Academic Leadership
Sally is an Australian materials scientist and biomedical engineer with over two decades of experience leading major research institutes and building cross-sector collaborations in Australia, the UK, and the US. She has held senior leadership roles including Director of the Institute for Frontier Materials at Deakin University, where she oversaw a team of 400 staff and students, and Director of Swinburne University’s Manufacturing Futures Research Institute and Innovation Precinct, where she established nationally significant initiatives such as the Victorian Hydrogen Hub and MedTechVic.
Background and Research
Elected a Fellow of ATSE and the Union of International Societies of Biomaterials Science and Engineering, Sally has secured over $50M in competitive research funding, published extensively in biomaterials and materials science, and played a central role in advancing industry partnerships, innovation ecosystems, and translational research in medical devices, advanced manufacturing, and sustainable materials.