Our people
Our leadership
Our leadership comprises a team of pre-eminent researchers and scholars led by Professor Stephen J Simpson.
Charles Perkins Centre Inaugural Academic Director 2012-2025
Professor Stephen J Simpson AC FRS FAA
Professor Stephen J Simpson leads the development of the Charles Perkins Centre's research and education strategies.
He is a world-renowned biologist whose research on nutrition is changing the way we look at diets.
Simpson’s academic journey to date crosses the globe. Having completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Queensland, he then acquired a PhD from the University of London. After 22 years at Oxford, Stephen returned to Australia in 2005 as an Australian Research Council (ARC) Federation Fellow.
In 2007, Stephen was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science and in 2008 was awarded the Eureka Prize for Scientific Research. In 2009, he was named NSW Scientist of the Year and was later named the Wigglesworth Medallist by the Royal Entomological Society of London.
In 2013, he was elected Fellow of the Royal Society and awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the Royal Entomological Society.
Chief Operating Officer
Susan McColl
Susan McColl joined the Charles Perkins Centre in April 2020. Prior to this, she was Director of Operations in the Division of Enterprise at UNSW Sydney a role she took in 2016 specifically to support growth and development, providing a focal point for impact and engagement.
Susan has a BA in Business Law from the University of Stirling, Scotland, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has had extensive experience across the Higher Education and Hospitality sectors in both the UK and Australia and has gained wide experience in delivering Government support services that facilitate business growth in small and medium enterprises.
Manager, Strategic Initiatives
Varshini Ravi
Varshini joined the Charles Perkins Centre in September 2022 leading the development and implementation of the Centre’s strategic initiatives.
Varshini started her career as a lab-based researcher investigating musculoskeletal disease using animal models before moving on to clinical research in osteoarthritis. Six years later, she transitioned to a research strategy role where she has been supporting academic leaders achieve their vision. She has an Master of Research in Biomedical Science from the University of Newcastle, UK, and a Graduate Diploma in Management from UNSW Sydney.
Charles Perkins Centre Administrative Services Unit
Our team of professional staff support the research and education work of the Centre.
Sarah Hine
NSW Coordinator, Australian Alliance for Indigenous Genomics
Contact about: Australian Indigenous Genomics Network – NSW Node
Sepideh Jannati
Administration Officer
Contact about: invoices, general administration, general operations
Helen Loughlin
Communications Manager
Contact about: All internal and external communications and engagement including CPC news stories, newsletters, event curation and promotion, social media, and the CPC website
Sasha Meldo
Administration Officer
Contact about: Events, general administration
Fernanda Miranda
Operations Manager
Contact about: Operations and administraion
Rosanna Scaravilli
Executive Assistant
Contact about: Executive Assistant services for both our Academic Director and Chief Operating Officer
Courtney Weston
Senior Project Officer
Contact about: CPC EMCR Initiative, CPC Research Project Nodes, Writer-in-Residence Fellowship, Qantas partnership
Khairunnessa Yusuf
Senior Project Officer, Metabolic Initiative
Contact about: Metabolic health and related collaborations
Honorary Affiliates
Professor Emeritus Marie Carroll
Professor Emeritus Marie Carroll was the Director of Educational Development at the Charles Perkins Centre until 2025 a role in which she oversaw all inter- and multidisciplinary educational activities associated with the Centre, including HDR and early-career support, award courses, non-award short courses, seminars and workshops, and engagement and outreach. Previously, Professor Carroll was Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) at the University of Sydney until 2015. Her responsibilities centred on curriculum, graduate studies and higher degrees by research strategy, and teaching and learning.