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 Charlie Sartain
Chairman
Mr Sartain joined the Wesley Research Institute Board in 2009 and was elected Board Chair in 2020. Mr Sartain has extensive Australian and international corporate experience in the resources sector in various roles as a mining engineer, corporate executive and independent non-executive director. He was a two-term member of the Senate of The University of Queensland (UQ) and is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Sustainable Minerals Institute at UQ.
Mr Andrew Barron
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Barron is a senior executive with extensive experience in the UnitingCare Queensland network (including General Manager of St Andrews War Memorial Hospital), the Royal Flying Doctor Service (QLD) and the financial services sector. Mr. Barron joined the WRI Board as ex officio member upon his appointment as CEO in 2022.
Dr John Lumley
Dr Lumley has extensive experience as a practising colorectal surgeon at The Wesley Hospital and has been involved for many years in teaching and research as a pioneer of laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Dr Lumley has served on the executives of the Gastroenterological Society of Australia, the RACS Section of Colorectal Surgery and the Colorectal Society of Australia and New Zealand. He joined the WRI Board in 2018.
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. She joined the WRI Board in 2022 as a Practitioner Director.
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, and as an independent non-executive director of several ASX-listed companies.
Ms Karen Read
Ms Read joined the Wesley Research Institute Board in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Business and is an FCPA and GAICD. Ms Read is a senior finance and commercial executive and has extensive Australian and international financial and executive experience within the mining and resources sector, as well as several years’ experience as an independent non-executive director.
Mr Warren Bamford
Mr Bamford is an experienced corporate executive with finance and commercial qualifications who has led high-performing finance and corporate services teams over many years in the resources and investment sectors. WRI welcomed Mr Bamford to the Board in 2024.
Ms Donna Shkalla
Ms Shkalla is the Group Executive of UnitingCare’s Family and Disability Services and joined the WRI Board in 2024. 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 strong background in health technology, health policy research and health care transformation in Australia and internationally. Tess holds a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Hons), a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, a Master of Health Leadership and Management, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors Graduate – Company Directors Course.
Professor David McGiffin
Prof David McGiffin is a Senior Cardiothoracic Surgeon at The Alfred Hospital and Professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Monash University. Prof McGiffin is an Honorary Professor at the University of Queensland School of Medicine. Since 2013, his major research interest has been in donor heart preservation using hypothermic oxygenated perfusion (HOPE). WRI welcomed Prof McGiffin to the WRI Board and Research Advisory Board in 2025.