Dr Helen Breathnach

Helen is an experienced leader in research governance, ethics, and integrity, with 20 years' experience spanning higher education, research, and corporate strategy. As Research Facilitation Manager at Health Translation Queensland (HTQ), she drives initiatives that enhance clinical research and translation, with a particular focus on research ethics, governance, and workforce development.

Helen leads HTQ’s ethics and governance workforce development program, which delivers high-impact, targeted education and training for researchers, research support staff, and human research ethics committee (HREC) members. This program strengthens ethical and governance practices, simplifies research pathways, and fosters collaboration through shared learnings and best practice development. Helen’s commitment to elevating First Nations perspectives in research ethics and governance is reflected in HTQ’s ongoing development of workshops, resources, and practical guidance for researchers that feature First Nations expert-led sessions on topics such as Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) and Indigenous Data Sovereignty (IDSov).

Helen plays a pivotal role in advancing HTQ’s Clinical Trials Hub, a comprehensive and free online resource supporting clinical trial teams in planning, managing, and tracking their studies. The Hub consolidates essential tools, training, and expert insights to enhance clinical trial capability and foster research translation.

Helen also leads the strategic development of the HTQ Research Passport Agreement, a flagship initiative that streamlines research approvals by reducing administrative barriers and expediting collaboration across Queensland’s health and research sectors.

Through her leadership, Helen is committed to building national research capacity, ensuring the integration of ethical best practices, and fostering a collaborative research ecosystem that drives innovation and impact.