Ambassadors

Sarah Murdoch

Global Ambassador and Co-Chair Board of Directors

Internationally renowned model, television presenter and mother, Sarah Murdoch has been the Global Ambassador of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute since 2000 and a member of the Board of Directors since 2014. Sarah has received numerous awards for her work in the not-for-profit sector including being awarded the Celebrity Advocacy Award by Research Australia.

For over 20 years, Sarah has remained actively involved with the Institute, garnering international support and funding so the institutes dedicated, and highly skilled research teams can improve the health and well-being for children.

In 2021, the institute welcomed Sarah as co-chair of the Board of Directors.

Sarah's advocacy is invaluable, helping to increase community awareness and support. Sarah continues to play a key role in connecting US and other international philanthropists with MCRI.

At the 2020 Annual Showcase, Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch announced a $5 million Fellowship which will continue to bring the brightest research minds to MCRI in transformative research fields such as stem cell technologies and genomics. As a perpetual endowment, the Fellowship will make a meaningful difference to future generations of researchers.

Together with husband Lachlan, Sarah has also hosted and participated in many of our special fundraising events. She especially enjoys visiting researchers at the Institute and meeting the children who benefit from our research discoveries.

Suzi Carp AO

Global Ambassador and Board Chairman (2016-2020)

Ms Suzi Carp was named as an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to health and medical research, to children and young people, and to the community through leadership roles.

Suzi is a businesswoman and philanthropist who has supported and empowered our most vulnerable citizens and communities, including indigenous communities, and pursued social justice both here in Australia and overseas.

Suzi has been a strong supporter and advocate of the Institute for nearly 20 years. In addition to her membership on the MCRI Board, in 2003 she was invited to join the Development Board (which she subsequently chaired from 2006-2011), and in 2006 she joined the MCRI Board of Directors. In 2016 Suzi became MCRI's first female Board Chair, a successor hand-picked by Leigh Clifford (Qantas Chair from 2007-2018) following his retirement as Chair of the MCRI Board, where she championed people and initiatives that transform medicine, taking big, bold ideas and promptly translating them into real world solutions for patients, their families and the community.

In honour and recognition of Suzi’s remarkable contribution to MCRI, in 2021 the Suzi Carp Scholarship was created. The endowed scholarship will be awarded in perpetuity to the most promising students and early-career researchers at MCRI. This vital support will enable them to focus on their research and achieve their full potential, fostering our nation’s brightest young scientists in child health research for generations to come.