2023

Orygen’s professorial ranks have increased by three, and in doing so Orygen and the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne have broken new ground in gender equity in medical research in Australia. This significant milestone has further cemented Orygen’s position as a global leader in youth mental health research. 

Since Orygen was established in 2002, the youth mental health research institute has helped launch the careers of 30 academic researchers to the level of full professor. Nearly half of these researchers have gone on to lead departments or institutes around the world, while many more continue to lead cutting edge programs of research at Orygen and the Centre for Youth Mental Health at the University of Melbourne.  

The three newly-promoted professors are Associate Professor Kelly Allott, whose research focuses on understanding and supporting cognitive functioning and functional recovery in young people with mental ill-health; Associate Professor Sarah Bendall, a researcher in trauma and trauma-informed care in youth mental health services; and Associate Professor Simon Rice, who leads Orygen’s elite sport mental health research stream, and was recently appointed director of Movember’s new Men’s Health Institute. 

Significantly, the latest promotions mean Orygen will start 2024 with 16 professors and gender parity in its professorial ranks. 

"It is a moment of pride that we now have gender parity at every academic level – better reflecting the fact that 80 per cent of our staff are women,” Professor Eoin Killackey, Orygen’s Chief of Research and Knowledge Translation, said. 

“However, with this milestone we are now turning our attention to removing the systemic barriers to the representation of other diversities in our research leadership.” 

Professor Killacky congratulated the new professors and said the promotions were worthy recognition of their work and achievements.  

“This is also a moment to reflect on the environment in which they have had those careers and made their contributions,” he said. 

“Orygen's research environment has consistently excelled in identifying and supporting talented young researchers. Notably, in all three cases, these newly-appointed professors have spent their entire research careers at Orygen, which shows Orygen is identifying people with research talent early and creating an environment for them to learn and grow their careers. 

“It also highlights Orygen's commitment to not only conduct outstanding research but also translating that research into impactful outcomes for young people and their families worldwide.” 

The three professorial appointments were among a series of promotions among Orygen research staff, including Dr Jennifer Betts, promoted to Associate Professor for her research in early intervention for borderline personality disorder and Dr Magenta Simmons, elevated to the role of associate professor for her research on collaborative partnerships with young people in research. 

Completing this year’s round of promotions, Orygen would also like to acknowledge and congratulate the following researchers: 

Promoted to Senior Research Fellow: 

Imogen Bell 

Michelle Lamblin 

Christina Phassouliotis 

Isabel Zbukvic 

Promoted to Research Fellow: 

Chelsea Arnold 

Alan Bailey 

Carli Ellinghaus 

Kate Gwyther 

Dylan Hammond 

Laura Han 

Amelia Lopatecki 

Roos Pot-Kolder 

Elena Pozzi 

Lee Valentine