22 May 2025
While Dr Celia Webby admits that she finds it hard to say ‘no’, this is not why she took on the role of Interim Executive Director for Health Translation Queensland (HTQ)—far from it. Celia jumped at the opportunity to work with HTQ’s partners and team as they plan for the collaborative network’s next strategic phase.
“HTQ is a crucial vehicle that enables transformation of the broader research translation ecosystem that cannot be achieved through one-to-one partnerships,” Celia said.
“In the coming years, I would like to see HTQ deliver further value to our partners and the broader Queensland research translation ecosystem by supporting, facilitating and driving initiatives and programs that streamline the research translation process and grow and upskill our research translation workforce.
“HTQ’s next strategic plan is currently being developed. I look forward to working with the stakeholders involved, finalising this plan and seeing its implementation.”
Celia has been working with HTQ on various projects for about 5 years.
“In that time, I witnessed HTQ grow from a partnership that looked good on paper to a partnership with highly invested stakeholders committed to working together to make research translation easier, build the local workforce, and ultimately deliver better health outcomes for Queenslanders. And that’s something I am keen to be part of,” Celia said.
Celia has over 17 years of experience in various management and leadership roles in the research (university and health care sectors), not-for-profit, innovation/technology, and commercialisation sectors.
She has extensive research strategy experience across the hospital and health services and health research sector, including for several HTQ partners. This experience covers areas such as general practice, rural and remote health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, aged care and digital health.
She has also worked in the not-for-profit sector, serving on several boards and as the Chief of Mission Related Services at the Queensland Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Celia is passionate about leading others and supporting clinician researchers to deliver improved patient outcomes through high-quality research and its translation into practice.
Celia’s previous experience with HTQ includes authoring the Queensland Health and Medical Research Funding Analysis Report, which informed HTQ’s Roadmap for Strengthening Health Research and Translation in Queensland.
More recently, she has supported HTQ with its 2025 submission for NHMRC funding. Celia drafted the submission, working with the HTQ team and Board.
Celia completed her PhD in Biological Chemistry at Massey University in New Zealand. She also received a Violette and Samuel Glasstone Fellowship from Oxford University and has an MBA from The University of Queensland.
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