Karen Smith OAM | National Director Research and Evidence
Silverchain

Prof Smith OAM is an experienced health services leader and researcher with expertise in clinical trials, epidemiology, operational and clinical improvement, innovation and AI. Prof Smith has collaboratively attracted over 38 million dollars (AUD) in competitive grants and tenders including two Centres for Research Excellence focused on out of hospital care.  She has published over 400 peer reviewed journal articles, including in The Lancet as a Group Captain. She is the National Director of Research and Evidence at Silverchain Group, a large national NFP Community aged and health care organisation which delivers community aged care, HITH, complex nursing, palliative care and care coordination amongst other services. Prof Smith’s role includes sponsoring Silverchain’s ambitious digital transformation, co-leading the AI Hub, leading the development of innovative models of care, determining the effectiveness of care, translational research and trialling new interventions. Prior to this, Prof Smith was the Director of the Centre for Research and Evaluation at Ambulance Victoria (AV) and received an Order of Australia Medal for her work in prehospital care in 2022. Prof Smith holds Adj Professorial positions at Monash University, Curtin University and the Queensland University of Technology.