Skip to content
Home page - Centenary Institute Centenary Institute

Primary menu

  • Research
        • Research

          The latest medical research into our most complex health challenges across biomedical AI, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, immunity, age-related, rare and infectious diseases.

          Learn more

        • Biomedical AI
        • Cancer Innovations
        • Cardiovascular Research
        • Healthy Ageing
        • Infection & Immunity
        • Rare Diseases & Gene Therapy
        • Laboratories
        • Diseases
        • Breakthroughs
        • Technologies
        • Commercialisation
  • Support us
        • Support us

          By supporting the Centenary Institute you can help improve human health through excellence in medical research.

          Learn more

        • Workplace giving
        • Host or join a fundraiser
        • Gift in your will
        • Donate in memory
        • Community and research
  • Careers & students
        • Careers & Students

          Postdoctoral and postgraduate students can work alongside world-leading medical researchers within state-of-the-art research facilities.

        • Careers
        • Study opportunities
  • Health hub
        • Health hub

          A range of practical information to assist in the possible preventions to disease through evidence-based research on how the body works.

          Learn more

        • Ageing
        • Exercise snack program
  • News & events
        • News & Events

          Explore the latest research breakthroughs and ways you can take part in our series of digital and in-person events.

        • News
        • Statements
        • Events
        • Real stories
  • About us
        • About us

          We are world-leading independent medical research institute that drives collaboration to accelerate and translate solutions to our most complex health challenges.

          Learn more

        • Governance
        • Corporate information
        • Annual reports
        • Our researchers
        • Animals in research
        • Contact
  • Donate
    Centenary Institute > People > Deb Willcox AM

Deb Willcox AM

Appointed Governor in 2025

Deb Willcox AM was appointed Chief Executive, Sydney Local Health District in September 2024.

Prior to this role, Deb held the position of Deputy Secretary, Health System Strategy and Patient Experience, Ministry of Health, with statewide responsibility for areas including mental health, capital planning, patient experience, Commonwealth and State relations, health and social policy and allied health from 2022 to 2024. 

Deb was Chief Executive, Northern Sydney Local Health District from 2017 to 2022. From 2015 to 2017, Deb held the combined role of Director of Operations, Sydney Local Health District and General Manager, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.

Deb’s career has included roles in both government and non-government organisations and her experience spans clinical, corporate services, government departments, the research environment and senior government advisor roles.

Prior to NSW Health, Deb held senior positions in government, including Chief of Staff in the portfolios of Planning, Housing and Aboriginal Affairs and Advisor to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Health, overseeing clinical portfolio areas including planned surgery, critical care and emergency departments. 

Deb started her career in nursing at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and later studied law, having been admitted as a Legal Practitioner in New South Wales.

Deb received a Member of the Order (AM) in the 2023 Australia Day Honours for her significant service to health administration and to the community.

News

  • New gene discoveries improve diagnosis of inherited heart disease

    Centenary Institute researchers have uncovered new genetic causes of inherited heart conditions, providing families with vital answers to guide treatment and prevention.
    Date 13 Nov 2025
  • Centenary exhibits at Government House

    The Centenary Institute has shared the beauty of science with the wider community through its When Art Meets Science exhibition, featured at Government House Sydney as a part of Sydney Open Day.
    Date 04 Nov 2025
  • Grant awarded to study gut-liver communication

    Associate Professor Patrick Bertolino, Head of the Centre for Infection & Immunity at the Centenary Institute, and Associate Professor David Bowen from the same centre, have been awarded a 2025 Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) Project Grant. The $50,000 grant will support their study ‘Decoding Microbiome–Liver Communication via Portal Tracts.’
    Date 22 Oct 2025
View all

Twitter

Tweets by CentenaryInst Follow us (links open in a new window)

Subscribe to receive news on
research updates and free events

Newsletter

The Centenary Institute is a world-leading independent Medical Research Institute.

We acknowledge the Gadigal of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the Country on which the Centenary Institute stands.

About

  • About
  • Governance
  • Corporate information

Research

  • Our researchers
  • News

Careers & studies

  • Career opportunities
  • Student opportunities
  • Life at Centenary

Links

  • Contact
  • Privacy statement
  • Staff Intranet

Contact us

Building 93, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Missenden Rd
Camperdown NSW 2050 Australia
Telephone +61 2 9565 6100
Fax +61 2 9565 6101

Contact Privacy

Centenary Institute ABN 22 654 201 090 (DGR 1) • Centenary Institute Medical Research Foundation ABN 85 778 244 012 (DGR 2)
© 2017 Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology.

  • Linkedin
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram