OUR PEOPLE
With a career spanning 20 years at the interface of technology and medical research, Kylie is the Chief Technology Officer at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. She has attracted over $35m in philanthropic funding, leading to the creation of the Hugh Green Technology Centre, the largest and most technologically advanced shared resource lab of its kind in Aotearoa New Zealand.
At the Hugh Green Technology Centre, Kylie oversees and manages the strategic direction of all major technology platforms, supporting the development of a state-of-the-art facility for understanding biological phenomena. Her responsibilities include investment prioritisation, future planning and business development to drive scientific discovery and commercialisation, ensuring continuous access to advanced technology. Kylie has extensive governance experience, serving on the executive committees of international societies such as the International Society for Advancement of Cytometry (Secretary 2020-2024) and the Australasian Cytometry Society (President 2016-2018). She is known for her organisational and leadership skills, guiding teams toward continuous development and innovation.
Kylie Price | Chief Technology Officer | Hugh Green Fellow
Dr Hercules Konstantopoulos | Head of Data Science
After a career as a researcher in astrophysics that spanned ten years and four continents, Hercules became drawn to addressing a greater variety of data-related problems. As a data scientist, he has spent the past decade on sustainability, enterprise software and renewable energy. His work focuses on converting information into strategy and on crafting useful tools, applications and visuals.
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At the Hugh Green Technology Centre, Hercules oversees the strategy and roadmap for high-performance computing, supports the development of data science platforms, and manages partnerships with digital technology vendors to advance the institute's research capabilities.
Dr Francesco Vacca | Bioanalytical Services Operations Manager
Francesco has several years of experience working in immunology research laboratories gained through his PhD at the University of Edinburgh and postdoctoral research at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research. Francesco has extensive experience in flow cytometry, PBMCs isolation, DNA/RNA extraction, parasitology and teaching at university level. He is passionate about human health and clinical trials.
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At the Hugh Green Technology Centre, Francesco manages daily laboratory operations and leads strategic planning, ensuring adherence to GLP and ISO17025 standards. With expertise in bioanalytical techniques, he reviews and updates laboratory policies and procedures, while training and mentoring staff on laboratory practices and techniques.
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Alfonso Schmidt | Head of Bioimaging
Alfonso has 15 years of experience working in a shared resource lab with a vast knowledge in histology, fluorescence microscopy and image analysis. His work has been focused in maximising capabilities of the equipment available and in creating technical protocols and training modules for the scientific community.
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Alfonso manages the histology and bioimaging Facility at the Hugh Green Technology Centre. He assists in the design and planning of experimental projects, providing guidance on histological techniques, optical microscopy and image analysis. With expertise in technology selection and integration, he oversees the entire workflow, from sample preparation to image processing and analysis. He also fosters partnerships and collaborative efforts in technology and research projects.
Kate Pilkington | Head of Cytometry
Kate’s enthusiasm for flow cytometry began in her undergraduate and postgraduate studies, and that passion quickly diverted her career from academia to that of a specialised and dedicated cytometrist. Kate has diverse experience in the research, clinical and commercial aspects of flow cytometry. She is a spectral cytometry expert, skilled educator and advocate for quality cytometry practices. Her expertise ensures that scientists can achieve the greatest success in their research, supported by best-in-class technology and expertise.
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In her role, Kate leads a team of like-minded cytometrists, supporting all aspects of research flow cytometry. This includes education and training, experimental planning and execution, panel design and optimisation, data troubleshooting and cell sorting, ensuring comprehensive support for research needs.
Dr Ava Handley | Head of Genomics
Ava has expertise in genetics, biochemistry and molecular biology, with a strong background in developing and implementing genomics assays to study gene regulation. She has held research fellow positions at Monash University and Humboldt University, leading projects investigating transcriptional regulation in metabolic homeostasis and mitochondrial stress responses. With extensive experience in genetic modification, genome editing, microscopy, gene expression and epigenetic analysis, Ava has also supervised PhD, Master's, and undergraduate students and contributed to grant writing and scientific publications.
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At the Hugh Green Technology Centre’s genomics core, Ava’s focus is on ensuring researchers have access and support for the latest genomics technologies and assays to stay at the leading edge of this rapidly advancing field. She offers guidance on designing and conducting genomics experiments, as well as training and support for our genomics technology platforms.