Board & Governance

Dr Stephen Rodda is the Chief Innovation & Commercialisation Officer at The University of Adelaide. Dr Rodda has more than 20 years of experience in the areas of scientific research, research management, technology commercialisation, investment management and corporate governance. He is passionate about the successful translation of research into outcomes that deliver social and economic benefit to our communities. Educated at the University of Adelaide, he gained a first-class honours degree, a PhD in Biochemistry and was awarded the University Medal. Subsequently he was awarded the prestigious CJ Martin and Arthritis Foundation fellowships for post-doctoral training at Harvard University. Dr Rodda holds an MBA, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has undertaken the Advanced Management Program (AMP) at the Harvard Business School. Dr Rodda also serves as Chair of Sparc Hydrogen Pty Ltd (and incorporated joint venture with Sparc Technologies Ltd (ASX: SPN), Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (ASX: FMG) and as a Non-Executive Director of Greenhill Energy Pty Ltd and as a Non-Executive Director of Adelaide Health Innovation Partnership Inc (AHIP Inc).

John MacPhail has more than 30 years’ experience working in commercial law in firms in London, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide as an intellectual property and technology law specialist. He is a past President of the Copyright Society of Australia, and taught part-time as a postgraduate university law lecturer and professional examiner on intellectual property subjects at postgraduate level. As a practising lawyer he advises clients working in a wide range of industries, particularly medical and healthcare, biotechnology, wine, retail, sports, education and research, marketing and sponsorship, and ITC. John is also Chair of THRF Group’s Governance and Risk Sub-Committee, sits on the Information Technology and Cyber Security Sub-Committee, and THRFG – Parkinson’s (formerly Parkinson’s SA) Board of Governors.

Brigadier Alison Creagh AM CSC (Ret’d) is a Defence Ambassador for the Australian Capital Territory, a member of the ACT Defence Industry Advisory Board and a member of the AustCyber Canberra Node Industry Advisory Group. She is also a strategic adviser to the UNSW Defence Research Institute and has been an Adjunct Lecturer and at the University of New South Wales Canberra in Cyber Security.

Brigadier Creagh is Chair of the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council for Veterans and their Families and has served as a Member of the Australian War Memorial Council. She is the President of Rowing ACT and is a Non-Executive Director for the charities, Veterans Film Festival, The Hospital Research Foundation and Military and Emergency Services Health Australia, and chairs the Board of Governors for Military and Emergency Services Health Australia as well as the Information Technology and Cyber Security sub-committee. She is also a Trustee for the Commando Welfare Trust and an international para-rowing classifier for FISA.

Brigadier Creagh retired from the Australian Regular Army in March 2015 after a 30-year career and continues to serve in the Army Reserve. She is also holds the honourary appointment of Representative Colonel Commandant for the Royal Australian Corps of Signals.

Leading cardiologist Professor John Beltrame AM brings a medical perspective to the board. He has degrees in both science and medicine, and is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the European Society of Cardiology, the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. He is the Michell Professor of Medicine and the Director of Research for the Central Adelaide Local Health Network.

Luciana Larkin is  a sharp and strategic thinker, applying her expertise in financial, complex tax & business transactions to deliver effective outcomes. Luciana brings this professional expertise and strong focus on accountability & governance to the THRF Board together with experience as a trusted advisor to numerous other Corporate Boards and not-for-profit bodies.

John Woodward has 30 years’ experience in technology related change programs, projects and consulting services across industries including the energy, health, water, superannuation and entertainment sectors. John is Non-Executive Director at Statewide Super, the Deputy Mayor of West Torrens Council, Project Manager at Alinta Energy and occasional lecturer at the University of Adelaide (Masters of Project Management).  John holds an MBA specialising in technology management, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees.  He is also certified Project Management Professional through the Project Management Institute. John joined the Board of The Hospital Research Foundation in 2013.

MaryLou joined the board of THRF in 2014 and has since also become a member of our Group charity, the Centre for Creative Health. For nearly 30 years MaryLou ran a surgical devices company selling highly technical operating room equipment into the largest hospitals across SA, WA and NT. MaryLou has a strong understanding of the medical world and the health industry.

In 2014 MaryLou was elected as a Councillor to The Town of Walkerville and has also served as its Deputy Mayor. For spiritual and artistic nurturing MaryLou has become involved in the philanthropic Chairman’s Circle which supports The Adelaide Festival of Arts.

Andrew Mannix is Executive General Manager – Mission Solutions at Nova Systems. Andrew is an experienced Senior Executive having held numerous appointments throughout his career in the Defence Industry and Mining Sectors most recently, prior to Nova Systems, with Naval Group, and formerly with Leidos Australia, Liebherr Australia and BAE Systems.  He is Deputy Chair of the Military and Emergency Service Health Australia Board of Governors and a Director of The Hospital Research Foundation Group.

Through spending a significant part of his career in the Defence Industry, Andrew has worked closely with serving members of our Australian Defence Force, and shoulder to shoulder with veterans in industry. He has listened to the stories of Australian service personnel before and after deployment – seeing how their important work has impacted their lives. Andrew has first-hand experience of the pressures faced by our first responders as they go about their daily duties and admires the work they do.

He is proud to contribute to the work of Military and Emergency Services Health Australia through the Board of Governors. In particular, helping to make investments into important research and programs for our veterans, emergency service first responders and their families. Andrew has also seen first-hand the important impact delivered by the entities of The Hospital Research Foundation Group and is a passionate member of the group board.

Well known as a cook, teacher, entrepreneur, author and radio personality, Rilka Warbanoff started her career in the family business, winning the South Australian Tourism Award in 1982. She later established an executive placement business, acting as a global corporate head-hunter and twice being named a finalist in the prestigious Telstra Business Woman of the Year Awards.

She was the voice of culinary culture on the Drive program on 774 ABC Melbourne before returning to Adelaide where she published Rilka’s Feasts in 2012 and joined FIVEaa as resident foodie and guest presenter.

Realising that up to 40% of Australians have some type of dietary restrictions, Rilka set up a cooking school to teach people how they can prepare cost-effective, nutritious food themselves without sacrificing flavour and variety, which she recently sold.

Rilka also sits on the Centre for Creative Health Board of Governors, the THRFG – Stroke Board of Governors (formerly Stroke SA) and the Board of Food Share.

Amanda Butler is a commercial executive who has held numerous leadership roles across Australia and New Zealand in the consumer goods sector. These roles have included General Manager roles in both blue chip global multinationals and consortium backed private enterprise. Amanda is recognised for her strategic approach to organisational growth and good governance to the organisations she has worked for at both board level and in operations. She brings this experience along with a passion for healthcare to THRF Group and is an active member of the Australian and New Zealand Institute of Company Directors.

Paul is an innovative, and entrepreneurial Board Director and Executive who has earned a stellar reputation for achievement during distinguished career in both the Finance and Not for Profit sector. 

Paul has been acknowledged for his contribution to the Banking and Investment Industry by being awarded a Senior Fellowship of the Financial Services Institute of Australasia. Paul has also been recognised for his contribution to the not-for-profit industry by being awarded the Ernst & Young Social Entrepreneur of the Year in South Australia/Northern Territory and has also been awarded the Equity Trustees Australian Not for Profit CEO Award for Innovation. Paul is a judge of the Napier Waller National Art prize awarded by the Australian War Memorial. 

Paul is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently holds positions as a Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair of FIA Ltd, Non-Executive Director AusHealth Pty Ltd, Non-Executive Director BiomeBank Pty Ltd, Director of Military and Emergency Services Health Australia, Governor of Pulteney Grammar School, Trustee of the Pulteney Foundation Inc. and Executive Director of Australian Prostate Cancer Research Society Ltd. 

Paul is Chief Executive Officer of The Hospital Research Foundation Group and of its Australian affiliates: The Repat Foundation – The Road Home Inc; Australian Centre of Excellence for Post-traumatic Stress; Australian Breast Cancer Research; Kidney, Transplant and Diabetes Research Australia; The Centre for Creative Health; Cure for Stroke Australia; Parkinson’s SA/NT; Laurel Palliative Care Foundation, Stroke SA and Australian Heart Research.