The Channel 7 Children’s Research Foundation (CRF) is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Carol Maher to its Honorary Board, effective August 2021.

Professor Maher joins CRF as the representative of Foundation Member, the University of South Australia (UniSA), and succeeds Professor Pat Buckley, Dean of Graduate Studies at UniSA, who contributed seven valuable years to the CRF Board.

Carol Maher is a Research Professor in the Alliance for Research in Exercise, Nutrition and Activity (ARENA) at the University of South Australia.

She’s passionate about understanding how daily activity patterns (e.g. physical activity, sleep and sedentary behaviours, like watching television) impact health. In particular, she’s interested in developing system-level approaches that improve people’s activity patterns and health, delivered at scale, to positively impact Australians in the general community and healthcare settings. 

Her work is currently supported by an MRFF Investigator Grant (2021-2025), and she’s a Chief Investigator on 5 current NHMRC Grants and 2 MRFF grants. In total, she’s received $15.7M in research funding, has published over 170 scientific papers, and was named as a Clarivate Highly Cited Research in 2020 (a distinction awarded to 1 in 1000 researchers).

Professor Maher is a Section Editor for BMC Public Health, and former Chair of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity’s e- & mHealth Special Interest Group.

As CRF welcomes Professor Maher, the Board also wishes to acknowledge and thank Professor Pat Buckley for her time and involvement with the Foundation.

CRF Chairman, Paul Jury, says Pat’s seven-year contribution was extremely valued by the Board. “Her counsel, wisdom and ability to probe conversation amongst Board members always encouraged us to debate and thoroughly review ideas, and through in-depth discussion.”

Professor Buckley says it was a pleasure and privilege to contribute to the Board and the Foundation’s work. “I enjoyed it, and learnt much,” says Pat. “It’s no secret how impressed I was with the savvy of its Finance Committee – past and present members – who have enabled the Foundation to sustain and grow its investment in children’s health, education and welfare in South Australia.

“It has been terrific to work with a group of committed folk from different backgrounds who can make things happen, most recently the introduction of mid-career Fellowships, which have been very gratefully received in the sector, and which will catalyse important research and associated outcomes.

“I wish the work of the Foundation its Board members all the very best going forward.”