Professor Fabienne Mackay, Director
Professor Fabienne Mackay began as Director of SVI in August 2026, having previously served as Director and CEO of QIMR Berghofer.
Her career has also included leadership roles at Monash University, where she was Head and Chair of the Department of Immunology, and at the University of Melbourne, where she led the School of Biomedical Sciences.
She is internationally recognised for her contributions to medical science and her commitment to research that delivers real-world impact.
Professor Natalie Sims, Deputy Director
Professor Natalie Sims is Deputy Director of SVI, Head of the Institute’s Bone Biology and Disease Unit, and Honorary Professorial Fellow at The University of Melbourne.
Since starting her PhD at The University of Adelaide in 1990, she has worked to discover new treatments for common skeletal conditions such as osteoporosis and arthritis, as well as rarer disorders, like osteogenesis imperfecta, that affect the way the skeleton is formed.
After her PhD, she worked at The Garvan Institute, and then trained at Yale University’s School of Medicine, USA before returning to Australia in 2001.
She is internationally recognised as a leader of bone research. Her team currently investigates the way that cells within the skeleton communicate with each other to produce bone of optimal shape and strength.
Associate Professor Andrew Deans, Associate Director
Andrew is an Associate Director of SVI and Head of the Institute’s Genome Stability Unit. His research is focused on gene editing, and the cellular process of DNA repair.
Andrew completed his PhD at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, where he developed expertise relating to role of the cell cycle and DNA repair development and treatment of breast cancer. He did postdoctoral research (2006-2011) with Professor Steve West at the London Research Institute. During this time, he published several papers on the role of DNA repair proteins in familial cancer syndromes such as Fanconi Anaemia and Bloom Syndrome.
In 2012, Andrew joined SVI. His current research is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision, US Department of Defense, and industry partnerships. Andrew was recipient of the 2017 David Frohnmayer award, for his pioneering work on the biochemical reconstitution of the Fanconi Anaemia DNA repair process.
Dr Nathalie Braussaud, Chief Operating Officer
With more than twenty years of experience in the pharmaceutical and medical research industry, Nathalie is a results-driven leader who excels at driving operational excellence and influencing change across organisations. She has a strong track record of building and developing high-performing teams while delivering on organisational strategies.
Prior to her role at SVI she was the Head of Scientific Operations at the Florey and a Research Leader in the pharmaceutical industry where she has consistently delivered results and implemented strategic initiatives.
Nathalie is a Graduate of The Australian Institute of Management, holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Aachen (Germany) and a Master of Physical Chemistry from the University of Bordeaux (France).
Ms Nicky Harris, CFO & Company Secretary
As CFO and Company Secretary, Nicky leads the Institute’s financial strategy, performance and reporting, oversees governance, risk management, investment management, banking, procurement and payroll with the aim of ensuring the ongoing sustainability and growth of both individual labs and the overall organisation. Nicky has a keen focus on transformational process and system improvements.
Prior to joining the Institute in 2019, Nicky worked in the Commercial sector in both large ASX listed and SME Private Equity owned organisations. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Otago NZ, is CA qualified and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Philippa Hetzel, Director, NRL
A highly experienced senior executive leading and transforming health services (national and state) in a regulated health industry, Philippa is the Director of NRL.
Prior to her role at SVI, Philippa held senior executive roles at The Australian Red Cross Blood Services, National Blood Authority and Ernst & Young.
A graduate of Harvard Business School, Philippa also has a Masters in Health Administration from Flinders University and a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from University of Adelaide.
Dr Anne Johnston, Chief of Staff
Anne is responsible for identification and execution of strategic opportunities for SVI with the aim of enhancing research impact and ensuring the Institute’s ongoing sustainability. She leads SVI’s Philanthropy, Communications, Business Development and Grants teams. She is passionate about delivering the Institute’s vision of medical discoveries that transform lives.
Anne holds a PhD in Medical Biology from the University of Melbourne and has worked in France and Italy as a scientist and a communications expert.