Media release: Tuesday 5 May, 2026
Heart Foundation appoints Professor Derek Chew as Chief Scientific and Medical Officer
The Heart Foundation has announced the appointment of Professor Derek Chew as its next Chief Scientific and Medical Officer to succeed Professor Garry Jennings.
Professor Chew will commence in the role in July this year and gradually take over the reins from Professor Jennings over an extended transition period through to the end of 2027.
Heart Foundation CEO David Lloyd said this extended handover was essential to ensure continuity of the many initiatives that are currently underway under Professor Jennings' leadership.
"Leading the Heart Foundation's medical and scientific work, and strengthening our output in clinical evidence, research translation and cardiovascular health system improvement is a complex and wide-ranging task, and I'm grateful to Professor Chew and Professor Jennings for their collaboration in ensuring we dont miss a beat during this transitional period".
Professor Chew is an eminent Australian cardiologist and cardiovascular health systems researcher, with a multi-decade career spanning frontline clinical care, large‑scale research and senior leadership roles across hospitals, universities and research institutes.
Mr Lloyd said Professor Chew's appointment followed a thorough and highly competitive national search.
"In Professor Chew, we have found a leader with a combination of deep clinical expertise, strong research credentials and proven health system leadership. I have no doubt that he will guide the Heart Foundation towards its vision of a healthy heart for everyone by 2050," Mr Lloyd said.
Professor Chew will start in the role on 1 July. He will continue with his active research and clinical work based out of the Victorian Heart Hospital.
About Professor Chew
- Professor Chew has previously held senior appointments at Flinders University, where he served as Professor of Cardiology and Network Director of Cardiology for the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network. He has also held roles at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute and the George Institute.
- His academic qualifications include a Master of Public Health from Harvard University, with a focus on quantitative methods, epidemiology and biostatistics, and a PhD examining system‑level factors influencing heart attack care in Australia. This work aligns closely with the Heart Foundation's mission to improve prevention, treatment and outcomes for people living with heart disease.
- Most recently, Professor Chew has served as Professor and Director of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Victorian Heart Hospital, and as Director of Health Informatics Research at the Monash Victorian Heart Institute. He brings a strong record of leading complex clinical and academic organisations and translating evidence into practice.
