Kirby Institute External Advisory Committee

Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO (Chair)

Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO is an urbanist, businesswoman and philanthropist with a longstanding interest in cities, culture, technological and social innovation and Australian research and commercialisation. Lucy is a Director of Turnbull and Partners Pty Ltd, a family owned business which invests in earlier stage innovative enterprises. 

From 2021–23, Lucy was the Chair of the Sydney Opera House Trust. From 2015–20, she was the inaugural Chief Commissioner of the Greater Sydney Commission, tasked by the NSW state government to assist in delivering strong and effective strategic planning for the whole of metropolitan Sydney. From 2003–4, she was Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney, the first woman ever to hold the position. She has held many other board roles in the not-for-profit and private sector.

The Hon Linda Burney 

The Hon Linda Burney is a proud Wiradjuri woman who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to advancing the inclusions of First Nations peoples within Australia’s public institutions, ensuring they are inclusive, representative and responsive to the communities they serve.

Linda is a highly respected leader, having been the first First Nations woman elected to the NSW Parliament, the Australian House of Representatives and appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians.

Before her parliamentary career, Linda worked as a teacher in Western Sydney and later served as President of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, where she played a significant role in the development of Australia’s first Aboriginal education policy. 

Professor Cheryl Jones MBBS (Hons) PhD FRACP FAHMS

Professor Cheryl Jones is Dean UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health, a Paediatric Infectious Diseases Physician and an internationally recognised clinician scientist. Her research in emerging infections of the brain and childhood infections has changed global policy and practice. She has obtained over 35 million AUD in research funding and published over 180 articles. 

She is a Director of the AMC, AAHMS, Victor Chang CRI, NeuRA, BDI, CCI, Mindgardens Neuroscience Network, RHIP and the Ramsay Health Research Foundation. She has held executive roles in multiple national statutory authorities, professional societies (RACP, ASID, MDANZ), and international research societies and NGOs (WHO expert consultations). She was made a life member of the Australian Society for Infectious Diseases in 2022 and was made a Fellow of the AAHMS in 2018.

Professor Dane McCamey 

Professor Dane McCamey is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at UNSW Sydney, where he advances the University’s research strategy and champions initiatives that drive excellence and innovation. He works to strengthen UNSW’s global research profile, foster impactful partnerships (including with affiliated research institutes) and ensure the highest standards in research ethics, compliance and safety. 

Dane also oversees strategic and operational support for grants and contract research, helping researchers turn ideas into real-world impact.

With a background in experimental quantum physics, Dane’s research explores the frontiers of quantum technologies. His work underpins UBIQUT Pty Ltd, a company developing ubiquitous quantum sensing solutions. In 2025, he was awarded the Barry Inglis Medal by the Australian National Measurement Institute.

Adjunct Professor Darryl O’Donnell
 

Adjunct Professor Darryl O’Donnell is a seasoned health leader with 30 years’ experience in community, government, research and private sector roles. As Principal and Director of Praxis Insights, he provides consultancy services to health and social services organisations in areas including leadership, strategy and organisational culture and change.

Darryl is a member of Council with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and inaugural chair of the joint NHMRC and Medical Research Futures Fund Public Health and Health Systems Committee. He serves on the Podiatry Board of Australia and Ahpra’s Finance, Audit and Risk Committee. He contributes to health practitioner registration matters and complaints as a member of Podiatry and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia committees.

Darryl has led transformative initiatives in HIV and mental health across government and community sectors. As CEO of Health Equity Matters, he led Australia's HIV response, brokering reforms that have halved incidence and put Australia on track to end HIV transmission. Darryl’s experience includes roles on ministerial and intergovernmental committees and directorships with not-for-profit organisations. He has also worked extensively with multilateral organisations and led global health partnerships with community organisations and government in Asia and the Pacific.

Darryl is an Adjunct Professor with the Kirby Institute at the University of NSW, a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

The Hon Jillian Skinner AM

Jillian Skinner retired from state politics in 2017 after six years as NSW Minister for Health and 14 years as Shadow Minister. She was also the first stand-alone Minister for Medical Research in NSW. In those roles, Jillian created a more unified health sector by focusing on local decision making, boosting the clinical workforce, investing in infrastructure, and providing record recurrent spending to deliver tens of thousands additional emergency department treatments, hospital admissions and elective surgeries.

Jillian was noted for her commitment to health and medical research, particularly her support for innovative treatments arising from new understanding of disease and best models of care. She also championed social policy programs including community-based preventive programs, increased organ donation, better access to pain management, improved palliative care and elimination of the transmission of HIV. Jillian has continued her passion for health through numerous part time engagements. She has been awarded three honorary doctorates, from Macquarie University, Sydney University and the University of NSW in recognition of her contribution to healthcare and health policy in NSW.

Jillian began her career as a journalist in Melbourne, has run her own business, worked in the public sector, and served on many community and advisory bodies. Since retiring from Parliament and as NSW Health Minister, Jillian continues her involvement in health-related activities, serving on a number of boards and advisory groups.

Scientia Professor Anthony Kelleher PhD, MBBS, FRACP, FRCPA

Scientia Professor Anthony (Tony) Kelleher is an internationally recognised clinician scientist and Director of the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney. He has worked at the interface of the research laboratory and clinical research for over 30 years. His practice as a clinical immunologist and links to the community have informed his research agenda. 

His approach to building and fostering cross-sector partnerships have informed his leadership positions including as the inaugural leader of both the Infection, Immunology and Inflammation theme of the UNSW Faculty of Medicine and Health and the aligned clinical academic group (Triple I) within SPHERE. The success of these enterprises has been central to the growth of the research output of UNSW Medicine and Health by increasing success across a range of research funding streams and underpinning its ability to pivot to respond to COVID-19.