Eminent barrister and solicitor Rob McKenzie has been appointed the new Chair of the Perron Institute Board.
Mr McKenzie, who joined the Board in March, has replaced Emeritus Professor Alan Robson AO CitWA who served as Chairman for five years.
Perron Institute CEO Steve Arnott said Professor Robson, a former Vice-Chancellor of The University of Western Australia, joined the Board at a significant time of expansion.
“Professor Robson took on the role soon after we changed our name to the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science and achieved international research success,” he said.
“Under his leadership, the Institute doubled in research capacity and delivered further international, national and local research achievements.
“His experience, combined with his passion for science and innovation, helped lift the Institute’s standing. We are sincerely grateful for his service.
“Mr McKenzie’s corporate governance and business development experience will help guide the Perron Institute through its next strategic phase of growth.
“In our fortieth year, it’s a pivotal time for the Institute. We are committed to building on our record of achievement in the decades ahead.
“We reconfirm our commitment to fundamental research into neurological conditions and enhancing our international reputation as an innovative, collaborative and translational centre of excellence for medical research.”
Mr McKenzie said he was proud to lead the institute into a new era.
“I am pleased to be leading the Board at an exciting time in the Perron Institute’s history,” he said.
“We will continue to strive to be an innovative, resilient and sustainable organisation, building on our research success to deliver improved diagnostics and much needed therapies for our community.”
Mr McKenzie is co-managing partner of McKenzie Moncrieff and counsel at Blackwall Legal LLP. He was a partner at national law firm Clayton Utz and its predecessor firms for 22 years culminating in being national head of reconstruction and insolvency, and a partner and board member of WA law firm Jackson McDonald.
His previous roles in the legal profession include National Chair of the Law Council of Australia Insolvency and Reconstruction Committee, State Chair and National Deputy Chair of the Corporations Committee.
Currently, Mr McKenzie is Non-Executive Chairman of Source Certain International, Director of the Australian Institute of Neuro-rehabilitation and Director of the WA State Government’s Keystart Loans where he Chairs the Risk Committee, and he is a Member of the Federal Government’s Takeovers Panel.