Sarah McKay | Director
The Neuroscience Academy

Dr. Sarah McKay is a neuroscientist and science communicator, adept at making brain science accessible for enhancing health, wellbeing and performance. An Oxford University graduate, Sarah earned her MSc and DPhil (PhD) in neuroscience before moving to Australia, where she conducted postdoctoral research on spinal cord injury for five years. She then founded Think Brain, a science communications and education company devoted to applied neuroscience and brain health. Sarah took to the screen in 2019, presenting an ABC Catalyst episode on the intricacies of brain health, biohacking, and longevity. She’s been featured in quoted in the Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, Grazia, Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, Australian Women’s Weekly, Body & Soul, and can be seen and heard ‘explaining the brain’ on SBS Insight, The Mel Robbin’s Podcast, ABC Radio National, Mamamia, NZ Radio National, and on stage at Business Chicks, Canberra Writers’ Festival and even TikTok HQ! She is the author of three books on brain health. The Women's Brain Book: The Neuroscience of Health, Hormones, and Happiness was published in 2018, with a second edition released in mid-2025. Baby Brain: The Surprising Neuroscience of How Pregnancy and Motherhood Sculpt Our Brains and Change Our Minds (for the Better) explores the transformative effects of pregnancy and motherhood. Her third book on brain health, written for the iconic For Dummies brand, was released in early 2025. Sarah lives on Sydney’s Northern Beaches with her Irish husband, and together they are (so far, successfully) raising two teenage sons and one springer spaniel. They can usually be found sailing, surfing and ocean swimming. Note: McKay is pronounced with the “Kay” to rhyme with “pie” not “day”, or if you’re in Australia the same as the Queensland town!