Dr Rachel Shparberg
Rachel Shparberg is the current Chairperson of the NSW Stem Cell Network. Rachel completed her PhD at The University of Sydney in 2018; her research focused on understanding the mechanisms underlying mammalian nervous system development using mouse embryonic stem cells. During her PhD, Rachel worked as the part-time Manager of The NSW Stem Cell Network (2015), and following the completion of her PhD, she worked as a Research Scientist at Western Sydney University where she used human pluripotent stem cells to understand lens development, disease and regeneration. Rachel currently works as a Medical Writer in the pharma and medical affairs industry.

Professor Bernie Tuch
Bernie Tuch was the Founding Chairman of the NSW Stem Cell Network in 2002; he is now the immediate Past Chairman. Dr Tuch is a practising endocrinologist in Sydney and a Professor of Medicine at Monash University. He is a Director of the Australian Foundation for Diabetes Research developing a bioengineered cell therapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes. The cells used in this Project are stem cell derived insulin-producing islets produced by collaborators in Israel.

Dr Michael Morris
Michael Morris specialises in research on embryonic stem cells and embryology, with a view to understanding normal and abnormal nervous system development and developing assisted reproduction technologies for use in humans and livestock. He has worked in embryonic stem-cell R&D in the biotech industry and the Australian Stem Cell Centre before moving to an academic position at Sydney University. He is a founding member of the NSW Reproduction Forum and the Sydney Centre for Developmental and Regenerative Medicine.

Dr Margret Schuller
Margret has worked in the field of medical research for many years, has co-authored numerous life science research publications and editor of PCR in clinical Microbiology: An Australian and International Perspective, (Springer, 2010). Margret also runs her own company, Profitable Business Development, which specialises in business development, demand marketing, market analysis, corporate image, brand strength and knowledge management. The company recently expanded to include corporate events and portrait photography. Since 2012, Margret has been an active committee member and chair of Sponsorship and Industry for the Australian Society of Stem Cell Research (ASSCR).

Chester Bendall

Chester Bendall is an executive managing corporate services for My Voice, a national disability services provider. He is currently engaged in business development strategy, quality and safeguards, and specialised disability accommodation development in the disability sector. He is also a non-executive director of the Centre for Volunteering peak body.

He has worked for universities and at CSIRO in science communication, public affairs and strategic commercialisation projects, and as contributor and director of a publishing company, and producer/presenter of a radio talks show focussing on technology and the community.

Chester thrives despite a spinal cord injury and is passionate about learning and making a difference.

Past Board Members

Dr Kelvin Hopper
It is with great sadness we announce the passing of longtime Board Member, Dr Kelvin Hopper, on 22 December 2021. Kelvin was a member of the Board of the Network since 2008 and his extensive commercial background and involvement in the biotech and medtech industries, was invaluable to the success of the Network.

Dr Daniella Goldberg

Daniella is on the advisory board of the NSW Stem Cell Network and was the initial manager and co-founder of the NSW Stem Cell Network over 15 years ago.

She is passionate about health & life sciences, innovation, commercialisation, business & start-ups. Daniella has been working with start up biotechnology companies specialising in stem cell therapeutics and is currently an MBA candidate. Prior to this, she worked in science communication and marketing, in TV, radio and print media, turning science into a compelling story for a wide range of audiences including executives, investors, scientific peers, school students, Government and the general public. To balance her professional career in life science start-ups, Daniella created her own boutique wellness business that facilitates high performers to de stress through mindfulness & yoga

in nature.

Joanna Knott
Joanna Knott is a co-founder (25 years ago) and the Chair of national research charity, SpinalCure Australia. She has a 30-year career in Communications/PR. Her work was a major contributor to Federal Parliamentarians voting in favour of this research in a conscience vote in 2006. In 2008, she was awarded an OAM for her work in this sector.

Prof Ian Kerridge
Ian Kerridge is Professor of Bioethics and Medicine at Sydney health Ethics in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney and Staff Haematologist/Bone Marrow Transplant physician at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney. He is Chair of the South Eastern Sydney LHD Clinical Ethics Committee and a member of the NSW Health Department's Health Ethics Advisory Panel. In 2005 Ian was a member of the Legislation Review Committee (Lockhart Committee) which reviewed the Prohibition of Human Cloning Act 2002 and the Research Involving Human Embryos Act 2002.