Our patrons
Our Patrons comprise of leading individuals who have made significant contributions in the treatment and research of cardiovascular disease within Australia and internationally. We are thankful for the following outstanding individuals to be our patrons of Heart Support Australia.
Prof Clara Chow AM
Dr. Clara Chow is Professor of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Academic Director of the Westmead Applied Research Centre (WARC) and Academic Co-Director of CPC (Charles Perkins Centre) Westmead. She is a Cardiologist and Clinical Lead Community Based Cardiac Services at Westmead hospital. She is currently the immediate past President of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ)
Prof Gemma Figtree AM
Gemma Figtree is a Professor in Medicine at the University of Sydney. She co-leads the Cardiovascular Theme for Sydney Health Partners, a NHMRC Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre and is the Chair of the University of Sydney’s multi-disciplinary Cardiovascular Initiative. Professor Figtree is committed to the promotion and advocacy of cardiovascular research, working as President of the Australian Cardiovascular Alliance with a national team to secure $220 Million Federal funding for the Mission for Cardiovascular Health, as well as being a a board member of the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
Prof Robyn Gallagher
Robyn Gallagher is Professor of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney Nursing School based at the Charles Perkins Centre and an Honorary Professor at Edinburgh Napier University. Professor Gallagher’s clinical and academic career focusses on understanding and supporting patients who have cardiovascular disease engage in secondary prevention behaviours to reduce their risk of future cardiovascular events.
Prof Jeroen Hendriks
Prof Hendriks holds the inaugural Leo J Mahar Cardiovascular Nursing Chair at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University and the Department of Cardiology, Royal Adelaide Hospital. In this clinical academic role he aims to develop a collaborative of academic and clinical excellence to support joint research endeavours between Flinders University and the Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN). In the past decade Dr Hendriks has developed an international reputation in the field of integrated care management and the required practice redesign and health care reform associated with the implementation of such approaches.
Prof Stephen Nicholls
Prof Nicholls is a world-renowned cardiologist and leads the Victorian Heart Hospital (VHH). A multipleaward winner, Professor Nicholls has written more than 770 manuscripts, book chapters and conference proceedings, and has raised more than $100 million in research funding. Since 2012, Professor Nicholls has been Deputy Director and Heart Health Theme Leader at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI). He is also Professor of Cardiology at the University of Adelaide, Consultant Cardiologist at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and Principal Research Fellow of the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC). Prof Nicholls is also the current Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) President.
Prof Julie Redfern
Julie Redfern is a Professor of Public Health, 2022 NSW Woman of Excellence and current holder of a NHMRC Investigator Grant Leadership 2 (NHMRC Elizabeth Blackburn Award for Health Services). She is also a practicing Physiotherapist, leads the Engagement and Co-Design Research (ECHO) Team in the School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology and is a Professorial Fellow at the George Institute for Global Health.
Prof Prash Sanders
Professor Sanders is a clinical academic based at the University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute. He is the Director of the Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders at the University of Adelaide; Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing at the Royal Adelaide Hospital; and the Group Leader for Heart Rhythm Disorders at SAHMRI. Prof Sanders and his team have revolutionised the way atrial fibrillation is treated through their leading research in weight loss and risk factor management reversing the arrhythmia burden.
Dr Ross Walker
Dr. Ross Walker is an eminent practising cardiologist with 40 years’ experience as a clinician, a passion for people, and for health. He is one of Australia’s leading preventative health experts and has directed his focus towards preventative cardiology for the past 20 years. Dr. Walker has published 7 best-selling books on preventative cardiology and lectures both nationally and internationally on this subject. He is also the President of the Gut Foundation of Australia
