Western Australia’s Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund has appointed two new members to its Advisory Council. Professor Dan McAullay and Marie Smyth will bring additional expertise in Aboriginal health and innovation translation as the fund enters the next phase of its strategy. They will both serve two-year terms.
Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson commented, “The FHRI Fund is a key driver of health and medical research and innovation in Western Australia, and these appointments will help ensure we continue to deliver on our vision of improving health outcomes and building a strong, sustainable research sector for Western Australia.”
“Professor McAullay’s leadership in Aboriginal health research and Ms Smyth’s leadership experience in the technology sector will be invaluable to the Advisory Council.”
Professor McAullay is a nationally recognised leader in Aboriginal health research and currently serves as Dean of Kurongkurl Katitjin at Edith Cowan University. His appointment is aimed at strengthening culturally informed advice to the government on the fund’s investment priorities.
Smyth brings more than 35 years of leadership experience across government, industry, innovation, and research, including roles spanning global partnerships in the technology sector.
The two appointments are designed to bolster the Advisory Council’s collective expertise across research excellence, Aboriginal health, and innovation and translation — areas central to the FHRI Fund Strategy 2025-30.
The fund’s scope and next phase
Established in 2020, the FHRI Fund has awarded more than $282 million to over 810 recipients since its inception. A further $292 million is set to be invested over the next four years, bringing the fund’s total committed investment to more than $574 million.
The Advisory Council provides independent advice to the Minister on the fund’s strategic direction and investment priorities.
“The Cook Government is focused on supporting our medical research ecosystem here in WA, and these additions to the FHRI Advisory Council will further support this mission,” Dawson added.
