Our People

A message from our CEO

I have witnessed the increasingly competitive environment for research grants, with a growing number of researchers competing for limited resources.  The number of high-quality research and patient care projects presented to our Scientific Committee each year far exceeds the awarded grants.

Through the support of our generous donors, we aim to lift our annual grants awarded to meet the increasing demand and continue to drive forward innovative research projects that have the potential to transform lives.

We look forward to sharing research outcomes with you.

Katie Viviers
CEO St Vincent’s Clinic
Advisory Board St Vincent’s Clinic Research Foundation

Championing
those who are

unlocking medical breakthroughs

We passionately believe that high-quality research underpins high-quality clinical care, so we provide funding and support for medical research across St Vincent’s Darlinghurst campus.

Structured

for success.

St Vincent’s Clinic Research Foundation’s independent Scientific Committee assesses all applications for research funding grants, ensuring we support the best projects and recommends them to the Board.

Advisory Board

Our Advisory Board comprises individuals with extensive experience and connections in medical research, investment banking, real estate, retail, and the NFP sectors. Their expertise is instrumental in guiding our strategic direction.

Associate Professor Brett Courtenay

President, Advisory Board

A/Prof Courtenay is an Orthopedic Surgeon whose practice is on St Vincent’s Campus. He has been a VMO at St Vincent’s Hospital since 1984…

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Mrs Elizabeth Lewin

Treasurer, Advisory Board

Mrs Lewin (nee Cacciottolo) is a professional company director with extensive international experience in the financial services sector across investment banking…

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Mr Russell Aboud

Member, Advisory Board

Russell Aboud has worked in the global investment industry, both locally and internationally, for over 35 years.  

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Mr Leigh Birtles

Member, Advisory Board

As the senior member of Crestone’s largest advisory team, Leigh provides investment advice to ultra-high net worth families, family offices and professional organisations. 

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Mr Michael Coombes

Member, Advisory Board

Michael Coombes is the Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director of Coombes Property Group and brings more than 25 years of experience…

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Ms Gail Hambly

Chair, SVC Board

Ms Hambly is an experienced executive and non-executive director of not for profit, listed and unlisted companies. Her professional training is as a commercial and media…

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Mr Albert Edward Harris

Member, Advisory Board

Mr Harris has been chairman or a director on the board of a number of companies including many government and public organisations. 

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Ms Mim Haysom

Member, Advisory Board

Ms Haysom has extensive experience in brand and marketing, building brands both locally and internationally.

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Dr Alan Meagher

Member, Advisory Board

Dr Meagher is a colorectal surgeon currently practicing at St Vincent’s Clinic, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney and St Vincent’s Public Hospital Sydney.  

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Matthew-Miles

Dr Matthew Miles

Member, Advisory Board

Matthew has had extensive experience in the tertiary, member‐based and NFP sectors at the Executive and Board levels.

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Mrs Roslyn Packer, AC

Member, Advisory Board

Mrs Packer has been personally associated with St Vincent’s Hospital for over 45 years and has served on the Board of St Vincent’s Private Hospital as Patron of the Ladies Committee,

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Ms Katie Viviers

CEO & Secretary, Advisory Board

Ms Viviers is the CEO of St Vincent’s Clinic. Through a number of senior roles across a range of organisations in the health, charity, financial and IT sectors..

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Office
438 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst  NSW  2010 

Email
svcresearchfoundation@svha.org.au

Call us

Tel: 02 8382 6405

Fax:  02 8382 6402 

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We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of this country, including the Gadigal people of the Eora nation – whose lands on which this Clinic is built, and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders’s past, present and emerging.

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Associate Professor Brett Courtenay, OAM

President, Advisory Board

A/Prof Courtenay is an Orthopedic Surgeon whose practice is on St Vincent’s Campus. He has been a VMO at St Vincent’s Hospital since 1984. His early residency was at St Vincent’s Hospital, commencing in 1975 and he finished the orthopedic training scheme at St Vincent’s Hospital in 1982. He is involved with many committees at St Vincent’s Hospital and NSW Health. After leaving the Clinical staff at the Public hospital at the end of 2016, he is a HMO and now the Chair of the Medical and Dental Advisory Committee. He is active in the Australian Army Medical Corps having been deployed to the Solomon Islands, Timor, Banda Aceh and Afghanistan. 

He currently holds the rank of Colonel and was the Senior Medical Officer and Chair of Clinical Governance for the 2nd Division of the Army until his retirement. He has been appointed as the Honorary Colonel of the Medical Corps for the Eastern Region. He is a former director of MBF Australia Group and was part of the corporate governance leading to its sale to BUPA. He received the OAM in June 2016 for services to Orthopaedic Medicine and teaching. He holds Associate Professor Conjoint appointments at UNSW and Notre Dame Medical Schools.

Mrs Elizabeth Lewin

Treasurer, Advisory Board

Mrs Lewin (nee Cacciottolo) is a professional company director with extensive international experience in the financial services sector across investment banking, wealth management, investment management and superannuation.

She is a Non-Executive Director of Argo Investment Limited. Prior executive roles included Chief Executive Officer of UBS Wealth Management Australia (2005 -2009) and Head of UBS Wealth Management UK (1999-2004) and Head of the European Derivative business in UBS Investment Bank UK (1992-1998).

She is a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Non-Executive Director of Kaldor Public Art Projects, a member of Chief Executive Women (CEW) for more than fifteen years and an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Fund (AEIF).

Mrs Lewin is also a private philanthropist providing philanthropic support in areas including indigenous education, means tested scholarships for education, support for youth at risk, social programs that can help end poverty and empower women, medical research, and the arts, particularly where the arts and education to underprivileged communities intersect.

Special Responsibilities: Treasurer, Finance & Investment Committee and Member, Fundraising Committee

Mr Russell Aboud

Trustee

Russell Aboud has worked in the global investment industry, both locally and internationally, for over 35 years. After graduating from Sydney University with MBBS (1980), Russell worked in hospital and private practice medicine for six years. In 1986 he made a career change into the finance industry. Between 1986 and 2003, he worked as an executive at UBS Global Investment Bank and predecessor firms in various senior roles in Sydney and London. After retiring from UBS in London in 2003 and returning to Australia, Russell took several non‐executive roles.

These included – Director Australian Securities Exchange (ASX Ltd) 2005‐2013, Chairman Ord Minnett 2005‐2009, Senior Advisor JP Morgan Australia 2005‐2008, Non‐Executive Director George Institute for Global Health 2014‐2018, Advisory Board member Adamantem Capital (2016 to present).

In 2008 Russell co‐founded Manikay Partners – a New York‐based global multi‐ strategy hedge fund. In 2020 retired from Manikay Partners. He currently lives in Sydney involved in private investments.

Mr Leigh Birtles

Member, Advisory Board

As the senior member of Crestone’s largest advisory team, Leigh provides investment advice to ultra-high net worth families, family offices and professional organisations. Leigh is a Senior Partner and a member of the Crestone Wealth Management Executive Committee since 2015. Prior to Crestone, he worked at UBS Wealth Management for over 14 years as an investment adviser and Executive Director and Merrill Lynch Wealth Management from 1998-2002.

Leigh has supported various charitable organisations including the Development Committee of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, SOHN Hearts & Minds Investment Leaders Conference and the LBW Trust.

Special Responsibilities: Member, Finance & Investment Committee and Member, Fundraising Committee

Mr Michael Coombes

Member, Advisory Board

Michael Coombes is the Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director of Coombes Property Group and brings more than 25 years of experience in investment and development to his role of steering the growth of the group’s portfolio.

He joined his family’s enterprise in 2002 upon returning to Sydney from New York, where he had worked as part of Babcock & Brown’s investment banking team specialising in structured finance. Previously, Michael worked with Babcock & Brown in Sydney in the property investment banking division of Macquarie Bank and the property management division of Lend Lease in Sydney.

Michael holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from the University of NSW and a Diploma in Business (Valuation).

Ms Gail Hambly

Chair, St Vincent’s Clinic Board

Ms Hambly is an experienced executive and non-executive director of not for profit, listed and unlisted companies. Her professional training is as a commercial and media lawyer with extensive experience in intellectual property, business sales and acquisitions and initial public offerings. She has combined her legal skills with executive and Board experience in the integration of digital technology, cultural change and new business models.


Ms Hambly was for more than 25 years a senior executive and Group General Counsel and Company Secretary of Fairfax Media Limited, with responsibility for legal services, business acquisitions and divestments, government and corporate relations and communications, ASX and Corporations Law compliance, Board governance and the internal audit and risk function across the Fairfax Group and a member of the key executive team that led the growth and development of new Fairfax businesses including Trade Me, Domain, Stan Entertainment, RSVP, and its other digital businesses.

Ms Hambly is presently Chair of the Board of Directors of St Vincent’s Clinic, Chair of Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership (a partnership between Monash University, the Myer Foundation and the Vincent Fairfax Fellowship), a director of Australian Associated Press Ltd and The Story Factory. Her previous directorships include Vend Limited; Domain Holdings Limited; Trade Me Limited; Stan Entertainment Pty Ltd; Belvoir Theatre Company and Copyco Pty Ltd.


Special Responsibilities: Chair, Board of Directors

Mr Albert Edward Harris, AC, Queen’s Silver Jubilee Medal

Member, Advisory Board

Mr Harris has been chairman or a director on the board of a number of companies including many government and public organisations. He has previously serviced on the Regional Board of St Vincent’s Hospital and the Boards of St Vincent’s Private Hospital and St Vincent’s Clinic. Mr Harris is a Member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Ms Mim Haysom

Member, Advisory Board

Ms Haysom has extensive experience in brand and marketing, building brands both locally and internationally.

She is currently the Executive General Manager of Brand & Marketing at Suncorp Group, an ASX top 20 listed company with both bank and insurance brands.

Prior to Suncorp, she has held leadership roles in some of Australia’s largest advertising agencies, including M&C Saatchi and TBWA, with clients including Commbank, ANZ, Optus, and Woolworths.

In 2019 she achieved GAICD status and is currently an active speaker, mentor, and member of the Advisory Board for Wheelchair Rugby Australia, and the Australian Data Driven Marketing Association.
Special Responsibilities: Member, Fundraising Committee

Special Responsibilities: Member, Fundraising Committee

Dr Alan Meagher

Member, Advisory Board

Dr Meagher is a colorectal surgeon currently practicing at St Vincent’s Clinic, St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney and St Vincent’s Public Hospital Sydney.  His particular areas of specialty include colonoscopy quality standards and anal cancer.

Dr Meagher graduated from the University of New South Wales (M.B. B.S. (Hons)) in 1984, became a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons (General Surgery) in 1990, completed the Australian Colo-Rectal Training Program in 1991-1992 and was a Mayo Academic Fellow in Colon and Rectal Surgery in 1993 (Mayo Clinic, Rochester USA).  Since joining St Vincent’s as an intern in 1984, Dr Meagher’s has spent most of his working life on the St Vincent’s Darlinghurst campus.

He has been the Supervisor Surgical Training at St Vincent’s Hospital, Secretary Division of Surgery, Chairman of the St Vincent’s Private Hospital Medical Board, Chairman of the Sydney Colorectal Society and a member of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australasia Foundation and is currently the Chairman of the Diagnostic Endoscopy Unit of St Vincents Clinic Medical Advisory Committee.  He has authored, co-authored over 90 academic articles.

Dr Matthew Miles

Member, Advisory Board

Matthew Miles is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Assistance Dogs Australia.  A national NFP that helps Australians living with physical and mental disabilities.  He was previously CEO of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and CEO of MS Research Australia. 

Matthew has experience leading large organisations of over $100m per annum and more than 500 staff, as well as smaller NFPs with a $10m turnover and 20 staff. He has extensive leadership, fundraising, executive management, media, finance, marketing, operations and sponsorship experience.  He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Managers and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  He has a Master’s (MBA) degree from the Australian Graduate School of Management (AGSM) at UNSW.

His fundraising experience includes major gift experience at UNSW Medicine, where he increased the annual revenue from $100,000 annually to $10 million just five years later.  MS Research Australia doubled its fundraising revenue under his leadership when in 2019, he co-founded The May 50k, a digital-based fitness and fundraising challenge. 

Since its launch, The May 50k has raised over $14 million in Australia ($17.4 million, including global contributions).  In 2021, MS Research Australia won the Prime Awards NGO of the Year thanks to the success of The May 50k, and the virtual challenge also won the FIA Award for Impact through Events.

In 2015, he was awarded the Harvard Club of Australia NFP Fellowship and was shortlisted for the CEO Magazine NFP CEO of the Year in 2016.  During his tenure as CEO, MS Research Australia was named Charity of the Year in 2015 by the Australian Business Awards and the Telstra Charity of the Year in 2017.  It was the first charity to win a Telstra Business Award when it was also named the Telstra NSW Business of the Year in 2017. 

Matthew is a former MSIF Board Director and the Chair of the Fundraising Committee.  He is a Council Member of the Harvard Club of Australia, overseeing the mentoring stream.  He is also a member of the Raise Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Mrs Roslyn Packer, AC

Member, Advisory Board

Mrs Packer has been personally associated with St Vincent’s Hospital for over 45 years and has served on the Board of St Vincent’s Private Hospital as Patron of the Ladies Committee, the Centenary Committee of St Vincent’s Private Hospital and the Board of Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute. Mrs Packer has a strong interest and many years experience in the arts and charitable organisations.

She currently serves on the National Gallery of Australia Foundation Board and the Opera Australia Capital Fund Board and her previous appointments have included the Board of Directors of the Sydney Festival and membership of the Advisory Committee for Christies Australia Limited.

Ms Katie Viviers

CEO & Secretary, Advisory Board

Ms Viviers is the CEO of St Vincent’s Clinic. Through a number of senior roles across a range of organisations in the health, charity, financial and IT sectors, Katie brings extensive skills and experience in operational and strategic planning, business development, financial management and stakeholder engagement. She is committed to leading the strategic and operational management of St Vincent’s Clinic, St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation and Open Support.

Ms Viviers holds Bachelor and Masters degrees in science from Sydney University and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management. She is passionate about delivering excellence in clinical care, research and the mission of the Clinic.

Special Responsibilities: Member, Finance & Investment Committee, Member, Fundraising Committee and Company Secretary