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Professor David James FAA and Professor Natasha Nassar have been appointed joint interim Academic Directors of the Charles Perkins Centre.

Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Julie Cairney congratulated professors James and Nassar on their appointment.

“The Charles Perkins Centre is an important part of the University’s mission to do excellent research that contributes to the common good. David and Natasha are well equipped to lead the many CPC members in delivering on this goal by addressing chronic health conditions,” said Professor Cairney.

“Natasha has a wealth of experience in paediatric and perinatal medicine, which she has expanded to population-level epidemiology and applied to diverse medical disciplines and chronic health conditions. David has been integral to the discovery of insulin’s role in the body, paving the way for advancements in treatments to diabetes. His recent work on metabolic cybernetics exemplifies CPC’s focus on drawing from different disciplines to improve health for all.”

Professor Stephen J Simpson AC FRS FAA stepped down from the role of Inaugural Academic Director on 31 March after 13 years in the role. Professor Simpson will continue as a Charles Perkins Centre member and in his role as a Professor in the School of Life and Environmental Sciences as an NHRMC Investigator Fellow.

“We are sad to see Steve stepping down from this role after all he has achieved since the establishment of the Charles Perkins Centre in 2012,” said Professor Katherine Belov AO FAA FRSN, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Global and Research Engagement.

“The University’s flagship multidisciplinary initiative’s community has grown to include over 1500 members – academic and professional staff, students, alumni – from across the University’s faculties, schools and disciplines. Each year 20,000 students pass through the Centre's teaching laboratories and 10,000 patients annually receive treatment at our dedicated clinical facility, the CPC RPA Clinic.

“The Charles Perkins Centre’s mission and success is very much attributable to Steve’s leadership and ability to bring together seemingly disparate and unrelated disciplines, people and groups to achieve great impact and results. We both thank him and lament his departure but wish him all the very best in refocusing on his stellar academic career,” she said.

Professors James and Nassar have longstanding positions with the Charles Perkins Centre in senior leadership roles. Professor James is Biology Domain Leader and Professor Nassar is Population Domain Leader, spearheading the strategy for two of the Centre’s four key research areas. Both serve on the Centre’s Executive Committee, and both are committed to the mission of the Charles Perkins Centre through their respective professorial roles, each highly distinguished in their fields.

“Both David and Natasha have long been embedded in senior leadership and collaborative roles at the Charles Perkins Centre. The Centre’s work and community are in very good hands for up to six months, starting from 14 April, while we continue our international recruitment process for the next Academic Director of the Charles Perkins Centre,” said Professor Belov.