Our Board

Chair of the Connectivity Board, Emeritus Professor Robert Vink AM is a Neuroscientist specialising in acute brain injury. Having completed his studies at Griffiths University in Queensland (Bsc Hons and PhD), Prof Vink was awarded a Sandoz Postdoctoral Neuroscience Fellowship in the Neurology Department at the University of California, San Francisco.

Since then, Prof Vink has largely focused his research on identifying secondary pathology following central nervous system injuries, and the associated development of novel pharmacotherapies that improve functional outcome.

Throughout his professional career, Prof Vink has worked as Head of Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at James Cook University in Queensland, the Head of School of Medical Sciences at the University of Adelaide, and the Pro-Vice Chancellor at the University of South Australia. Upon his retirement from academia in 2019 Vink was honoured with the title of Emeritus Professor.

Prof Vink has actively been involved with not-for-profit companies for many years, and has held positions with the Neurosurgical Research Foundation, the Florey Medical Research Foundation, the Scientific and Education Advisory Committee at the National Trauma Research Institute, was the Co-Chair of the South Australian Neuroscience Institute and a member of the Research Committee at the Spinal Cord Society of Australia. He is currently President of the International Neurotrauma Society, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, and in 2018 was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

John Higgins (AO) is Chairman of the Higgins Group of Companies, a privately owned business, which was started in 1949 by his father Gerry. Today the Group invests in a variety of industries in Australia and overseas.

John has over 35 years' experience in investing and running companies in Australia, Europe, and North America.

In recent years John has supported major medical research into Traumatic Brain Injury, as well Prostate and Colon Cancer, through the University of South Australia.

John is passionate about education having previously funded the Gerry Higgins Chair of Irish Studies and more recently the Gerry Higgins Chair of Positive Psychology, both at Melbourne University. John was Chair of the Centre from inception in 2013 until 2020.

From 2006 to 2012 John Chaired the Melbourne Grammar School Learning and Leadership Advisory Board, which focused on all areas of learning and leadership from prep to year 12.

John is a board member of the National Gallery of Victoria's Foundation since 2010, as well a life member of the NGV.

John has been a board member of Camp Quality a national children's cancer charity for the last 12 years.

Dr Anthony Filippis is the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Neurosciences Victoria. An internationally experienced Senior Business Manager, Dr Filippis has expertise working across many industries with specific expertise in the international biotechnology, pharmaceutical and investment industries.

Holding a PhD from the University of Melbourne and an MBA from La Trobe University, Dr Filippis has gone on to found a number of companies.

Dr Filippis has been on the non-executive Board of Directors for companies including Neurosciences Victoria Ltd, Impel Neuropharma Australia Pty Ltd, Cerebral Therapeutics Pty Ltd, AnaptysBio Pty Ltd, Boulder Ionics Pty Ltd, MingSight Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd and Neurevest Limited.

Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld is a Senior Neurosurgeon at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, and Professor of Surgery at Monash University. Prof Rosenfeld has extensive experience in senior healthcare and research roles, and has had a distinguished career as one of Australia’s most experienced military surgeons with the Australian Army Reserves.

Having obtained the title of Major General, Prof Rosenfeld has served on eight deployments to Rwanda, Bougainville, East Timor, the Solomon Islands and Iraq. In addition, Prof Rosenfeld has committed his time to the Australian-Aid funded Pacific Islands Project for the transfer of clinical skills to healthcare professionals in Papua New Guinea, Fiji and the Solomon Islands.

For his dedication to his work, Prof Rosenfeld has been honoured with the Officer of The Order of British Empire (OBE) for services to Neurosurgery and the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine, the Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), and the International Lifetime Recognition Award of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Professor Elizabeth Kendall is a Professor of Disability and Rehabilitation at the Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffiths University, and is the Executive Director of The Hopkins Centre – Research for Rehabilitation and Resilience.

Since completing her PhD on Adjustment following Traumatic Injury in 1997, Prof Kendall has built a research agenda in rehabilitation and service systems for people who are managing the consequences of serious injuries, disabilities or chronic conditions.

As a part of her work, Prof Kendall has amassed over $50 million in research grants and consultancies; and has had over 200 publications in high quality journals including Social Science and Medicine, the American Journal of Public Health, Rehabilitation Psychology, and Disability and Rehabilitation. Prof Kendall has additionally designed and directed complex community evaluations, and randomised controlled trials of major health reform projects.

Jamie Shine is a Lawyer and Executive Director of the Law & Health Collective Pty Ltd.  Previously a General Manager at Shine Lawyers for 23 years, where she led the national brain injury division which focused on assisting Australians suffering from the ongoing impacts of varying severities of brain trauma, from persistent post-concussion symptoms or mild traumatic brain injury through to severe TBI. During her 23-year career, Jamie has focused predominately on helping Australians with catastrophic injuries, get access to rehabilitation, treatment, compensation and NDIS/NIISQ benefits. Jamie is passionate about creating awareness and change particularly in the area of concussion and mTBI.

Jamie is an experienced non-executive director on several boards focused on assisting and advocating for those with TBIs and high care needs as well as in the area of diversity and equity. Jamie is a director on the boards of Youngcare, Concussion Legacy Foundation Australia, secretary of Australian Women Lawyers and past President of Women Lawyers Association of Queensland.

Jamie holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB), Master of Laws (LLM), Master of Business Administration (MBA) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directions (GAICD).