Chairpersons

Professor Jon Watson is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at The University of Western Australia. The Faculty is ranked 8th in the World and 1st in Australia for Clinical Medicine (ARWU Global Rankings). He previously served as Dean of Medicine at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia, from 2014-2019. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London and a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, and was appointed in 2012 to the National Examining Panel of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Jon Watson was born and educated in the UK. He attended Cambridge University for his undergraduate degrees in Medicine (BA and MA in Medical Sciences), and Oxford University for his clinical studies (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery).

He trained as a physician and gastroenterologist in Oxford, London and Newcastle upon Tyne. Whilst working in Newcastle upon Tyne, he was awarded a PhD for studies into Hepatitis C Virus infection and liver disease. He was awarded the European Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) in 1998. He then migrated to Australia, with his family. He has practised, researched and taught in a number of centres in Victoria and New South Wales. He remains active in clinical practice in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and General Internal Medicine. He has maintained an active research interest in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) related liver disease, having published on HCV in peer reviewed journals, presented on HCV at national and international meetings for the last 20 years, and has been Meeting Organiser twice for the Australian Gastroenterology Society’s annual meeting.

In 2014, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Medical Education with the University of Dundee Medical School, Scotland. He served from 2014-19 as a Board Director for Kardinia Health Geelong and the Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria, and Board Chair of the National Centre for Farmer Health in Hamilton, Victoria.

Ms Rebecca Brown commenced as Director General of the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation in September 2018.  In this role, she is also Chief Executive Officer of Tourism Western Australia.

Ms Brown has worked across both Federal and State government agencies in a range of senior roles across revenue and economic policy, social policy, resourcing and performance. Most recently she oversaw the reform of the WA health system, including the establishment of a new governance model and the development of the Health Services Act 2016.

Ms Brown has held senior positions at both WA Treasury and the WA Department of the Premier and Cabinet, where she oversaw key reforms between the public and non-profit community sectors.

Ms Brown has an Honours Degree in Economics from the University of Western Australia and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Winthrop Professor Fiona Wood is a Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon specialising in the field of  burn care, trauma and scar reconstruction.

As Director of the WA Burns Service of Western Australia she is consultant at Perth Children’s Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital.

As director of burns research she leads an interdisciplinary team with broad collaboration focused on translation to improve clinical outcomes.

She has been the recipient of the 2003 Australian Medical Association‘Contribution to Medicine’ Award and an Order of Australia Medal for work with Bali bombing victims. As a National Living Treasure and Australian Citizen of the Year in 2004. she received the honour of being named Australian of the Year in 2005.

Fiona and Marie Stoner, co-founders of Clinical Cell Culture,  now Avitamedical, won the 2005 Clunies Ross Award for their contributions to Medical Science in Australia

Born Perth, 1938, educated Perth Modern School and University of Western Australia.  Admitted to practise law 1962. Queen’s Counsel 1982. Chairman Legal Aid Commission of WA 1983-2011.  Special Inspector to investigate and report on Rothwells Bank collapse, 1989-90. Inaugural Chairman Advisory Board of Constitutional Centre of WA 1997-2011.   Surf Lifesaving WA Bravery Award 1997.  Inaugural Parliamentary Inspector, Corruption and Crime Commission 2004-2009.   AO (Officer, Order of Australia) and WA Citizen of the Year (Professions) 2005.   WA Citizen of the Year (Community Service) 2008. W.A’s nomination for Australian of the Year 2010.  Governor of WA 2011–2014.  Awarded CVO 2011.  AC (Companion, Order of Australia) 2012. Chairman WA Health Translation Network 2014–. Co-Patron Ear Science Institute. Life Member Law Society WA 2013.  Chairman, Ministerial Expert Panel on Voluntary Assisted Dying 2018-2019.  Patron West Coast Eagles. Chairman and Founder McCusker Charitable Foundation, with primary focus on support of medical research.

Prof Fatovich is a senior emergency physician at Royal Perth Hospital Emergency Department, and has over 25 years’ experience in the design and conduct of clinical trials in emergency medicine. He is Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Western Australia, and Head of the Centre for Clinical Research in Emergency Medicine, one of several research centres within the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research. He is also Director of Research for Royal Perth Hospital.

George has extensive health experience, having served in numerous senior roles including within executive roles and national regulatory boards in both Australia and the United Kingdom. Currently in position as the Royal Perth Bentley Group Executive Medical Co-Director Service 4, George came to Perth in 2016 following his appointment as Executive Director of Medical Services within St John of God Health Care, overseeing a period of service transformation to embrace contemporary standards of clinical governance. 

As a Board member of the WA Medical Board of Australia, George is involved in undertaking high stakes decisions relating to fellow health practitioners. George further acts in capacity as an Assessor with the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards, and is actively involved within the field of Medical Education. He is the current Royal Australian College of General Practitioners National Assessment Advisor to the summative assessment process. He further holds an adjunct clinical associate professorship with Curtin University.

George qualified in the UK, graduating from the University of Sheffield with Honours and Distinction. He is a vocationally registered General Practitioner, and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. During his tenure within the UK, he has held senior positions within a variety of health service providers and federal agencies, including within clinical commissioning groups, the General Medical Council and the Care Quality Commission. 

George is an avid long distance runner, having completed a marathon dressed as a giant gingerbread man. He is also a keen martial arts student, and is involved in various community initiatives.