As a researcher focused on catalysis, she has published extensively in internationally refereed journals, graduated 25 PhD students and developed a strong national and international profile that led to ongoing collaborations in the UK, France and Australia.
Barbara holds a PhD and a Bachelor of Science (Honours 1, University Medal) from the University of Sydney. She has led a research program in catalysis for over 25 years, with a primary goal to design metal complexes that promote the efficiency and selectivity of important chemical transformations such as drug synthesis.
Barbara is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has held board memberships including: Director, Westmead Institute of Medical Research; Chair, Australian Proteomics Analysis Facility, Macquarie University; Director, Sydney Institute of Marine Sciences; Director, Pymble Ladies College; Advisory Board Member, UNSW Academic Women in Leadership Program; and Director, Australian and New Zealand Society for Magnetic Resonance. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales and of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute.
Barbara’s favourite non-work activities include mountain-hiking, bushwalking, cycling and sailing. She enjoys playing the violin, reading books and – most of all – spending time with her family.