Professor Anushka Patel appointed new Chief Executive Officer of The George Institute

The George Institute for Global Health is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Anushka Patel as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Professor Patel will be replacing Professor Robyn Norton AO and Professor Stephen MacMahon AO, who announced earlier this year they would be stepping down in December 2022 for new leadership and new ideas to continue the growth of the Institute.

Professors Norton and MacMahon co-founded the Institute in Sydney, Australia in 1999 to address the escalating global burden of non-communicable diseases and injury. Today, the Institute is internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading global health research institutes, with over 1,100 people across four regional offices and more than 245 active projects across 50 countries.

“We are delighted to welcome Anushka to lead the Institute during this exciting new phase of organisational growth,” said David Armstrong, the Chair of The George Institute’s Board of Directors. “Anushka brings a wealth of experience and an inspiring vision to the Institute that will ensure it continues to deliver on its mission to improve the health of millions of people worldwide.”

Professor Patel is clinician scientist with a distinguished academic career and extensive senior leadership experience, including most recently as Vice-Principal Director and Chief Scientist at The George Institute. Externally, Professor Patel has held numerous senior academic and professional roles with government agencies, non-government organisations and multilateral organisations, in Australia and globally. Professor Patel is also an active cardiologist in Sydney. She will begin her new role at the end of January 2023.

“It is a great honour to follow in the footsteps of such visionary founders, who have presided over an organisation that has seen extraordinary growth and impact globally,” said Anushka. “We are entering a period of heightened global uncertainty, with rapid social, environmental, economic, technological and geopolitical shifts that will inevitably influence the strategy of any ambitious organisation, particularly one focused on global health.

“This uncertainty also brings opportunities to further grow our impact. I very much look forward to the challenges ahead, building on the strengths of the organisation, our partnerships and our incredibly talented teams across the Institute and George Health.”