Curtin University has appointed John Curtin Distinguished Professor Melinda Fitzgerald as its Deputy
Vice-Chancellor, Research (DVCR) for the next five years.
Professor Fitzgerald is an international leader in neurotrauma research and has been in the role on an interim basis since June 2023, following the departure of Professor Chris Moran. She is also chief executive officer of Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia and leads the world-first, nationwide Australian Mild
Traumatic Brain Injury Study.
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne says Professor Fitzgerald was the ideal
candidate to oversee Curtin’s wide-ranging research activities.
Research leadership expertise
“Professor Fitzgerald has an impeccable background in research leadership,” Professor Hayne says.
“We’ve already seen a positive impact on Curtin’s research community in Professor Fitzgerald’s time as
interim DVCR, so we’re excited to see her continue in the position. We can’t wait to see the new heights Curtin’s research will reach under Professor Fitzgerald’s stewardship.”
Professor Fitzgerald has held several leadership positions since joining Curtin in 2013, including Curtin
Health Innovation Research Institute Deputy Director, Faculty of Health Sciences Dean of Research and
Associate DVCR.
She says she is excited about what Curtin could achieve through its research over the next five years.
“Curtin University aims to build state and national leadership over the next five years in key focus areas including the clean energy transition, critical minerals and infrastructure, national resilience and security, artificial intelligence and big data analytics,” Fitzgerald told EducationDaily.
“I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to build large scale national collaborations of diverse stakeholders in my own traumatic brain injury research and I will draw on that experience to collaboratively bring multiple organisations with complementary expertise together to help solve important problems that face Australia and the world.”
“Our strengths in critical minerals, the clean energy transition, national resilience and security, radioastronomy and agriculture are entering new and exciting phases of growth; it’s a privilege to be able
to guide and support this groundbreaking research and innovative developments.
“I thank the Research Office leadership team, the Curtin senior executive and our fantastic researchers
that together, enable Curtin to make a positive difference.”
