Sax Institute welcomes Dr Martin McNamara as incoming CEO

The Board of the Sax Institute is delighted to announce today the appointment of Dr Martin McNamara as the organisation’s next CEO.

Dr McNamara is an experienced health executive who has led the Institute’s Research Assets Division for six years and served as Deputy CEO since 2018.

His appointment follows the decision by current CEO Professor Sally Redman AO to retire at the end of the year. Dr McNamara’s appointment will commence in January 2023.

Chair of the Sax Institute’s Board, Professor Ian Olver AM, said Dr McNamara’s appointment would usher in the next phase of the Institute’s growth and extended reach.

“The Sax Institute is an Evidence Specialist – it exists to increase the uptake of evidence into policy, with the ultimate goal of helping to secure safe and effective health services, and good health for all Australians,” Professor Olver said.

“Through his leadership at the Sax Institute, including as Chief Investigator of the Institute’s world-renowned 45 and Up Study, Dr McNamara has demonstrated an agile and innovative approach to working collaboratively with governments and others to help generate and apply evidence to inform health policy challenges.”

Dr McNamara will take over as CEO from Professor Redman, who has led the Institute since it was created 20 years ago. During Professor Redman’s tenure, the Institute became a globally recognised voice on the translation of research evidence into policy, and has developed numerous nationally significant programs including the 45 and Up Study.

Professor Olver congratulated Professor Redman on her achievements in establishing the Institute as a trusted and respected source of expertise on the appropriate use of evidence to support effective policy decisions.

“The Sax Institute is deeply fortunate to have benefited from Professor Redman’s wisdom and expertise over the past 20 years,” Professor Olver said.

Dr McNamara said he was honoured to take over as CEO and looked forward to working closely with the Institute’s Members and partners to draw on Australia’s best research expertise to answer difficult health policy challenges.

“The health challenges of the past two years have reinforced the value and role of evidence-based policy in responding effectively and promptly to emerging health policy issues, and getting best value for Australia’s investments in research and innovation,” Dr McNamara said.

“The Sax Institute works closely with researchers and with policy makers to understand what gaps exist in the evidence base and how to generate or apply new evidence to help answer emerging questions. I look forward to continuing this work in coming months and years.”