Why King’s?
That’s easy! King’s has a first-class reputation, both in my chosen field and more broadly. The location in the heart of London was also a big part of the appeal.
What’s your favourite memory from your time at King’s?
Writing my dissertation was a highlight. My research focused on the role of psychological stress in different types of cancer, looking specifically at prostate cancer and breast cancer.
The best part was being able to focus on an area of deep interest to me and to study that in detail. I have six advanced degrees, so I clearly enjoy studying. But the programme at King’s was unique in the sense that I didn’t want to finish it because I was enjoying it so much!
What’s the key skill or lesson you learned at King’s?
My degree taught me just how fluid the study of neuroscience is. Because it’s constantly evolving, you need a lifetime commitment to learning just to stay across all developments.
I particularly enjoyed researching the use of psychedelics as a solution for some treatment-resistant conditions, such as depression, combined with conventional therapy. This can make a positive difference to some people yet it is still seen as controversial.
Learning about this topic became an addiction. Not only did I want to learn more, I had to learn more. Knowledge can quickly become outdated, so I had to keep an open mind and stay up to date with the latest research and debates within mental health.
You won our International Impact Award in recognition of your outstanding mental health work. What inspired you to pursue this path?
Four years ago, my son sadly passed away at the age of 24. He had been experiencing mood swings and depression. He was at university in America. It was difficult as I couldn’t see him because it was during the pandemic. He took a party drug that was laced with fentanyl and it killed him.
When he lived in Australia, where I’m currently based, I tried to get him to see a psychologist. The waiting time was ten weeks. When my son finally saw a psychologist, the personal chemistry didn’t work and he didn’t want to go back. The triage methodology and the overall system is badly broken.
By combining my business skills with the passion for mental health I’d developed at King’s, I want to help change this and address this mental health crisis. This prompted me to found Malu.
Can you tell us more about Malu?
Malu is a private healthcare business. We run therapy clinics across the East Coast of Australia. We’re building a technology platform for telehealth, so patients can access the care they need from anywhere in the world. We also plan to offer specialist services, including drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and psychedelic treatment for severe anxiety, depression and PTSD.
What’s been your proudest career moment?
Building Judo Bank from scratch was a big achievement. We had to raise over $1.5 billion of equity. It now employs nearly 1,000 people and helps businesses across Australia. It was the first new bank in Australia in 40 years and it was among the top five fastest-growing businesses in Asia, according to the Financial Times in 2023.
I’m very proud of my career change. Switching from banking to mental health was a challenge. Yet knowing I was doing something with a strong purpose kept me motivated.
What’s next for you?
I want to build Malu into a world-class mental health company. I know there is a better way of delivering mental health services than the current Australian and UK models. We want to deliver more than a million care therapy treatments a year. It’s going to be a marathon and not a sprint, but it is exciting.
Any advice for fellow alumni hoping to follow in your footsteps?
Cherish your time at King’s and never stop learning. Try to think about creating things that don’t exist today. Find and work with like-minded people with complementary skills. Most of all, try to think big and not small. Live a fulfilled life of no regrets.
Read more about the other winners of our 2025 King’s Distinguished Alumni Awards here.