Our Chairman Laurie Cox has been involved with the MCRI since it was established in 1986.
Laurie needed very little convincing by our founding director, the late Professor David Danks, who explained his vision for a genetic research institute, to join as a director.
He became chairman in 1993 and has been heavily committed to guiding the Institute's growth and development since that time.
Laurie worked closely with Professor Danks’ successor, Professor Bob Williamson, who led the Institute's growth during the 1990's which eventually resulted in the merger with the Royal Children's Hospital Research Foundation in 2000. The fledgling institute had grown from less than 100 staff to around 450 and was beginning to be recognised as one of Australia's leading medical research institutes.
Since the appointment of Professor Terry Dwyer as director in 2004 that growth has continued, with total staff now 750. Recent focus has been on collaborating with the State Government of Victoria and the Royal Children’s Hospital to achieve appropriate facilities in the new campus currently being built in Royal Park. The MCRI will occupy around 20% of the new building when it is completed in 2012.
Laurie has spent most of his working life in the Australian investment banking industry. Prior to joining Macquarie Group as a director in 1996, he was Executive Chairman of the Potter Warburg Group in Australia and a director of SG Warburg Securities of London. He was a director of the Australian Stock Exchange from its formation in 1987 and was its Chairman from 1989 to 1994. He is also a director of a number of other public companies.
