Celebrating Leadership, Partnership and Discovery: Highlights from the 2025 ARMI Ambassadors’ Dinner

On Wednesday 5 November, the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI) hosted its annual Ambassadors’ Dinner at Melbourne’s historic Lyceum Club, celebrating research excellence, community, and the partnerships that power discovery.

Set in one of Melbourne’s oldest women’s member clubs, the event brought together more than 40 special guests, including ARMI Ambassadors, government representatives, industry leaders and researchers at every career stage. The evening was both a reflection on the year’s achievements and a reminder of the collective commitment driving ARMI’s growth trajectory.

Celebrating our Ambassadors

The event acknowledged the remarkable dedication of ARMI’s Ambassadors: The Hon John Brumby AO, Dr Janine Kirk AO, The Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO, and Dr Zita Unger, whose advocacy continues to strengthen ARMI’s reach and impact.

A special highlight of the evening was the announcement of Prof Andrew Dyer as the newest ARMI Ambassador. Formerly Chair of the ARMI Leadership Advisory Board, Prof Dyer brings deep experience in industry and innovation and a long-standing passion for connecting science with community.

Dr Peter Rogers, speaking on behalf of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute Leadership Advisory Board, reflected on the vital role of the Ambassadors.

“Our Ambassadors are the people who successfully generated funding from State and Commonwealth and positioned the Institute within the Monash ecosystem, enabling it to lead and flourish on the national and international stage,” he said.

“This is a time of spectacular translational opportunities globally for regenerative medicine, including at Monash. ARMI is exceptionally well placed within the Monash Clayton precinct, with the Heart Hospital and Monash Medical Centre equidistant and eager to collaborate on translational opportunities.”

Reflections from ARMI’s newest Research Leader

For Dr Nathalie Saurat, Group Leader at ARMI, it was her first Ambassadors’ Dinner and a memorable introduction to the community supporting her research.

“I was blown away by the dedication of ARMI’s Ambassadors,” Dr Saurat shared. “As a new Group Leader, it was inspiring to feel that level of support and to hear about the Institute’s history. It reminded me that our work doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s part of a much larger story about curiosity, collaboration and impact.”

Dr Saurat reflected on the keynote address by Professor Eric Morand, Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor and Dean of the Sub-Faculty of Clinical and Molecular Medicine at Monash University. His talk on lupus research traced the journey from discovery through to clinical translation.

“Hearing about research that started as a fundamental discovery and is now changing lives was a powerful reminder of what’s possible,” Dr Saurat said. “It reflected what many of us at ARMI are striving for – to take bold science and turn it into something that helps patients.”

Showcasing Research Excellence and Translation

Two of ARMI’s rising stars, Anna Box and Dr Jean Tan, also spoke, offering perspectives from both ends of the research-to-translation spectrum.

Ms Box highlighted the importance of fundamental discovery research in understanding biological processes that underpin regenerative medicine. Dr Tan, a postdoctoral fellow at Myostellar, shared insights from the translational and commercialisation side, where discoveries are developed into potential therapies.

Together their stories illustrated the continuum from discovery to delivery and how collaboration across academia and industry accelerates innovation.

A Year of Achievement

In his address, ARMI Director Professor Peter Currie reflected on a year defined by scientific excellence, partnerships and growth.

He celebrated major research milestones including the expansion of Myostellar, new funding successes, and the promotion of several early-career researchers as markers of ARMI’s momentum and future direction.

“ARMI’s success is built on people, our researchers, students, collaborators, and the Ambassadors who champion our mission beyond the lab” Professor Currie said. “Together we are strengthening the bridge from fundamental discovery to clinical translation and setting the stage for the next generation of regenerative medicine breakthroughs.”

Looking Ahead

As ARMI continues to grow, the Ambassadors’ network will play a vital role in representing the Institute locally and internationally, sharing ARMI’s mission to discover and translate regenerative medicine into therapies that change lives.

The evening closed on an energising note, with guests reflecting on the power of partnership and purpose in shaping science that heals.

“Events like this remind us why we do what we do,” said Dr Saurat. “They connect the science to the people who believe in it.”

About ARMI
The Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute (ARMI), based at Monash University in Melbourne, is a world leader in regenerative biology and stem cell research. ARMI works at the frontier of science, translating discovery into hope for people living with conditions like cancer, arthritis, and neurological injury.

Media Contact:
Emma Burrows, Communication Consultant ARMI.
M: 0417431376
E: emma.burrows@monash.edu