Our Board and Executive

Denise Goldsworthy AO is an experienced non-executive director with extensive experience in science-based innovation, industry leading performance and business deliverables.

Denise has held senior positions in operations and technology for both BHP and Rio Tinto, and currently runs her own consultancy, Alternate Futures.

Denise has a range of extensive board experience, including on the ASX, in Federal and State Government, and private and charity Boards.

Denise’s current portfolio of non executive director roles is focused on technology, manufacturing and infrastructure, and includes Chair of Western Power, Gascoyne Gateway and Navy Clearance Diver Trust; and Non-Executive Director of Leichhardt Industrials.

Denise also Chairs the Cooperative Research Centre Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Curtin University Commercialisation Advisory and Critical Minerals and Mining Technologies Trailblazer Boards.

Denise was awarded Telstra Australian Business Woman of the Year in 2010 and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

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).

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.

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.

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).

Dennis Goldner AM is an economist, former partner at Deloitte and former senior public servant who joins the board after chairing Connectivity’s Finance Risk and Audit Committee since 2020.  Dennis has had rich experience in governance, having chaired many boards and committees, and has had related experience in the health sector.

Naomi is the Executive Officer for Connectivity. Naomi has extensive experience working across all areas of media, marketing and communication within not-for-profit, Government and private sector organisations.

Holly oversees all Marketing and Communications for Connectivity. Holly was previously responsible for communications for several high profile sporting organisations both in Australia and overseas.