Operations & Governance
Spinifex Network Steering Committee
Professor Warren Payne
Co-Convenor, Spinifex Network,
Executive Director, Western Alliance Health Research
Sarah is the Convenor of the Clinical Leadership Group for the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre, an NHMRC accredited Centre for Innovation in Regional Health.
Professor Sarah Larkins
Co-Convenor, Spinifex Network,
Director, Research Development
DTHM, James Cook University
Convenor, Clinical Leadership Group
Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre
Dr Leisa McCarthy
Co-Convenor, Spinifex Network,
Executive Director, Central Australia Academic Health Science Network
Professor Robyn Aitken
Deputy Dean Rural and Remote Health, Flinders University
Mr David Bunker
Executive Director, Diamantina Health Partners
Associate Professor Tony Barnett
University of Tasmania
Ms Claire Bekema
Pharmacy Workforce Advisor, Pharmacy Guild of Australia
Professor Alan Cass
Director, Menzies School of Health Research
Dr Lou Conway
Director, University of New England SMART Region Incubator
Mr Brendon Douglas
Vice Chancellors’ Fellow, Innovative Research Universities
Dr Marianne Gillam
Research Fellow, University of South Australia
Dr Rebecca Haddock
Director, Deeble Institute for Health Policy Research
Dr Mitch Hartman
Executive Officer, Strategic Initiatives, Telethon Kids Institute
Dr Vivian Isaac
Flinders Rural Health SA, Flinders University
Professor Jonathan Karnon
FHMRI Deputy Director, Flinders University
Professor James Smith
Deputy Dean Rural and Remote Health – NT
Matthew Flinders Professor (Health and Social Equity)
College of Medicine & Public Health
Ms Wendy Keech
Chief Executive Officer, Health Translation SA
Professor Jennifer May
Director of Rural Health, University of Newcastle
Dr Lisa McFayden
Interim Director, NSW Regional Health Partners
Dr Alice Munro
Director of Research, Western NSW LHD
Dr Gabrielle O’Kane
Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Health Alliance
Dr Belinda O’Sullivan
Research Fellow, Rural Clinical School, University of Queensland
Professor Julian Grant
Professor of Nursing – Associate Head of School Research and Graduate Studies.
School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences – Charles Sturt University
Professor Christine Phillips
Medical School, Australian National University
Associate Professor
Jane Quinn
A/Prof in Veterinary Physiology, Charles Sturt University
Professor Suzanne Robinson
Theme Leader for Health Systems and Health Economics, Curtin University
Ms Michelle Rothwell
Rural Advisor, Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia
Professor Timothy Skinner
Director, University Department Rural Health, La Trobe University
Professor Anthony Smith
Centre for Health Services Research, University of QLD
Dr Olutoyin Sowole
Visiting Scholar, UTS
Ms Anne Steele
Department of Health, Western Australia
Professor Sandra Thompson
Director, Western Australian Centre for Rural Health
Associate Professor Vincent Versace
Director, Deakin Rural Health, Deakin University
Professor John Wakerman
Professor of Remote and Rural Health Services Research, Menzies School of Health Research
Professor Kim Usher
Professor of Nursing in the School of Health, University of New England
Associate Professor Matthew McGrail
Head Regional Training Hub Research, Rural Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland
Ms Joanne Hutchinson
National Director, Australian Rural Health Education Network
Professor Marion Gray
Senior Associate Dean (Academic Transformation), Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences, University of Southern Queensland
Spinifex Network Operational Committee:
Professor Warren Payne
Professor Sarah Larkins
Dr Leisa McCarthy
Dr Lisa McFayden
Professor Jennifer May
Ms Anne Steele
Professor Kim Usher
Spinifex Network Governance Sub-Committee:
Chair: Professor Warren Payne
Dr Gabrielle O’Kane
Professor Sarah Larkins
Associate Professor Jane Quinn
Past Co-Convenors
Christine is Director of NSW Regional Health Partners, an NHMRC accredited Centre for Innovation in Regional Health.
Professor Christine Jorm
Past Co-Convenor, Spinifex Network, Director, NSW Regional Health Partners
Chips is Executive Director of the Central Australian Academic Health Science Network, an NHMRC accredited Centre for Innovation in Regional Health.
Mr Chips Mackinolty
Past Co-Convenor, Spinifex Network, Executive Director, Central Australia Academic Health Science Network