Irene Blackberry is the John Richards chair and director of the Care Economy Research Institute at La Trobe University. She is a health services and implementation science researcher of complex multifactorial care. She has over 20 years of research experience across the care economy in Australia and abroad, predominantly in the healthcare, aged care, and informal care sectors. Her research examines access to care and models of care that are innovative, effective, and sustainable, building skills in individuals and the greater capacity of the whole community to support people from diverse backgrounds and rural communities. She is the leading force behind Australia’s Care Economy research including developing an industry-led research partnership program on Care Economy, establishing the Care Economy Collaborative Network, and becoming the inaugural director of Australia’s first Care Economy Research Institute at La Trobe University. She is the past president of the Australian Association of Gerontology Victoria, a member of the NHMRC Council and Principal Committees 2021–2024 Triennium, and on the editorial board of several international journals and expert advisor to government and not-for-profit organizations. She has attracted over AUD 50M in competitive research funding. She holds a bachelor’s degree and PhD in medicine and a postgraduate degree in program and economic evaluation.