The Board of Transplant Australia – the nation’s peak community voice on organ and tissue donation and transplantation – is to be enhanced with the appointment of four new directors.
Transplant Australia Chair, Professor Petrina Coventry, welcomed the refresh of the Board as Transplant Australia continues to evolve to meet the needs of all those waiting and who have received a transplant.
Professor Coventry said if the strength of an organisation was determined by the interest of people willing to serve on the Board, then Transplant Australia was well positioned to continue its strong role in advocacy and representation.
“More than 40 people formally expressed an interest in joining the Board and the role of our Nominations Committee in selecting the final candidates was arduous. We appreciate everyone’s interest, Professor Coventry said.
An internationally renowned clinical epidemiologist, researcher and transplant physician, Professor Angela Webster, will join the Board along with three transplant recipients who all have a variety of professional expertise and direct lived experience of the journey of transplantation.
The new directors are.
Alli Chandler – Lawyer & Kidney Transplant Recipient
Alli is a commercial lawyer with over 10 years’ experience spanning private practice, inhouse and government. She is currently a Principal Lawyer at a government department where her work focuses primarily on commercial contracts, procurements and funding.
After being on the transplant waitlist, she gratefully received her kidney transplant from a deceased donor in 2023. Thanks to her transplant, she has been able to get married and start a family, study her Masters of Applied Law and compete in swimming at both the Australian and World Transplant Games coming home with gold medals at both.
“I hope to use my professional skills to support a cause I am passionate about and help Transplant Australia achieve new funding partnerships that will in turn help improve the lives of transplant recipients across Australia.”
Briana Harvey – Sport Executive and Liver Transplant Recipient
Briana Harvey is a senior sports executive with more than 20 years of leadership experience across elite Australian sport, including roles as General Manager of Women’s National Teams at Football Australia and Executive General Manager at the GWS Giants. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Exercise Science (Honours) and has recently been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the NSW Combined Independent Schools Sports Council.
Briana brings to the Transplant Australia Board a deeply personal connection to the transplant community. A liver transplant recipient of three years and the sister of a donor, she understands the gift of life from both sides of the transplant journey. This lived experience sits alongside her professional expertise in governance, stakeholder engagement, and organisational leadership.
“Transplantation has shaped my life in the most profound way – as a recipient, and through my brother’s decision to become a donor. Joining the Transplant Australia Board feels like a natural next step. I want to use my background in sport and health to strengthen community engagement, promote healthy lifestyles, and advocate for those waiting for a transplant.”
Geoff Jessup – Project Manager, Liver Transplant Recipient
Geoff is an executive manager with over 30 years experience leading-large scale change initiatives in the finance and not-for-profit sectors. Geoff received a liver transplant in 2016. Recently retired, he is an avid volunteer with Transplant Australia and competitor in the World and Australian Transplant Games.
“I am very grateful for the way Transplant Australia has embraced me and supported my transplant journey. Through my role on the Board, I am looking forward to advancing the three pillars of the strategic plan to expand, develop and strengthen the Transplant Community”.
Professor Angela Webster – Clinical Epidemiologist and Transplant Physician
Angela is a clinical leader and researcher who works at the University of Sydney as Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and as a Transplant Physician at Westmead Hospital in Western Sydney. She is an internationally renowned health services researcher and evidence integration expert.
Her research program tackles health literacy, risk tolerance and eliciting and integrating patient preferences, and supporting effective patient self-management, as well as integrating real world data for innovative sustainable health service re-design to better meet the needs of individuals and the nation.
“I am very motivated by health equity and social justice and Id like to reshape transplant care to better meet people where they are at and give individuals what they need. For Transplant Australia I hope to listen and act to bring members to the centre of innovation and future research so that their needs and voices are heeded.”
Professor Coventry thanked recent directors who has stepped down including Dr Georgie Irish and Professor Michael Kimlin. She said the Board, including Company Secretary Lisa Gavin, Dr Rohit D’Costa and Colin Liebmann, and management led by CEO Chris Thomas and supported by Holly Tyrrell, Jo O’Farrell, and the team, were working hard every day to achieve the organisation’s mission.
Recent comments