Women in Research

The Women in Research event is hosted by the Sydney Institute for Women, Children and their Families and the RPA Institute for Academic Medicine. The event will be opened by Deb Willcox AM, Chief Executive, Sydney Local Health District, and include talks from both early-mid career and senior researchers. The talks will highlight inspiring career pathways for women in clinician-researcher roles, and how to promote supportive workplace practices, including mentorship, specialised training opportunities and seed funding. Following their talks, our four speakers will join a panel discussion convened by special guest and recipient of the 2025 RPA Foundation Research Medal, Professor Adrienne Gordon. Please see below for the event program and more information about our speakers.

Speakers

Professor Lisa Horvath
Professor Lisa Horvath is the Director of Research and Senior Staff Specialist at the Chris O'Brien Lifehouse and a Clinical Researcher heading the Advanced Prostate Cancer Group at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research in The Kinghorn Cancer Centre. She is also the Professor of Medical Oncology (genitourinary cancer) at the University of Sydney and Chair of the Prostate Subcommittee of the Australian and New Zealand Urogenital and Prostate (ANZUP) clinical trials group.

Associate Professor Shilpi Ajwani

Associate Professor Shilpi Ajwani is the Director of Oral Health Promotion, Research, and Clinical Governance at Sydney Local Health District Oral Health and Sydney Dental Hospital. She also is the Associate Director of Oral Health at the Centre for Education and Research on Ageing (CERA), Concord Repatriation General Hospital.

A recognised specialist in Public Health Dentistry, Associate Professor Ajwani’s research focuses on the intersection of oral and systemic health, integrated care models, and improving oral health outcomes for older adults. At CERA, she leads a multidisciplinary outreach program that supports oral health students and clinicians in delivering care to residents across SLHD’s residential aged care facilities. 

Associate Professor Ajwani has been a chief investigator on several successful national grants, including NHMRC and PIFS-funded projects. With over 60 peer-reviewed publications in national and international journals, she also serves on editorial boards and as a reviewer for high-impact Q1 and Q2 journals. She is an invited speaker at national and international conferences and a specialist examiner for the Royal Australasian College of Dentists, shaping the next generation of dental professionals.

Associate Professor Ajwani is a passionate advocate for women in health and research and has mentored emerging female leaders, including through the Franklin Women’s Mentoring Program. Driven by a deep belief in equity and access to care, she is passionate about translating research into real-world impact, especially for vulnerable and ageing populations. She brings a collaborative, future-focused approach to oral health leadership, education, and innovation.

Dr Amali Mallawaarachchi

Dr Amali Mallawaarachchi is a Clinician-Scientist whose current research focuses on understanding the molecular basis of polycystic kidney disease through the application of the latest sequencing technologies. Major areas in this project include investigating novel mutational mechanisms in cyst development and in genetically undiagnosed polycystic kidney disease families.
Amali studied Medicine at James Cook University in Queensland, then completed her Physician Training in Sydney. She is Australia's first dual-trained Clinical Geneticist and Nephrologist. Amali completed her PhD at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research under the supervision of Professor John Shine and Associate Professor Mark Cowley, focusing on molecular diagnostics in polycystic kidney disease. As part of her studies, she developed the world-first whole genome sequencing-based diagnostic test for Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease. She is currently a research lead for Clinical Genetics with the RPA Institute for Academic Medicine and is a NSW Health Early-Mid Career Grant Holder.

Associate Professor Hala Phipps

Associate Professor Hala Phipps is a Clinical Research Midwifery Consultant at Sydney Local Health District and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and UTS. With over 68 publications and $1.98M in research funding, she leads impactful maternal health research, including NHMRC-funded RCTs. A mentor and innovator, Hala is dedicated to improving maternal and neonatal outcomes through translational research.

Panel convener

Professor Adrienne Gordon

Professor Adrienne Gordon is a Senior Neonatal Staff Specialist in the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital in Sydney and a Clinical Professor in Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology at the University of Sydney. Adrienne is recognised as a unique neonatal clinician-researcher whose research focuses on pregnancy and maternal as well as neonatal health interventions. She is co-chair of the Sydney Institute for Women, Children and Families and the Sydney Health Partners Clinical Academic Group for Reproductive, Maternal and Newborn Health. She holds other key leadership roles nationally and internationally including Deputy Secretary General-Oceania for Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, Board Director of International Stillbirth Alliance, Co-Chair of the Interdisciplinary Maternal Perinatal Australasian Collaborative Trials (IMPACT) Network and President of the Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand (PSANZ). Professor Gordon is a CI on the NHMRC Stillbirth Centre for Research Excellence and has significant expertise in implementation research, clinical trials and translating research into policy and practice in healthcare.