Leadership and Governance – Curtin Medical Research Institute

Leading with Integrity, Advancing Medical Research

Curtin Medical Research Institute is guided by strong leadership and principled governance, ensuring every decision reflects integrity, accountability, and excellence. This foundation enables innovation to flourish while maintaining the highest ethical standards. At its core, Curtin MRI is driven by values of integrity, respect, and a commitment to improving lives through knowledge. These values shape a collaborative and forward thinking culture where bold ideas can thrive. With an unwavering commitment to medical research, the Institute transforms discovery into real world impact, advancing human health and shaping a better future.

Leadership and Governance Team

Prof. Nina Tirntiz-Parker

Director Curtin MRI
Curtin Medical Research Institute

Prof. John Olynyk

Associate Director
(Clinical Engagement)

A/Prof. Ryu Takechi

Associate Director
(Research & Commercialisation)

Dr Flavia Di Pietro

Associate Director
(Internal Engagement)

Dr Virginie Lam

EMCR Chair
Curtin School of Population Health

Dr Rob Steuart

Technical Operations Manager

Curtin MRI Leadership & Governance

At Curtin Medical Research Institute, leadership is not simply about direction, it is about vision, integrity, and responsibility. Guided by strong governance, the Institute ensures that every decision is grounded in transparency, accountability, and a deep commitment to excellence. This foundation creates an environment where innovation can thrive and where research is conducted with the highest ethical standards.

Curtin MRI’s leadership fosters a culture that empowers researchers, supports collaboration, and encourages bold thinking. It recognises that meaningful breakthroughs in medical science are driven not only by expertise, but by curiosity, resilience, and shared purpose. Through thoughtful governance, the Institute balances ambition with responsibility, ensuring that progress always aligns with the greater good.

At the heart of Curtin MRI are its values: integrity in every action, respect for people and ideas, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge that improves lives. These values shape the way research is conducted, partnerships are built, and communities are served. They are not just principles on paper, they are lived daily through the work of dedicated scientists, clinicians, and leaders.

The Institute’s commitment to medical research is unwavering. It seeks not only to understand disease, but to transform that understanding into real-world impact. Every project, every collaboration, and every discovery is driven by a singular goal: to advance human health and create a better future for all.

Through strong leadership, sound governance, and deeply held values, Curtin MRI stands as a beacon of purpose and possibility, shaping the future of medical research with integrity and inspiration.

Leadership: enabling bold, collaborative discovery

At its core, leadership within the institute is purpose-led and future-focused. The institute’s mission to “discover new prevention and treatment strategies” is underpinned by a leadership approach that actively empowers researchers to think beyond existing paradigms and take intellectual risks .

Rather than a traditional hierarchical model, leadership is expressed through:

Multidisciplinary collaboration: bringing together experts across biomedical, clinical and population health fields to address complex diseases holistically
Researcher-centred support: providing stability and resources that allow long-term, high-impact research rather than short-term outputs
Partnership-driven influence: working with industry, clinicians and communities to translate discoveries into real-world health outcomes

This reflects Curtin’s value of courage, encouraging bold inquiry, and excellence, fostering a culture where innovation and rigour coexist.

Leadership is also inherently developmental. By nurturing early-career scientists and embedding training within a vibrant research environment, the institute ensures continuity of knowledge and the growth of future leaders in medical science .

Governance: accountable, values-led and impact-oriented

Governance within the institute is anchored in the broader governance framework of Curtin University Council, which provides strategic oversight, ensures accountability and upholds institutional values across all operations .

Within this structure, governance of the institute emphasises:

Strategic alignment: ensuring research priorities contribute to Curtin’s vision of making a difference for people and the planet
Ethical integrity and transparency: embedding responsible research practices and decision-making
Shared responsibility: integrating researchers, clinicians and community stakeholders into a cohesive, accountable ecosystem
Sustainable impact: guiding investments and partnerships that deliver long-term health benefits

The institute’s “shared-responsibility model” illustrates governance in action, where collaboration across disciplines and sectors strengthens both accountability and outcomes .

A values-driven culture in practice

What distinguishes leadership and governance at the institute is how clearly they embody Curtin’s values:
Integrity through ethical research and transparent governance
Respect through inclusive partnerships and acknowledgement of diverse perspectives, including First Nations voices
Courage in pursuing novel, high-risk scientific ideas
Excellence in research quality and global ambition
Impact through translation of discoveries into tangible health improvements

Together, these principles create a governance environment that is not only structurally sound but deeply human-centred and purpose-driven.

An inspiring model for research leadership

The Curtin Medical Research Institute demonstrates that effective leadership and governance are not merely administrative functions. They are enablers of discovery, innovation and societal impact.

By combining visionary leadership with robust governance, and aligning both with strong institutional values, the institute positions itself as a place where: