Professor Keith Martin is a clinician scientist ophthalmologist and Professor and Head of Ophthalmology at the University of Melbourne.

He was previously Professor and Head of Ophthalmology and Deputy Director of the Centre for Brain Repair at the University of Cambridge.

His research is focused on developing new strategies to protect and regenerate the optic nerve in glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. He was first in the world to demonstrate gene therapy and stem cell therapy could reduce retinal ganglion cell death in an experimental model of glaucoma.

A gene therapy for glaucoma developed in his lab is currently being progressed towards human clinical trials by a major pharmaceutical company. He has extensive experience in optic nerve injury models, including multiple animal models of glaucoma, retinal gene therapy and all relevant surgical techniques.

He is an experienced supervisor and mentor to graduate students, post docs and clinician scientists. Clinically, he specialises in the medical and surgical management of advanced glaucoma.

Professor Robyn Guymer AM is Head of Macular Research at CERA and Professor of Ophthalmology at Melbourne University. She is also a senior retinal specialist at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.

She is a clinician scientist who leads a team of researchers primarily investigating age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

She is currently investigating new strategies for treating early stages of AMD and is working to identify novel imaging and functional biomarkers and surrogate endpoints to improve the feasibility of conducting early intervention trials. She is a member of the Macular Society and an inaugural fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

Professor Lauren Ayton co-leads the Retinal Gene Therapy Unit and VENTURE inherited retinal diseases (IRD) registry with Dr Tom Edwards.

She is also the Head of the Vision Optimisation Unit and is currently the interim Associate Dean of Innovation and Enterprise for the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.

Her research interests are inherited retinal disease (IRD), low vision, and interventions to assist people with IRD, including gene therapy.

Leah Borsboom is a senior HR leader and consultant with close to 15 years of experience in generalist and specialist roles across the corporate, not-for-profit and justice sectors. She specialises in employee relations, workforce planning, remuneration, change management and leadership development.

Leah’s previous roles include working as a corporate lawyer and later, in a human resources management role, at Minter Ellison, and as the Resourcing & Remuneration Manager at Victoria Legal Aid.

In January 2018 she joined the Centre for Eye Research Australia as Head of People Development before moving into the Chief Operating Officer position. This diverse executive role involves managing the research support areas including human resource, legal, finance, communications, information technology, administration and facilities, as well as working closely with the Board and Executive to ensure good governance and operational implementation of CERA’s strategy.

Leah holds a Bachelor of Law (Hons) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

Tena Cheng is a senior commercial lawyer with close to 15 years of experience in commercial and intellectual property related legal roles across the corporate and University research sector.

With a unique mix of a double degree in Science and Law, Tena’s previous roles include working as a research commercialisation lawyer at the University of Melbourne as well as being the Lead Counsel for one of Toll Holding’s six key business division.

Tena joined the Centre for Eye Research Australia in January 2019 as the Legal Manager before taking an expanded role driving research commercialisation activities as the Head of Commercialisation and Legal in March 2020.

This expanded executive role is a critical part of CERA’s strategy and will support CERA’s Principal Investigators to protect their intellectual property, identify commercial opportunities and help them manage contract negotiations with potential commercial partners to ensure that CERA’s technologies and legal risks are appropriately managed and protected.

In 2023 she took on the role of chief operating officer, and continues in the role as co-COO with Leah Borsboom.

Fiona George is a senior finance executive with a demonstrated history of success across a variety of industries including medical research, not-for-profit, financial services, global distribution, transport and marketing.

She is highly skilled in financial and treasury management, business planning, financial reporting and regulatory compliance and driving continual improvement.

Prior to joining CERA in 2019 she held senior roles across the superannuation & global distribution industries. She leads a team of finance and payroll professionals who support the day-to-day and strategic outcomes of the organisation.

She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, is a Certified Practicing Accountant, and holds a Bachelor of Business with an Accounting major.

Professor Lyndell Lim is a uveitis and medical retina subspecialist and leads CERA’s clinical trials research.

After completing her ophthalmology training in Melbourne, Prof Lim then completed two Fellowships – one in medical retina at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, and one in uveitis/ocular inflammatory disease at the Casey Eye Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA.

Prof Lim’s main research interests are clinical studies in the field of uveitis and ocular immunology, and diabetic retinopathy. Her team runs both investigator-initiated and sponsored clinical trials that aim to investigate new treatments in a variety of ophthalmic diseases.

Janine Sim-Jones is a senior strategic communications leader with experience in a diverse range of government and not-for-profit organisations.

She began her career as a journalist before moving into media relations, and later senior communications leadership roles spanning education, research, legal and family services.

Janine joined CERA as Head of Communications in 2018, before moving into her expanded executive role. She leads a team of strategic communications, marketing, fundraising and philanthropy professionals passionate about supporting our scientists and promoting their impact as they work towards a world free from vision loss and blindness.

She has a degree in journalism, post-graduate qualifications in public relations, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Rowan Neilson is a senior corporate lawyer with over 20 years of experience in the mining, chemicals, agriculture, technology and retail and consumer sectors in Australia, USA and Singapore.

Prior to joining CERA, he worked at Orica Group for over 20 years in a range of legal counsel roles, including intellectual property. He also provided leadership and advice on large research projects including a five-year $25 million strategic research alliance with CSIRO, which was jointly awarded the CSIRO Medal for Business Excellence.

A team of senior clinician and basic scientists leads our ambitious research program to understand the causes of eye disease, improve the diagnosis of treatment of disease, prevent vision loss and restore sight.

Our Board directors generously volunteer their time and expertise, contributing a wealth of experience in business, finance, law, science, research and philanthropy.