Dr.
Susan Downes
BMBS, BMedSc, FRACGP, DRACOG
Executive Advisor
Dr Susan Downes is an accomplished medical practitioner and scientific specialist with a multidisciplinary career spanning clinical medicine, botanical science, indigenous health, and agricultural innovation. She brings more than 20 years of experience across healthcare, government, scientific research, and executive administration.
Dr Downes began her career in the sciences, earning a Bachelor of Medical Science with a major in Botany from the University of Western Australia. She subsequently worked as a Scientific Botanist with the Western Australian State Herbarium, where she contributed to the discovery and naming of multiple native plant species. Her early scientific work established her long-standing expertise in plant biology, organic cultivation, and agricultural systems—an interest she continues to advance through the management of her own farm in Western Australia’s wheatbelt, where she develops regionally suited crop varieties, including industrial hemp.
Transitioning into medicine, Dr Downes completed a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) and later earned fellowships with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) and the Diploma of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRACOG). Her contributions to remote and Indigenous health services were recognised nationally with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), highlighting her commitment to clinical excellence and community impact.
Beyond her scientific and medical expertise, Dr Downes has held senior operational and administrative roles across education, government, and not-for-profit organisations. She has more than two decades of executive administrative experience, most recently serving as Executive Assistant to the Company Secretary at Catholic Education Western Australia, and previously as Personal Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer at the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) for nearly 12 years. She has supported high-level governance, stakeholder engagement, policy processes, and organisational change initiatives across multiple sectors.
Dr Downes combines clinical acumen, scientific insight, governance capability, and strategic advisory experience. Her rare cross-disciplinary background—spanning medicine, botany, Indigenous health, agricultural science, and executive administration—positions her as a highly informed advisor on emerging opportunities in natural products, plant-based therapeutics, rural health, and the industrial applications of hemp.
Dr. Susan Downes
BMBS, BMedSc, FRACGP, DRACOG
Executive Advisor
Dr Susan Downes is an accomplished medical practitioner and scientific specialist with a multidisciplinary career spanning clinical medicine, botanical science, indigenous health, and agricultural innovation. She brings more than 20 years of experience across healthcare, government, scientific research, and executive administration.
Dr Downes began her career in the sciences, earning a Bachelor of Medical Science with a major in Botany from the University of Western Australia. She subsequently worked as a Scientific Botanist with the Western Australian State Herbarium, where she contributed to the discovery and naming of multiple native plant species. Her early scientific work established her long-standing expertise in plant biology, organic cultivation, and agricultural systems—an interest she continues to advance through the management of her own farm in Western Australia’s wheatbelt, where she develops regionally suited crop varieties, including industrial hemp.
Transitioning into medicine, Dr Downes completed a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (BMBS) and later earned fellowships with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) and the Diploma of the Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (DRACOG). Her contributions to remote and Indigenous health services were recognised nationally with the Order of Australia Medal (OAM), highlighting her commitment to clinical excellence and community impact.
Beyond her scientific and medical expertise, Dr Downes has held senior operational and administrative roles across education, government, and not-for-profit organisations. She has more than two decades of executive administrative experience, most recently serving as Executive Assistant to the Company Secretary at Catholic Education Western Australia, and previously as Personal Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer at the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) for nearly 12 years. She has supported high-level governance, stakeholder engagement, policy processes, and organisational change initiatives across multiple sectors.
Dr Downes combines clinical acumen, scientific insight, governance capability, and strategic advisory experience. Her rare cross-disciplinary background—spanning medicine, botany, Indigenous health, agricultural science, and executive administration—positions her as a highly informed advisor on emerging opportunities in natural products, plant-based therapeutics, rural health, and the industrial applications of hemp.