Medicines Australia appoints senior policy leader
15 April 2025: Medicines Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr Melanie Shakespear to a newly created senior leadership role, strengthening the organisation’s policy capacity and executive team.
Dr Shakespear brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and public service leadership to the organisation, with a career spanning immunology research and national health policy development.
As a new member of the Medicines Australia Executive Team, Dr Shakespear’s appointment reflects a strategic investment in the organisation’s policy capability, together with increased capacity to respond to the evolving needs of the sector and the Australian community.
Dr Shakespear began her career as a research scientist in both the UK and Australia, earning her PhD in Immunology from the University of Queensland. She later took up an inaugural Australian Science Policy Fellowship, applying her scientific expertise within the Department of Health and Aged Care in Canberra.
Her extensive experience includes leading health policy and program work across national research funding priorities, access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, and reform of Australia’s newborn screening programs.
“Melanie brings a unique perspective and proven leadership in public health policy, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our Executive Team at such a critical time for the sector,” said Medicines Australia CEO, Liz de Somer.
“This appointment reflects our commitment to bolstering our strategic capability with deep scientific knowledge and policy expertise,” she added.
Dr Shakespear said “I’m looking forward to bringing together my two passions in this great role: promoting the power of innovation and science and its contribution to life changing medicines – and developing evidenced based policy to deliver meaningful outcomes for patients.
“It is an exciting time to join Medicines Australia with health technology assessment reform on the horizon, a challenging geopolitical environment calling for greater sovereign capability and the opportunity to put forward new policy ideas with an incoming Government”, said Dr Shakespear.
Dr Melanie Shakespear will commence in the role on 22 April 2025.
Media enquiries to: Anne-Marie Sparrow, Medicines Australia /Cube – media@medicinesaustralia.com.au or 0417 421 560
About Medicines Australia
Medicines Australia leads the research-based pharmaceutical industry of Australia. Our members discover, develop and manufacture the medicines that are the foundation of a healthy and prosperous society, including prescription pharmaceutical products, biotherapeutic products and vaccines. Our members invest in Australian medical research and take local discoveries and developments to the world.