Senior management

Moira Clay
BSc(Hons), PhD
Director, Academic and Research Services

Professor Clay took up the position of Director of Academic and Research Services in August 2010 after relocating to Perth from Sydney. 

Professor Clay brings a strong background in biomedical research to the Institute, with extensive senior research management experience in organisations such as the National Heart Foundation of Australia, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and Children’s Cancer Institute Australia. 

In 2003, Professor Clay was the President of the Australian Society for Medical Research, the peak professional body representing health and medical researcher’s in Australia.  Recently, she has been elected to the National Executive of the Australasian Research Management Society.

Professor Clay is responsible for fostering and enhancing the Institute’s research capacity with a major focus on development and mentoring of future research leaders and managing critical stakeholder relationships.

She also oversees the Institute’s Animal Ethics Committee and the Consumer and Community Participation program.

Bruce McHarrie
BCom FCA
Director, Finance and Business Development

Mr McHarrie took up the position of Director of Finance and Business Development in 1999 after returning to Perth from the UK.  In the UK, he held positions with Coopers & Lybrand, Deloitte and Rothschild Asset Management where he was Assistant Director of the Bioscience Unit. 

Mr McHarrie oversees the financial and executive management of the Institute, as well as developing public relations and fundraising activities. 

He is also responsible for the commercialisation opportunities arising from the Institute’s research program and holds the position of Non-Executive Director of Phylogica Limited and Advanced Diagnostic Systems Pty Ltd, being two Institute spin-out companies.

Sash Tomson
BCom CPA FAIM
Chief Administrative Officer

Mr Sash Tomson joined the Institute in 2009. He was previously an Executive Director with the Queensland Department of Education and Training and held senior executive positions with the Departments of Communities and Emergency Services, Queensland.  In January 2004 he received an Australia Day Medal for his work with the Queensland Ambulance Service, and later that year was admitted as a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. 

Prior to his role in the public sector he was Senior Manager, Assurance and Advisory Services with KPMG, Brisbane.  His career has involved providing corporate and strategic services to clients within the public and private sectors.

Sash has responsibilities for corporate, strategic and company administrative support.