Communication will help achieve vision
Dr Zita Unger, who sits on the Australian Regenerative Medicine Leadership Advisory Board (ARMILAB), believes communication is the key to fulfilling the vision of ARMI.
If you looked beyond the outstanding career of Dr Zita Unger as an evaluator, educator and entrepreneur, you would discover that she is a keen diver with extensive experience in the Pacific, Micronesia and Australian waters.
For Dr Zita Unger, however, the exploring does not stop in the watery depths. When on dry land, Dr Unger investigates opportunities for ARMI.
One of the reasons Dr Unger is such a valuable addition to ARMILAB is that she is also on the board of the Monash University Medical Foundation.
While external advocacy with the community and governmental bodies is vital, having internal links to support ARMI’s vision is just as important. Dr Unger is a channel between the Monash University Medical Foundation (MUMF) and ARMI, providing what she says is “a two-way communication between the bodies to ensure that the activities conducted meet the needs of the Institute and the Foundation”, Dr Unger said.
MUMF’s active engagement and support of ARMI’s ‘One in a Million: Women in STEMM’ campaign is an example of this, which will forge closer personal links and connections between both boards.
But more than that, Dr Unger’s extensive experience gives her an acute understand of organisational development, business acumen and governance, which makes her an asset to the ARMILAB.
As with many of the board members, Dr Unger is passionate about regenerative medicine, which she believes could transform millions of lives for the better. She also has faith that it could be ARMI on the forefront of many breakthroughs, not only because of the successful way different research groups collaborate but because of its vision.
“The most positive aspect of ARMI is its vision, which was originally set in motion by Nadia Rosenthal and continues to grow under the leadership of Director Peter Currie. I look forward to the next phase of ARMI’s development,” Dr Unger said.
What excites her?
Going forward, Dr Unger is excited by two projects – the planned heart hospital on campus, focusing on transitional research and ARMI’s proposed Alzheimer’s and Brain Repair Research Centre.
“Dementia research is an issue of a global significance, and I think ARMI can make its mark in this area to provide the largest centre focused on Dementia and Regenerative Medicine globally”.