Our People
Board Members
Chairman’s Message
I am grateful for the ongoing support from my fellow directors, from our Patrons, management team and volunteers, all of whom play a role in helping to create positive change and improve the health of many through medical and health services research. Together with my Board colleagues I look forward to continuing to work together and further extending our partnerships beyond UnitingCare Hospitals into other areas with research needs.
We have several major, corporate and individual donors without whose generosity it would simply be impossible for our institute to function. In particular I would like to thank the tremendous enduring support of Mitsubishi Development, BHP, the Brazil Family Foundation, Wendy and Allan Grummit, the Vidyajey and Albrecht Family Foundations, Hugh Sheardown, Helen Barnard, Donald & Joan Wilson Foundation and Alex and Mary Peden. Of course, the contributions from all of our financial and in kind sponsors are gratefully received and my thanks extend across our whole network.
The Wesley Research Institute Board is responsible for the overall governance of the Institute, including approving fundraising, investment and research strategies and adopting appropriate policies and procedures designed to provide corporate oversight and to deliver against our mission.
As the official research institute for UnitingCare, the Board and its committees regularly review Wesley Research Institute's governance arrangements and practices to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements and sector practice and to ensure organisational objectives are supported.
Our Board Members
Mr Andrew Barron
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Barron is highly experienced and has worked as a senior executive within the UnitingCare Queensland network since 2008. With experience as COO within the Royal Flying Doctor Service (QLD) for nearly five years, he is a strong transformational executive leader. Mr. Barron has delivered sustained financial and cultural benefits across health, community services, aviation and financial services industries. Mr Barron has successfully shaped and implemented business development strategies with a patient / customer centered context.
Dr John Lumley
Dr Lumley is a colorectal surgeon practising at The Wesley Hospital. Dr Lumley has served on the executives of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, and the colorectal Society of Australia and New Zealand.
Dr John Rivers
Dr Rivers is a practicing cardiologist and founding member of the Queensland Cardiovascular Group. Dr Rivers has extensive experience in business development and governance in the healthcare industry.
Dr Shanthi Kanagarajah
Dr Shanthi Kanagarajah is a practising Geriatrician and General Physician in both private and public hospitals. She is the Clinical Director of the Geriatric Evaluation and Management unit at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and is a founding Director of Queensland Physician Care.
Mr Charlie Sartain
Chairman
Mr Sartain joined the Wesley Research Institute Board in 2009, and was elected Board Chair in 2020. Mr Sartain has had more than 30 years of international mining experience as a mining engineer and senior corporate executive. Over the past seven years he has also served as an independent non-executive director on several Australian and international listed corporate boards. Mr Sartain was a two-term member of the Senate of The University of Queensland (UQ) and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at UQ.
Mr Neal O’Connor
Mr O’Connor was appointed a Non-Executive Director in 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Law degree and has extensive experience in the resource industry with experience in Corporate Governance and Risk Management.
Ms Karen Read
Ms Read joined the Wesley Research Institute Board in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Business, is an FCPA, GAICD and MAMI. Ms Read is a senior finance and commercial executive and has extensive experience within the mining and resources sector with a career spanning 30 years.
Ms Mairi McNeill
Ms McNeill is the General Manager of St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital. Ms McNeill is an experienced healthcare executive who has worked in the private industry for over 25 years.
Mr Warren Bamford
Mr Bamford has led high performing finance and corporate services teams over many years in the resources and investments sectors. WRI welcomed Mr Bamford to the Board in June 2024.
Ms Donna Shkalla
Donna is the Group Executive of UnitingCare’s Family and Disability Services. As an experienced leader and social worker with roles spanning across Australia, United Kingdom and Kosovo, Donna’s focus is on delivering quality, research-informed services to improve community wellbeing. Donna holds a Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Arts (Humanities), Graduate Certificate and Diploma in Management, MBA (Marketing Management and Australian Institute of Company Directors Graduate – Company Directors Course).
Ms Tess van der Rijt
Tess van der Rijt is the Chief Operating Officer across UnitingCare Queensland’s private hospitals. She joined the Wesley Research Institute board in 2024 with a background in health technology and virtual care, health policy research and health care transformation.
Ms Shannon McDermott
Company Secretary
Shannon is a chartered company secretary and practising lawyer with over 10 years’ in-house experience in both private companies and government organisations. She was formerly a medical engineer who worked in neuromuscular research.