Meet the team

Nigel Lovell 
Co-Director 

Scientia Professor Lovell is the Head of the Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering, UNSW working in the areas of bionics, telehealth, biosignal processing, and physiological modelling.

Nigel has authored 300+ journal papers and been awarded over $100 million in R&D and infrastructure funding. Over his career he has mentored 70 PhD students and delivered more than 150 keynote presentations. He is a Fellow of seven learned academies throughout the world.

For 2017 and 2018 Nigel was the President of the world’s largest biomedical engineering society – the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society and he continues to be actively involved in professional outreach internationally.

As the Co-Director of the Tyree Foundation Institute of Health Engineering, Nigel is responsible for delivering on the Institute’s vision, creating a transformational engine of discovery, innovation and healthcare translation.

Contact
+61 2 9385 3922
n.lovell@unsw.edu.au

 

Laura Poole-Warren 
Co-Director 

Professor Poole-Warren AM leads a research group focused on improving interfaces between biomedical devices and tissues, including design and development of novel materials and engineering 3D tissue models for evaluation of device performance.

Laura has held various leadership appointments including Pro Vice-Chancellor, Dean of Graduate Research and Chair of the inaugural Athena SWAN team at UNSW, as well as being recently elected as co-chair of the Australian Brain Alliance, and the Frontiers Technology Clinical-Academic Group of Maridulu Budyari Gumal (also known as the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise or Sphere).

Laura is a Fellow of three learned academies and was awarded honours in January 2020 as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to Biomedical Engineering and education. 

As Co-Director of Tyree IHealthE, Laura is responsible for the development of translational research and education strategy, integrated with end-user engagement, as well as matters relating to governance and operational excellence. 

Contact
+61 2 9385 3905
l.poolewarren@unsw.edu.au 

 

Gemma Ashton
Chief Operating Officer

Gemma Ashton is a program-operations professional with more than 15 years of experience delivering strategic initiatives in the higher education sector. Her work has a special focus on health research and education. Before joining Tyree IHealthE, Gemma was the Program Manager at the Charles Perkins Centre, a multidisciplinary research centre committed to improving global health. In her role there, she led the implementation of strategies to support collaborative, solution-focused research, and managed partnerships with industry and government collaborators. 

As Chief Operating Officer, Gemma is responsible for the financial and administrative operations of the Tyree IHealthE and driving new opportunities for collaboration and commercialisation with external stakeholders. 

Contact
+61 2 9384 0473
g.ashton@unsw.edu.au

 

Ian Goon
Head of Strategy and Innovation

Dr Ian Goon is a strategy and innovation leader with a multi-disciplinary skillset developed through experience in world-class professional and academic environments. He has a background in scientific research, developing nano-materials for biosensing applications and subsequently spent 4 years in a commercially focused-role as a strategy consultant with The Boston Consulting Group in Southeast Asia. Prior to joining Tyree IHealthE, Ian co-founded a health technology startup focused on building digital tools for healthcare research projects. His work included leading the development and implementation of technology platforms for the South Asia Biobank (South Asia and UK) and the SG100K population health study in Singapore. Ian holds a BEng (Chemical) and Ph.D from UNSW Sydney and obtained an MPhil in Bioscience Enterprise from the University of Cambridge as a Chevening scholar.

As Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ian is focused on developing and executing the Institute's strategic initiatives for identifying unmet healthcare needs and driving the translation of innovations to address these needs.

Contact
i.goon@unsw.edu.au
LinkedIn Profile

 

Jacqueline Wells
Senior Project Officer | Comms and Marketing

Jacqueline Wells is a marketing and communications professional, with experience in developing digital communications strategies, stakeholder engagement programs, and managing large strategic events. With a background in social sciences and digital communications, Jacqueline is especially interested in the potential for better communication around health technology and innovation. She has over 10 years' experience working in higher education; prior to joining Tyree IHealthE she managed the Digital Health and Informatics Network (DHIN) at the University of Sydney, where she ran a virtual network for researchers in digital health. 

As Senior Project Officer, Jacqueline supports outreach activities, stakeholder engagement initiatives, and manages the Tyree IHealthE communications channels. 

Contact
jacqueline.wells@unsw.edu.au 

 

Tahlia Theodorou
Senior Project Officer | Health Engineering

Tahlia Theodorou is a health education professional with experience in health services research and continuing medical education. With a background in public health and implementation science, Tahlia has worked on multiple national healthcare projects, including in the implementation of the Australian Reproductive Genetic Carrier Screening study (also known as Mackenzie’s Mission). Prior to joining Tyree Tahlia worked at the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) where she led various projects on digital health and cultural safety.

As Senior Project Officer, Tahlia is responsible for supporting the development of educational courses in health technology as well as contributing to broader Tyree IHealthE projects.

Contact
t.theodorou@unsw.edu.au

 

Brice Lenfant
Project Manager

Brice Lenfant is an IT professional with extensive experience implementing, customising, and scaling up digital platforms in the education sector. With a background in Contract Law and IT Project Management, Brice has held various positions in education, including as a lecturer in Mongolia, and a Student Hall Manager in New Zealand. Prior to joining Tyree IHealthE, he was a Digital Systems Specialist at the Catholic Education Office in Canberra where he rolled out cloud-based education software in 56 schools and six colleges across NSW and ACT. 

As a Project Manager for Tyree IHealthE, Brice coordinates technical projects and ensures the development of clinical applications and solutions in an agile environment. 

Contact
b.lenfant@unsw.edu.au

 

Scott Hebenton
Strategy and Innovation Project Officer

Scott Hebenton is an engineering professional with experience in the oil and gas industry. With a background in mechanical engineering, he has worked on various projects throughout the lifecycle of an oil and gas plant, including the construction and commissioning of Shell’s Prelude FLNG. Prior to joining Tyree IHealthE, Scott completed a Master’s in Biomedical Engineering from UNSW. Scott won the UNSW Founders Peter Farrell Cup in 2022 and participated in Health10x pre-accelerator with a medical device startup aimed at reducing the prevalence of pressure injuries.

As Strategy and Innovation Project Officer, Scott supports the identification of unmet needs and translation of innovations.

Contact
s.hebenton@unsw.edu.au

 

Dr Peter Spencer
Professor of Practice

Dr. Peter Spencer has 40 years’ experience commercialising medical products. He has had senior roles in both multinational and start-up medtech companies; facilitated and mentored in several entrepreneurship accelerators; and was a co-founder of AusMedtech, an AusBiotech program. Through his industry roles he has had responsibility for R&D, manufacturing, operations development, regulatory approvals, new business development, fund raising and company governance.

Peter worked with Johnson & Johnson for 14 years in Australia and the USA, managing early-stage medtech innovation investments and has had senior executive (CEO, COO) and non-executive director roles with many public and private start-ups. He is currently a non-executive director of Lusio Rehab Pty Ltd, a company focused on improving adherence to and outcomes from physical therapy rehabilitation programs. Peter is the Maridulu Budyari Gumal SPHERE’s MedTech Innovation Advisor.

He has qualifications in Science BSc (USyd); Chemical Engineering BE (USyd, Hons 1); Biomedical Engineering PhD (UNSW, funded by Baxter Pty Ltd) and; Business, Executive MBA (Columbia University NY, beta gamma sigma Hons Soc, funded by Johnson and Johnson Inc).

Contact
peter.spencer@unsw.edu.au

 

Dr John Parker
Professor of Practice

John Parker is a medical devices and technology inventor and researcher. He is the founder of Saluda Medical and a former executive director at Cochlear Pty Ltd. With more than 10 years experience as CEO John is a senior executive with considerable experience in the successful conception, research, development and commercialization of technology. He has experience in all aspects of innovation from basic research to product planning, R&D, industrialization, operations management and development and implementation of business strategy.

John is currently the Chairman of Biotechnology startup company Ferronova Pty Ltd, member of the NSW department of health medical device fund expert panel and serves in an advisory capacity for a number of private and public sector organisations. He is passionate about seeing technology move from bench to bedside and assisting the development and growth of the medtech industry in Australia. His contributions to science and engineering have been recognised by the award of the prestigious Clunies Ross Medal in 2010 and Research Australia Award for innovation in 2020.

Contact
john.parker1@unsw.edu.au