The AKTN would like to announce the retirement of Professor Carmel Hawley, who will be stepping down from her role as the AKTN Chair of the Executive Operations after a distinguished career spanning decades of exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to the field of kidney disease.
Professor Hawley’s greatest academic achievement is establishing and leading the world’s first research infrastructure for kidney trials – the Australasian Kidney Trials Network (AKTN). Since AKTN’s inception in 2004, she brought together clinical, methodological, and patient partners to develop innovative, Australian-led clinical trials. Under her leadership, the AKTN has conceived, funded, designed, and executed numerous investigator-initiated randomised controlled trials (RCTs).
Professor Hawley’s remarkable contributions include overseeing 14 completed or published trials, with 1 in follow-up, 4 in recruitment, and 2 in development. She has secured over $60 million in grant funding and enabled collaboration on more than 40 RCTs across 21 countries, coordinating teams of multidisciplinary, international researchers. Her work has profoundly advanced kidney research and significantly impacted patient care.
Professor Hawley has been an integral part of our organisation and the broader kidney community. Her commitment to innovation, mentorship, and fostering collaboration has left a legacy that will continue to inspire the kidney community for years to come.
While we will deeply miss Professor Hawley, we are excited to share that Professor David Johnson will step into the role as AKTN Chair commencing 1 November 2024. Professor Johnson brings a wealth of expertise and a proven track record of leadership, ensuring the continued growth and success of the AKTN. Supporting him will be Professor Rathika Krishnasamy and Professor Yeoungjee Cho, who will serve as Co-Deputy Chairs, further strengthening the team’s capacity to advance kidney research.
Please join us in celebrating Professor Hawley’s incredible achievements and in wishing her all the best as she embarks on this exciting new chapter of her life. At the same time, we warmly welcome Prof Johnson, Prof Krishnasamy, and Prof Cho to their new roles.
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