Congratulations to Associate Professor Ngaire Elwood, Director, BMDI Cord Blood Bank and Head, Cord Blood Stem Cell Research Lab, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI).
Associate Professor Elwood is the recipient of a $12,000 scholarship to undertake the Leading for Organisational Impact: The Looking Glass Experience program at the Melbourne Business School (MBS).
A significant number of high-calibre applications were received for the scholarship this year. The five-day program designed by the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL)®, aims to support senior managers lead with an enterprise-wide perspective – a critical attribute for leaders within the VCCC alliance.
Associate Professor Elwood is the Director of the Cord Blood Bank at the MCRI, Royal Children’s Hospital. The role of the cord blood bank is to provide high quality cord blood units for bone marrow transplant of patients with leukaemia and other blood disorders. She is also Head of the Cord Blood Stem Cell Research Laboratory at MCRI where the focus of research is to investigate and exploit the full potential of cord blood for novel cancer therapies, and to increase understanding of leukaemogenesis. Associate Professor Elwood currently serves as Vice-President of the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) and is active nationally and internationally in development and decision-making forums.
This year is the second time the scholarship has been awarded. Associate Professor Sue-Anne McLachlan, Director Oncology and Cancer Services, St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne was the inaugural recipient in 2019 and credits the opportunity with broadening her understanding of leadership not only in the context of cancer care but also through interactions with course participants from a wide range of organisations facing complex challenges.
The leadership scholarship is in honour of Jo Leonard who was a longstanding and valued member of the Melbourne Business School. Jo had ovarian cancer and passed away in 2016. She first commenced with the MBS in 1999 supporting Executive Education programs as a facilitator and executive coach. She worked with many public and private sector clients including the highly successful BHP Billiton Graduate Program and was a key facilitator for the MBS Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) programs, her passion being Leading for Organisational Impact, Executive Education - MBS.
“I am passionate about the provision of cellular and gene therapies for the treatment of cancer, for all patients where these therapies are indicated"
“I am passionate about the provision of cellular and gene therapies for the treatment of cancer, for all patients where these therapies are indicated," says Associate Professor Elwood. “I would like to utilise the skills I gain from this opportunity in my activities across the MCRI/RCH campus and VCCC alliance institutions.” She will undertake the program later this year.
