About

Mission Statement

The Diabetes Innovation and Impact Foundation is dedicated to transforming the lives of Australians affected by diabetes. We raise essential funds from diverse sources, including social enterprise businesses, philanthropic and strategic partnerships to drive research focused on delivering practical healthcare solutions, and finding a cure for or prevention for all types of diabetes. We connect researchers, healthcare providers, and communities, to achieve and translate groundbreaking discoveries into real-world applications. We are committed to bridging the gap between research and practice, delivering impactful change for people affected by diabetes.

The Diabetes Innovation and Impact Foundation

The Diabetes Innovation and Impact Foundation is a dedicated group committed to transforming the lives of Australians affected by diabetes. Our purpose is to raise vital funds and drive innovative research that not only advances scientific discovery but also translates research directly into practical healthcare solutions. We secure essential funding through a variety of innovative channels, including our Social Enterprise Businesses, charitable trusts and foundations, through the generosity of individual donations, community-driven fundraising, and strategic partnerships.

The Diabetes Innovation and Impact Foundation believes that the best research is driven by community, for community. That’s why we prioritise the voices of those affected by diabetes to guide our funding decisions, ensuring that consumer expertise is deeply integrated into our research initiatives to drive meaningful, real-world change. We strive to create a collaborative environment where researchers and community members work hand-in-hand to address the real challenges faced by individuals living with diabetes.

Every research initiative we support is carefully selected for its potential to be applied in healthcare settings, making a genuine difference in people’s lives. We facilitate and invest in research that aims to move discoveries from the laboratory or preclinical studies into practical, real-world applications for people affected by diabetes. Our approach is innovative, encompassing the establishment and funding of leading Research Centres in collaboration with prominent research organisations.

We also understand the importance of research and achieving change in the behavioural, psychological and social aspects of diabetes. Through our multidisciplinary approach to research we focus on ensuring that the development of new treatments and care are informed by and people living with diabetes, and that that both physical health and emotional health are prioritised in diabetes research.

We understand that translatable research requires a collaborative effort across multiple fields, including researchers, healthcare providers, policy makers, and lived experience. We are proud of our established and growing partnerships which bring this to life. Join us in our journey to empower individuals, support groundbreaking research, and ultimately change lives. Together, we can make a profound impact to create a world in which diabetes can do no harm.

The DIIF Team

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    Glen Noonan

    Chief Executive Officer

    Glen is an experienced CEO, non-executive director, board chair, professional services partner and Adjunct Professor with over 35 years’ experience in the areas of health, business strategy, transformational change, leadership and growth.
     
    As CEO of the Diabetes Innovation and Impact Foundation (DIIF) and Diabetes Victoria, Glen is committed to driving meaningful change in diabetes research, care and advocacy to improve the lives of those affected by diabetes.
     
    Glen is also an Adjunct Professor at Deakin University’s Faculty of Health and co-chairs the Public Health and Wellbeing External Sector Advisory Group (ESAG) to achieve sector wide improvements to public health and wellbeing outcomes.
     
    Prior to his healthcare leadership roles, Glen was a Partner with PwC, where he worked for 33 years including 24 years as a Senior Partner. Glen held a range of leadership roles and led large-scale transformations across multiple industries, both in Australia and internationally. This experience in driving change is crucial in his work within the healthcare and diabetes sectors, where he strives to create lasting improvements in patient care.
     
    In addition to his professional experience, Glen has strong personal experience and connection to diabetes as the father of a son who has type 1 diabetes.  His unique combination of leadership, expertise, and personal experience drives his unwavering commitment to drive research towards finding a cure for or prevention of all types of diabetes along with practical healthcare solutions.
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    Lalith Abeysena

    Chief Operating Officer

    Lalith serves as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at DIIF, where he leads finance, governance, business transformation, commercial operations, and IT&C.

    Lalith is a Chartered Management Accountant with over 30 years of experience in CFO/COO roles, spanning a variety of industries including mining, manufacturing, retail, wholesale and health. Lalith’s immense experience includes strategic direction, negotiation, leadership, business process improvement, organisational development, organisation restructuring, IT&C and business transformation. 

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    Sandra Scalzo

    Head of Marketing, Communications, and Development

    Sandra Scalzo serves as the Head of Marketing, Communications, and Development at DIIF. Sandra’s career includes significant experience in marketing and communications within the nonprofit sector. Sandra’s role at DIIF involves leading marketing and communications strategies to support the organisation’s mission to transform the lives of Australians affected by diabetes. Sandra is deeply passionate about DIIF’s mission, due to her personal experience as a carer of a family member with diabetes.

    Sandra holds a Bachelor of Communications and an Executive Master of Business Administration.

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    Lauren Monaghan

    Philanthropy Manager

    Lauren is the Philanthropy Manager at Diabetes Innovation and Impact Foundation where she oversees all philanthropic activity for the Foundation. Lauren is an experienced philanthropic professional, having previously worked with the Ian Potter Foundation where she was responsible for leading and implementing the Foundation’s strategic approach to health and medical research philanthropy.

    Lauren has a Bachelor of Science degree with a Masters of Public Health from the University of Melbourne.

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    Alex Johnson

    Partnerships Manager

    As the Partnerships Manager at the Diabetes Innovation and Impact Foundation, Alex plays a vital role in overseeing corporate and community partnerships.

    She is dedicated to enhancing the Foundation’s impact, reach, and capacity through innovative collaborations aimed at improving the lives of individuals living with, or affected by, diabetes.

    With over 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Alex is a skilled fundraising and partnerships professional.

    She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Master of Management (Marketing).

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    Holly Piontek Walker

    Health Policy and Government Relations Manager

    In this role, Holly is responsible for developing health policies that align with the organisation’s mission, monitoring healthcare regulations, and fostering relationships with government bodies and policymakers.

    With over 20 years of experience in state health policy, chronic disease programs, and strategic planning, Holly previously held several positions within the Department of Health, including Director of Population Health, Manager of Policy and Reform, and Prevention Manager.

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