Professor Minoti Apte is internationally renowned for her pioneering work on pancreatic stellate cell biology which opened up a whole new area of research into pancreatic fibrogenesis, a prominent feature of chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. The quality of work has been recognised comprehensively, including via >$14.5M in competitive funding and numerous prestigious awards.
She has an extensive track record of leadership at both an institutional and discipline level, including Membership of the NSW Cancer Council Research Committee and serving as Editor-in-Chief for Pancreatology. Furthermore, she has a strong performance history of promoting public awareness of health and medical science.

Professor Ian Jacobs, for the last 30-years, has headed a research team working on early detection and risk prediction of cancer with a particular focus on screening for ovarian cancer, leading to grants valued at >$80M, over 400 publications and an H-Index of >75. In addition to leading large scale research programs, Jacobs is the Vice-Chancellor of UNSW and holds leadership roles in organisations focused on health and medical research, education and advocacy, including Board membership of Research Australia and Chairmanship of the Sydney Partnership for Health Education, Research and Enterprise.

Professor Hala Zreiqat has developed a novel class of ceramic biomaterials for musculoskeletal regeneration, pioneering new cell, molecular biology and nanoscience techniques to produce ceramics that combine high strength and bioactivity. She also developed the technology to fabricate these biomaterials as 3D-printed patient-specific implants. She is Director of the ARC Centre for Innovative BioEngineering, Chair of the international Alliance for Design and Application in Tissue Engineering, and Founder of the IDEAL Society, an international network to improve opportunities for women. In 2018, she received the prestigious NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year Award, for scientific achievement and mentorship of women.

Professor Mark Parsons is an internationally recognised leader in Stroke Medicine, and a highly sought-after speaker, instructor and mentor, both nationally and internationally, in all aspects of clinical neuroscience. He is an international authority in Stroke clinical trials, and brain imaging, and has translated much of his research into clinical practice change. Professor Parsons has published in all major neurology specialty journals, as well as the highest impact general clinical journals, with >250 articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is recognised by his peers nationally and internationally.