Alumni events

Ken Smith is WEHI’s seventh Director. He commenced in April 2024 after returning to Australia from the UK, where he had been Head of the Department of Medicine at Cambridge University since 2010. Throughout his 30-year career, as both a researcher and clinician, Prof Smith has been renowned for his high-quality, innovative research and its impact on patient outcomes. His lab at Cambridge ran an experimental medicine and translational program focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying immune-mediated diseases.

Prof Smith completed his PhD at WEHI through the University of Melbourne, supervised by former WEHI director, Sir Gustav Nossal AC, and Professor David Tarlinton.

He has been instrumental in forming alliances between industry and academia and has first-hand experience in founding start-up companies and commercial experience with the pharmaceutical industry in the UK, US and Europe. Prof Smith has strong international scientific research links and networks and brings a global outlook to take WEHI into a new era.

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Rima Darwiche is a registered pharmacist and founder of Central Pharmacy Logistics (CPL) Australia, a company revolutionising clinical trials by delivering investigational products directly to patients.

With over 25 publications in leading journals including The Lancet, Cell, and Science, Rima’s career began in medical research at WEHI, where she worked in the Infection and Immunology Division from 1996–2003 and again from 2016–2021. She continues to apply her research expertise in close collaboration with scientists and clinicians, and currently serves on local and international advisory committees, representing the Asia-Pacific region for the Global Clinical Supplies Group (GCSG) USA.

Recognised with the 2023 BioMelbourne Network Women in Leadership Award, Rima is a passionate advocate for innovation at the intersection of science, industry, and patient care.

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Eugene Maraskovsky is Executive Director and Research Lead for the Immunology & Neurology Therapeutic Area at CSL Limited, and Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne.

A leader in translational science and drug development, Eugene began his research career at WEHI (1987–1991) under Professor Anne Kelso, investigating T lymphocyte differentiation. He went on to hold senior roles at Immunex Corporation in Seattle and the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, before joining CSL in 2003. His career spans academia and industry, with deep expertise in immunology, neurology, and therapeutic innovation.

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Kristy O’Donnell is an experienced immunologist and research leader whose nearly 20-year career at WEHI (1997–2016) included foundational work in Professor Ian Wicks’ lab and major contributions to B cell biology in Professor David Tarlinton’s team. A co-author on 48 publications, Kristy has made a lasting impact as a Research Assistant.

After WEHI, she led the relocation of the Tarlinton Lab to Monash’s Alfred campus and played a key departmental role in lab operations and compliance. She also founded Labhelp, a precinct-wide network fostering collaboration across Monash, the Burnet Institute, Baker Institute, 360 Biolabs and Alfred Hospital. Her career reflects WEHI’s collaborative spirit and the vital role of research professionals in Australian science.