
Governance
Sydney Health Partners is an unincorporated joint venture of its 15 partner organisations
In 2020 a review led to the establishment of a Board to replace the Governing Council and detailed changes to the governance structure to enhance guidance of our operations.
Led by our Chair, Professor Mary O’Kane AC, the Board provides clear direction to the management team, while the Research and Clinical Issues Committees provide expert advice to inform the agenda of the Board.
This structure encourages connectivity and collaboration from top to bottom to achieve our vision of transforming the way research improves patient care and public health.
Providing oversight and guidance to the Board is the Board Chairs and Vice Chancellor’s Group, which meets twice a year to discuss Sydney Health Partners.

Sydney Health Partners Board
Professor Mary O'Kane AC
Board Chair
Professor O'Kane has an exceptional breadth and depth of experience in innovation, research and public policy. As a computer engineer Professor O’Kane undertook pioneering work in artificial intelligence and was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Adelaide from 1996-2001. Between 2008-18 Professor O’Kane served as New South Wales’ first Chief Scientist and Engineer, during which she was instrumental in establishing the NSW Medical Devices Fund.

Dr Teresa Anderson AM
Chief Executive, Sydney Local Health District
Professor Carol Armour
Executive Director, The Woolcock Institute of Medical Research
Professor Phil O’Connell
Executive Director, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research
Cathryn Cox PSM
Chief Executive, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
Elizabeth Koff
Secretary, NSW Health
Mohit Kumar
(Consumer Representative), Sergeant Police Prosecutor, NSW Police
Graeme Loy
Chief Executive, Western Sydney Local Health District
Professor Don Nutbeam
Executive Director, Sydney Health Partners
Professor Roger Reddel
Director, Children’s Medical Research Institute
Professor Carolyn Sue AM
Director, Kolling Institute of Medical Research
Professor Robyn Ward AM
Executive Dean and Pro Vice-Chancellor, Medicine and Health
Deborah Willcox
Chief Executive, Northern Sydney Local Health District
Research Committee
Professor Warwick Britton
Centenary Institute
Professor Mark Rees
University of Sydney
Professor Chris Cowell
Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (at Westmead)
Professor Cheryl Jones
University of Sydney
Professor David Le Couteur
ANZAC Research Institute
Professor Philip O’Connell
The Westmead Institute
Professor Carolyn Sue
Kolling Institute
Associate Professor Vicki Taylor
Sydney Local Health District