Sustaining excellence, empowering impact

The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) Development & Engagement Committee (DEC) is a committee of the ARMI Leadership Advisory Board that enables the Institute to deliver exceptional education, research and innovation. This committee generously shares expertise and advice to support the development and implementation of ARMI’s Strategic Fundraising Plan with the goal of diversifying the Institute’s revenue and enable the ethical stewardship of funds for collaborative impact. The DEC regularly advises on proposals for philanthropic investment through Trusts and Foundations, as well as partnership and project applications to government, non-profit and corporate grant programs.

Richard Dent OAM FAICD (Chair)

Richard Dent has exercised leadership for a better world for more than 25 years. He has dedicated over two decades to for-purpose organisations, serving across multiple executive, CEO, governance, and board positions. His extensive career experience spans critical sectors such as child, family, disability, advocacy/policy agencies, peak bodies, and professional associations. Richard is committed to inclusion, equity, governance, strategy and leadership; skilfully intersecting these with business and social policy.

Read more: Richard Dent OAM FAICD (Chair) – Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute

Luke Belfield

Luke is the Associate Victorian Chief Engineer, who has over 15 years of experience in policy, technology and business strategy, project management, and organisational and process optimisation in asset intensive sectors. Luke has had a diverse background having previously worked in a variety of roles at the Department of Premier and Cabinet, as a management consultant for PwC and EY, as a project manager for a metropolitan based water utility and as an engineer for a large global engineering consultancy in the oil and gas and petrochemical industry. This has included leading multidisciplinary teams for large-scale complex infrastructure investments, accountable for delivering and managing multiple concurrent projects from pre-business case development through to operational handover and decommissioning.

Read more: Luke Belfield – Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute

Dr Chris Sotiropoulos

Dr Chris Sotiropoulos has over 25 years global expertise in global commercialisation of innovative healthcare and IT products. He serves as a Co-Founder/Director of APAC Health and CEO of Global Opportunities Commercialisation, private companies that are Australian based but deliver commercialisation advisory and its own innovative products to national and international clients.

Read more: Dr Chris Sotiropoulos – Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute

Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea AM

With a finger on the pulse of Australia’s STEM ecosystem, Dr Evans-Galea is an accomplished executive and board director change-making at the interface of industry, academia and government. In 2025, Dr Evans-Galea was appointed Deputy Director, Strategy and Planning and is part of ARMI’s Executive. She leads the development and implementation of the Institute’s strategy and vision to drive sustainability and growth, develop the Institute’s diverse research leaders and rising stars, and support ARMI’s mission: the discovery and innovation of regenerative medicine and advanced therapies.

Read more: Dr Marguerite Evans-Galea AM – Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute