network of client service teams Australia-wide, she also promotes the PHRN’s cross-jurisdictional linkage capabilities to researchers, guiding research teams through the application and approvals process.
Mikhalina previously worked in health and medical research, as well as government. She has a keen interest in population health. In her role with the WA Department of Health, she helped clients navigate the complex pathways to gain access to linked administrative data for research purposes.
Ms Lauran Davis
Senior Legal Research Officer
Qualifications: LLB, BA, GDLP
Lauran undertakes legal research and reform activities on behalf of the PHRN. Her focus is on legal and ethical privacy considerations in data management and data linkage in Australia, and the efficacy and viability of existing and future governance and policy frameworks nationally and at a State and Territory level.
Lauran was admitted as a solicitor in 2018 and has previously worked for government as a solicitor in civil litigation and dispute resolution at the ACT Government Solicitors Office, providing advice to various government directorates including ACT Health. More recently, she worked in private practice with a focus on health (medical negligence) law. Lauran’s legal experience is complemented by her background in research, policy and law reform, facilitated by work and internships she has undertaken with Legal Aid and the Australian Parliament.
Mr Akhtar Ali
Data Management Officer
Qualifications: BSc(Hons), Avionics Engineering, MS Data Science
Akhtar supports the PHRN Metadata platform, where he coordinates the maintenance and expansion of the PHRN Metadata Platform. He ensures metadata quality control and remediation while integrating new data collections to support Australian researchers. Akhtar brings a strong background in health data analytics, having worked on large-scale public health programs with the World Health Organization in Pakistan, focusing on improving data quality and accessibility.
Previously, Akhtar played a key role in developing and implementing data quality improvement initiatives at the WHO, where he led the creation of standardised data collection and reporting procedures. He also implemented data quality monitoring and feedback mechanisms, which significantly enhanced the integrity of health data.
Dr Elysia Hollams
Project Manager (CROSS-Link)
Qualifications: BSc(Hons), PhD
Elysia joined the PHRN in November 2024 to facilitate the CROSS-Link project. She will establish an evidence-informed and co-designed framework for streamlined, efficient and routine linkage of clinical quality registries data with administrative data.
Elysia has over 30 years’ experience in the medical research sector. After obtaining a PhD in cancer molecular biology from the University of WA, Elysia spent 15 years investigating the immune drivers of asthma in longitudinal birth cohorts such as the Raine Study. She has since worked in multidisciplinary research management – establishing governance frameworks and providing project management support in a collaborative research scheme at the Telethon Kids Institute – and in clinical trial management, supporting studies related to infectious diseases and vaccines.
Ms Helen Pelusey
Administrative Officer
Qualifications: MA
Helen is responsible for all administrative functions including financial activities, event and travel organisation. She provides executive support for senior staff, the Board, Participant Council and the NCRIS Health Group.
Helen has extensive experience as a senior administration officer in a research environment. She also holds a Masters in Interpreting and Translating (French and German) from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
Ms Nikki Liley
Communications Officer
Qualifications: BA, GDipSoc, GDipJourn
Nikki promotes the PHRN and related research nationally and internationally. She produces content for social media, quarterly newsletters and the annual review and manages the website. She engages with PHRN stakeholders through NCRIS Health Communications and NCRIS Communications meetings and manages the logistics for webinars and other events.
Previously, Nikki provided freelance communications and worked for various government departments and health-related institutions including the Department of Health WA, the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.