The success, management and growth of WRI is driven by a team of dedicated employees with strong skills across relevant business areas.
This team provides support services to WRI researchers, administers research projects and clinical trials, manages the operational aspects of the organisation, and raises awareness and funds to underpin the Institute’s research activities.
In addition to this permanent workforce is a diverse team of professional researchers from within the UnitingHealth Care group and collaborative
partner organisations.
Chief Executive Officer
Professor Christian Gericke
Professor Christian Gericke is the Chief Executive Officer of the Wesley Research Institute, Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland School of Population Health and Adjunct Professor of Public Health at Queensland University of Technology.
From 2010 to 2012 he was Professor of Public Health at Peninsula Medical School, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth, and Deputy Director of the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care for Devon and Cornwall. He also held clinical appointments in the NHS as Honorary Consultant Neurologist and Public Health Physician.
During 2006 to 2010 he was Professor of Public Health Policy and Director of the Centre for Health Services Research at the University of Adelaide and Honorary Fellow of the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies, with a number of roles for the Australian Commonwealth and State Governments, including as Medical Director for Safety and Quality for the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services. He was also a delegate for the health stream of the Australia 2020 Summit, convened by the Prime Minister of Australia.
Prof Gericke’s areas of expertise and research interests include:
- Health services research
- International health systems and policies
- Economic evaluation of health interventions
- Regular advisor to the European Commission, WHO, German Development Aid (GIZ) and the World Bank.
Prof Gericke studied medicine in Berlin, Montpellier and Boston and received an M.D. in neuroscience from the Free University of Berlin. After completing clinical specialist training in neurology in Berlin, Strasbourg and Geneva, he studied tropical medicine at the University of Aix-Marseille, obtained an M.P.H from the University of Cambridge, an M.Sc. in Health Policy, Planning and Financing from the London School of Economics/London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and a higher doctorate in public health from Berlin University of Technology. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Faculty of Public Health Medicine/Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the American College of Physicians, and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
He is on the editorial boards of the journals BMC Health Services Research, Global Journal of Health Science and F1000 Research and is a regular panel member for major research funding agencies including the European Commission, the UK Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health Research, the New Zealand HRC and NHMRC.
Senior Managers
Chief Operations Officer – Aaron Davis
Aaron Davis is the Chief Operations Officer at Wesley Research Institute, providing strategic and operational management to the Institute. He directs and manages the Institute’s operational business functions including: finance and administration, human resources, research management, marketing and fundraising and oversees the management of the Data Management Office, Tissue Bank and Clinical Trials Centre.
Aaron brings with him 11 years of operational and financial management experience in the Health and IT sectors. Aaron’s prior engagements include Finance and Administration Manager for Queensland Eye Hospital, a dedicated Opthalmic hospital with 30+ Opthalmic surgeons, and Operations Manager of Heart Care Partners, a large Queensland based cardiac services company employing 15 cardiologists. Preceding this Aaron was the Operations Manager of a London based software development company and earlier an Operations Manager in the pharmacy industry.
Aaron studied Commerce as an undergraduate majoring in Finance, Management and Leadership. Aaron’s areas of expertise lie in health management, finance and health IT.
Research Liaison Administrator – Annette Ganter
Annette Ganter is the Research Liaison Coordinator at the Institute. She joined the Institute in mid 1996 bringing career experience in both medical administration and the not-for-profit sector.
Annette is the first point of contact for clinicians and health professionals wishing to conduct research through the Institute. She works closely with the Director and the researchers, to provide ongoing support where required and to source external grant opportunities.
Tissue Bank Manager – Emma Raymond
Emma Raymond joined WRI in July 2011 as the Manager of the Ventyx WRI Tissue Bank. She graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Biological Sciences. Emma brings a broad knowledge of Pathology and an extensive background in Histology to WRI.
Clinical Trials Centre Manager – Ria Halstead
Ria Halstead joined WRI in July 2011 as the Clinical Trials Centre Manager.
She brings 35 years of experience and knowledge from her diverse background in nursing, including 13 years in the field of clinical research. Ria originally comes from Adelaide and moved to Brisbane 9 years ago to enjoy the Queensland lifestyle.
Clinical Data Management Officer – Kate Wanstall
Kate Wanstall has been working at The Wesley Hospital since 1997. In 2008 joined the Wesley Research Institute as a Research Coordinator and in April 2011 she took on the role of Clinical Data Management Officer.
Fundraising Officer – Rod Knapp
Rod joined the Institute in 2008 with an extensive background in marketing, business development and relationship management gained in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Having worked in partnership with three large not-for-profit organisations in the health sector for more than five years, and in the corporate world for more than 20 years, Rod has helped many individuals and organisations experience the joy of philanthropy.
At WRI, Rod is involved in capital fundraising, corporate sponsorships, appeals, regular giving, bequests, memorial gifts, celebration gifts, workplace giving, online giving and donor relations. He is an Associate Member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia and holds qualifications in marketing and journalism.
Commercial Accountant – Fay Lok
Fay joined the Institute in February 2013 as the Commercial Accountant for the Institute.
Her responsibility is to manage the finances of the Institute, ensure financial reporting obligations and requirements are met and assist with business management and planning.
Fay has more than 20 years experience in a diverse range of industries and organisations including QScan Radiology, Queensland Health and Federal Department of Health and Ageing.
She is a CPA, with Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) qualifications.
