Professor Frances Shannon is renowned for her extensive leadership and senior management experience within higher education and medical research institutes. With degrees in biochemistry and zoology from University College Dublin, she embarked on a successful 25-year career in biomedical research. Her academic prowess and dedication to scientific advancement have been instrumental in her roles at prestigious institutions. At the Australian National University, she served as Director of the John Curtin School of Medical Research, where her visionary leadership drove significant advancements in medical research. Later, as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation at the University of Canberra, she played a pivotal role in fostering a robust research culture and driving innovative initiatives.

In addition to her administrative achievements, Professor Shannon has maintained strong academic ties, exemplified by her role as Emeritus Professor at the John Curtin School of Medical Research and her tenure as Adjunct Full Professor at the University College Dublin. Her contributions extend beyond academia into governance, evidenced by her chairing the Board of the ARC Imaging Centre of Excellence at Monash University and her membership on the Canberra Institute of Technology Governing Board. Professor Shannon's distinguished career is marked by her commitment to advancing biomedical research and her strategic leadership in higher education, leaving a lasting impact on the institutions and communities she has served.