Zita Peach and Peter Kempen AM Appointed to ONJCRI Board
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Ms. Zita Peach as the new Chair of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute (ONJCRI). With more than 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and health services sectors, Zita brings a wealth of knowledge, strategic insight, and proven expertise to the Institute. Her appointment signals an exciting new chapter in ONJCRI’s mission to deliver world-leading cancer research and advance the development of innovative diagnostics and anticancer therapeutics, following the visionary direction of her predecessors, The Hon. John Brumby AO, The Hon. Jenny Macklin AC, and Mr. Richard Balderstone.
The Institute would also like to announce the appointment of Peter Kempen AM to the Board as a non-executive director and Chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee. Peter is Chairman of Pro Medicus Ltd, a major ASX-listed imaging IT provider, who deliver services and solutions to hospitals, imaging centres and healthcare groups worldwide. Peter is also Chairman of the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group and was previously a Partner at Ernst and Young. Peter’s extensive governance and leadership experience will strengthen ONJCRI’s strategic direction and enhance its capacity for impact.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Richard Balderstone for his significant contributions as Chair during a transformative period for ONJCRI. Richard was instrumental in guiding the Institute through several key milestones, including the recruitment of our CEO, Professor Marco Herold. His calm and strategic oversight ensured a smooth transition during this critical time of change.
Richard’s influence extended through other crucial periods, including his guidance during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the passing of Olivia Newton-John. His steady hand during these difficult times was invaluable to the Institute’s stability and continued progress. Additionally, Richard played a pivotal role in recruiting ONJCRI’s new Chief Operating Officer and establishing the new roles of Chief Business Development Officer, and Chief Clinical Research Officer, ensuring the leadership team was well-positioned to support the Institute’s ambitious research agenda.
Throughout his tenure, Richard’s personable and thoughtful approach to governance helped foster a collaborative environment within the Institute. His focus on strategic growth, talent recruitment, and operational resilience has left an enduring legacy. We are pleased that Richard will remain on the ONJCRI Board as a non-executive director, where his experience will continue to benefit the Institute.
Reflecting on his time as Chair, Richard shared his optimism for the future: “I am honoured to hand the baton to Zita, whose deep understanding of both the business and scientific landscapes will ensure ONJCRI continues to thrive. I have every confidence that under her guidance, the Institute will build on its strong foundation and drive even greater innovation and impact.”
Zita is no stranger to innovation. Her previous roles, including Executive Vice President at Fresenius Kabi and Vice President of Business Development at CSL, saw her lead global commercialisation efforts and secure critical partnerships to bring innovative healthcare solutions to market. These experiences make her uniquely suited to guiding ONJCRI’s ambitious research agenda. Zita’s vision aligns seamlessly with the strategic direction set by Professor Marco Herold, who joined as CEO just 18 months ago. Together, they are poised to accelerate ONJCRI’s translational research, ensuring that its discoveries can progress to clinical trials and ultimately reach patients as swiftly as possible within the regulatory framework.
Professor Herold expressed his excitement about Zita’s appointment: “Zita’s extensive experience in global business development and commercialisation will significantly bolster our efforts to develop more effective, tolerable, and accessible diagnostics and anticancer therapeutics. Her expertise comes at a critical time as we push forward with cutting-edge research that has the potential to improve therapeutic outcomes for cancer patients.”
In addition to her new role at ONJCRI, Zita holds several other prestigious non-executive directorships, including with Monash IVF Group, Icon Cancer Care Group, Nucleus Network Pty Ltd, and VetPartners Pty Ltd. Her career is distinguished by a commitment to leveraging innovation to solve real-world healthcare challenges, making her an ideal fit to lead ONJCRI’s focus on impactful, patient-centred cancer research.
Commenting on her appointment, Zita Peach said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining ONJCRI at this pivotal moment. The Institute has enormous potential as a progressive leader in translational research, and I look forward to working with the team to turn groundbreaking discoveries into tangible health outcomes for patients. Together we can ensure that ONJCRI’s research innovations are translated into effective therapeutics that reach the market efficiently and benefit patients.”
With these new appointments and a clear vision for the future, ONJCRI is well-positioned to continue its mission of transforming cancer treatment through innovative research. Zita Peach’s leadership, alongside the expertise of Professor Herold and the broader Board, will undoubtedly drive the Institute toward realising its bold impact goals in the coming years. We look forward to the remarkable progress ahead.