(On leave in 2023)

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.

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.

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.