Melissa Hagan serves as the Director of the Queensland Governance, Ethics and Trials Unit within the Queensland Department of Health, where she leads efforts to advance clinical trial innovation and governance. With an extensive career that began at GSK and included pivotal roles in training and education at Quintiles, Melissa has been a driving force in shaping Australia’s clinical trials landscape. Her expertise in streamlining processes and fostering collaboration has been exemplified through her leadership roles at ARCS Australia, Queensland’s Life Sciences Industry Association, and Queensland Health, where she played a key role in championing the National Mutual Acceptance initiative to enhance multi-jurisdictional ethics approvals.
Currently, Melissa chairs the Queensland Clinical Trials Consortium, where she continues to strengthen Queensland’s position as a leader in clinical research. She is also a former co-chair of the Australian Clinical Trials Collaborative Forum and actively contributes to several advisory boards, including the Master of Pharmaceutical Industry Practice Advisory Board at The University of Queensland.
Melissa’s unwavering commitment to improving healthcare through collaborative research, policy development, and strategic partnerships is evident in her impactful contributions to Queensland’s healthcare system and the broader clinical trials sector in Australia.