Dementia Australia Research Foundation Board

Graeme Samuel AC is a Professor at Monash University’s Business School. He is Chair of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation, Chair of Australian Dementia Network Ltd (ADNet), Chair of Airlines for Australia and New Zealand (A4ANZ) and also Chair of Quipex Pty Ltd.

Graeme served as Chair of Dementia Australia (2014 to 2023), a period of significant change and growth for the organisation. He led the unification of the former federated Alzheimer’s Australia to become one national peak body and charity in October 2017. He was instrumental in securing the $229 million federal government allocation to dementia and Dementia Australia in May 2021.

He was a member of the APRA Panel to conduct a Prudential Inquiry into the culture, governance and accountability of Commonwealth Bank of Australia and chair of the panel which conducted the Capability Review of APRA. He completed an Independent Review commissioned by the Commonwealth Government of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act and co-lead a Commonwealth Government commissioned Review of the Defence Trade Controls legislation.

He was Chair of the Commonwealth Government’s Panel of Review of Australia’s Independent Medical Research Institutes and advisor to the Commonwealth Department of Health in relation to its review of private health insurance. 

Graeme has held a number of roles in public life including former Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Associate Member of the Australian Communications and Media Authority and President of the National Competition Council.

He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1998. In 2010 he was elevated to a Companion of the Order of Australia "for eminent service to public administration through contributions in the area of economic reform and competition law, and to the community through leadership roles with sporting and cultural organisations".

Henry Brodaty AO is a researcher, clinician, policy advisor and strong advocate for people with dementia and their carers. At the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, he is Scientia Professor of Ageing and Mental Health and Co-Director of the Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing. 

As well as being a prolific researcher, he is a senior psychogeriatrician at Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. Henry was previously President of the International Psychogeriatric Association, Chairman of Alzheimer’s Disease International, and President of Alzheimer’s Australia NSW and Alzheimer’s Australia. In 2000, he became an officer of the Order of Australia and in June 2016 received the Ryman Prize for the world’s best development, advance or achievement that enhances quality of life for older people. 

Henry is an Honorary Medical Advisor for Dementia Australia. He established the Dementia Australia Research Foundation in 1985 and chaired the Board of Directors (or its forerunner) between 1985 and 2016. Henry now serves as a director on the Board of the Dementia Australia Research Foundation. In 2024, Henry received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Australian Dementia Network.

Amy Brodtmann leads the Cognitive Health Initiative at the Central Clinical School, Monash University, and holds professorial appointments at both The University of Melbourne and Monash University. She directs cognitive neurology services at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and Eastern Health and holds honorary appointments at Austin Health, Alfred Health and the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health. Her research focuses the contributions of vascular risk factors to late-life cognition and improving the diagnostic odyssey for people with dementia. She is the recipient of many awards and grants for her research in stroke and dementia, including national awards from the peak ANZ neurology organisation and international awards for mentoring in science. She is on the editorial boards of Neurology, Stroke and International Journal for Stroke.

She helped establish the first carer support group for FTD carers in Victoria and was a founding member of the Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association, the inaugural Chair of the Australian chapter of the Organization of Human Brain Mapping, and the inaugural President of the Australasian Cognitive Neurology Association. She is an internationally recognised expert in cognitive disorders and brain health, serving on the Science Board for the American Academy of Neurologists (USA) and the Vascular Brain Health Institute (France) and is Chair of the International Stroke Genomics Consortium 2025-27. She has served nationally on scientific advisory boards for Biogen, Lilly, Eisai and Roche, and global boards for Lilly and Novo Nordisk.

Amy has served as one of Dementia Australia’s Honorary Medical Advisors since 2020.
 

Tanya Buchanan is CEO of Dementia Australia. She has held previous CEO roles with Cancer Council Australia, the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and Action on Smoking and Health in Wales (UK). Tanya is an Honorary Professor of Practice in the School of Health and Society (Public Health) at the University of Wollongong and is an Adjunct Professor in Dementia & Health Policy at Curtin University. 

Tanya studied Nursing at Curtin University of Technology and an MBA in Health Services at Edith Cowan University. She also holds a PhD and a range of qualifications including governance qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). Tanya commenced her career as a Registered Nurse with clinical work in neuroscience, and has worked in health, academia, local government and the voluntary sector. She is active in public health research and practice.

Isabelle Burke cared for her mother, Christine, who died with younger onset dementia at age 59. Isabelle advocates for the timely diagnosis of dementia as she has seen the devastating impacts of delayed diagnosis firsthand. 

As a lived experience advisor, Isabelle has provided advice to many research organisations including The University of Sydney Brain and Mind Centre and the Monash University Central Clinical School. Isabelle was previously a member of the NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research Expert Advisory Panel and NHMRC Boosting Dementia Research grant reviewer. 

Isabelle hopes that timely diagnosis and the advancement of non-pharmacological interventions will allow people living with dementia to live active and purposeful lives post-diagnosis. Isabelle's experience as an advocate helps to inform her own research as she pursues a PhD in psychology, exploring olfactory-based cognitive training at Deakin University. 

Meegan Fitzharris has a background in senior leadership in politics, public policy and advisory roles. She is currently the Director of Partnerships and Engagement at the University of Canberra and serves on the Boards of Dementia Australia and the Australian Digital Health Agency. She is also a member of the ACT Advisory Board of the Heart Foundation.

Prior to joining UC, Meegan was a member of the ACT Legislative Assembly and held a range of Ministerial portfolios including health, medical research, transport, and higher education and skills. She has also worked as a Senior Fellow at ANU, the Healthcare industry lead at CyberCX and various public policy and public sector roles. In 2020, she chaired the Reform Advisory Group for the Queensland Health Minister that developed a foundational report for the ‘HEALTHQ32: A vision for Queensland’s health system’. 

Ian Knight has had an extensive career in investment banking for over 40 years and was a Partner at KPMG (Chartered Accountants) from 1995 to his retirement in June 2012.

Ian also sits on a number of not-for-profit, private and public company boards including Chair of Clean TeQ Water Limited and the Australian Dementia Network (ADNet). He has been a member of Dementia Australia finance, risk, audit and investment committees for a number of years and following his appointment to the Dementia Australia Board in 2018 also became Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Management Committee for the Dementia Australia group.

Blossom Stephan is a neuroepidemiologist at Curtin University. She holds the inaugural Chair of Dementia (in partnership with Dementia Australia) and is director of the Dementia Centre of Excellence. She also co-leads the Dementia and Ageing Domain within the Curtin enAble Institute. 

Her research focuses on risk prediction and risk reduction of neurodegenerative diseases including work using Artificial Intelligence methods to develop new dementia risk algorithms in culturally diverse groups. She has programs of research in high as well as low- and middle-income countries. In 2023, she became one of Dementia Australia’s Honorary Medical Advisors.

James Vickers is the Director of the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre at the University of Tasmania. James is also a Past-President of the Australasian Neuroscience Society and has served on the Board of Glenview Community Services (2013-2023). 

His research interests include neurodegenerative disease (particularly Alzheimer's disease), brain plasticity, acquired brain injury and dementia prevention. James also has a strong interest in educational programs in dementia. James joined the Dementia Australia Research Foundation Scientific Panel in 2006 and held the position of Chair from 2014 to 2016. 

Michael Woodward AM is currently Head of Dementia Research, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, Austin Health and a senior clinician at the Memory and Wound Management Clinics, Austin Health, having until recently been Director of these two services. 

Michael’s clinical specialties are Geriatric, General and Rehabilitation Medicine, with a major interest in Alzheimer’s disease and other cognitive disorders. Michael previously chaired the Dementia Australia Dementia Research Foundation – Victoria Board (2012 to 2018) and until recently was Chair of the Australasian Consortium of Centres for Clinical Cognitive Research, now Dementia Trials Australia. Michael is an Honorary Medical Advisor for Dementia Australia.