Wendy Lipworth

Wendy Lipworth is a Professor of Bioethics at Macquarie University, affiliated with the School of Humanities Ethics and Agency Research Centre and the Department of Philosophy. She co-directs the Ethics and Agency Research Centre (since 2024) and serves as President of the Australasian Association of Bioethics & Health Law. Her work bridges bioethics and professional ethics, focusing on biomedical research, innovation governance, and conflict of interest management. Lipworth holds a PhD in Bioethics (University of Sydney) and medical training from the University of New South Wales.

Education:

• PhD in Bioethics, University of Sydney (2009)
• MSc in Bioethics, University of Sydney (2005)
• MBBS, University of New South Wales (1999)
• BSc (Med) Hons I, University of New South Wales (1994)

Research Interests: Lipworth’s research integrates empirical and theoretical methods to address ethical challenges in healthcare and research. Key areas include:

• Conflict of interest management in healthcare
• Ethics of clinical innovation and translational research
• Commercialization of medicine and its societal impacts
• Interdisciplinary ethics frameworks for policy and practice

Her work emphasizes practical solutions, such as her online decision tool for conflict-of-interest management.

Grants & Funding: Over $5M in research funding from NHMRC, ARC, and the Medical Research Future Fund. Active projects include governance of high-cost therapies, ethical issues in genomic data, and AI in healthcare.

Advising & Mentorship: Supervises PhD students Miriam Wiersma (clinical innovation governance) and Sarah Heynemann (oncology trial ethics). Formally mentors early-career researchers through institutional programs.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Ethics and Agency Research Centre and collaborates with the Australian Ethical Health Alliance and Brain Cancer Australia.