Gail Garvey joins the Sax Institute Board

The Sax Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Gail Garvey AM to its Board.

Professor Garvey is a proud Kamilaroi woman, NHMRC Research Leadership Fellow, and Professor of Indigenous Health Research at the University of Queensland. She leads research focused on improving cancer outcomes and wellbeing for Australia’s First Nations people, including the TACTICS Centre of Research Excellence.

Originally trained as a teacher, Professor Garvey began her research career at the University of Newcastle in the 1990s where she was one of the first researchers to examine issues around the recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical students. Since then, Professor Garvey’s work – including more than 180 published papers – has informed national health policy for First Nations Australians. She also helped to establish the National Indigenous Cancer Network in 2013 and the inaugural World Indigenous Cancer Conference in 2016.

Professor Garvey says she looked forward to supporting Aboriginal-led research at the Sax Institute.

“I’m excited to join the Board of an organisation with a strong commitment to collaborating with Aboriginal communities and improving health outcomes of First Nations Australians. Throughout my career, I’ve ensured First Nations voices are central to decision-making in research, health and policy. I believe my experience in collaboration can help broaden the Sax Institute’s scope of its research and policy contributions for Aboriginal communities.”

The Sax Institute’s Aboriginal Health program has helped run SEARCH, an Aboriginal community led study of 1600 children and their families, since 2008. In recent years, the Aboriginal Health program has helped deliver research and evaluation that addresses ageing, cancer care, food insecurity and breastfeeding.

Dr Scott Winch, Sax Institute Head of Aboriginal Health and proud Wiradjuri man, said Dr Garvey’s leadership and experience will help strengthen the impact of its Aboriginal Health program.

“It’s an exciting time for the Sax Institute as we continue to harness the capabilities of the institute to provide innovative approaches to research, evaluation and policy contributions for Aboriginal communities,” Dr Winch says. “The leadership and guidance of Professor Garvey will be invaluable to our work.”

Sax Institute CEO Dr Martin McNamara says that he’s proud to see the Board now include a First Nations director, after Dr Winch joined the Institute in 2024. “The Sax Institute is committed to supporting Aboriginal-led research that improves outcomes for First Nations Australians. Having Aboriginal leadership at the Institute is vital to our success.”

The Sax Institute Board comprises Dr Ian Pollard AM (Chair) as well as six directors – Mark Booth, Kim Anderson, Professor Gail Garvey AM, Robin Low, Professor David Preen and Professor David Whiteman AM – plus Sax Institute CEO Dr Martin McNamara.