About

I am a dynamic leader in Clinical Research, skilled at fostering teamwork and driving innovation. I have successfully led multidisciplinary research teams, translating clinical findings into commercial success. My expertise in science communication, stakeholder negotiations, and policy sets me apart in the field.

Curriculum Vitae

Appointments

PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Western Australia (2024-current)
Adjunct Associate Professor, Curtin University (2024-current)
Career Advancement Research Fellow- RPH Research Foundation (2022- 2025)
Head of Brain and Hearing, Ear Science Institute Australia, Perth, Australia -June 2023 - Present.
Deputy Head of Brain & Hearing, Ear Science Institute Australia, Perth, Australia- January 2021 - June 2023.
Research Lead- Cognition and Hearing Loss, Ear Science Institute Australia, Perth, Australia- January 2018 - Present.
Senior Research Audiologist, Ear Science Institute Australia, Perth, Australia- January 2015 - December 2018.
Clinical Audiologist-Cochlear Implants, Ear Science Institute Australia, Perth, Australia-January 2012 - December 2015.
Head of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Department, Durdans Hospital,Colombo, Sri Lanka- July 2005 - March 2007.

INDUSTRY/COMMUNITY& BOARD APPOINTMENTS

Scientific Advisory Board- CILCare- Pharmaceutical Company, France, 2023-current.
Vice-Chair- Australian Association of Gerontology WA Committee, 2023- Present.
Executive Director- Australian Society for Medical Research, 2023- 2024.
Director- Australian Society for Medical Research, 2020-2026.
National Co-Convenor- Medical Research Week- ASMR, 2020- 2021
National Co-Convenor-National Scientific Conference- ASMR, 2020 – 2021.
EMCR RepNet- Australian Academy of Science, 2020- 2023.
Vice-Chair- I.un.go.Social Services -March- Nov 2020.
Founder- KindSmarts Program, 2020- Present.
Research Advisor- If Innovation Could Talk Program that aims to promote innovations and new ideas, Perth (2021- 2022)

Education

2007- 2012

PhD -Audiology

University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

2003-2005

MSc in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology-First Class Honours & Gold Medallist

Bangalore University, Bangalore, India

2000-2003

BSc in Audiology and Speech Language Pathology- First Class Honours

Bangalore University, Bangalore, India

Additional Qualifications

Clinical Research Translation & Commercialisation

• MedTech Master Class on developing your own product and company-Life Sciences WA, 2024
• Certificate in Concept to Creation - Centre for Entrepreneurial Research & Innovation, 2021
• Good Clinical Practice in Australia- WA Health Translation Network, 2023
• Certificate in Advanced Care Planning, Advance Care Planning Australia, 2019
• Certificate in Preventing Dementia - University of Tasmania, 2017
• Certificate in Understanding Dementia - University of Tasmania, 2017
• Certificate in Knowledge Translation, Research Impact Academy, 2017

Leadership and Management

• Oxford’ Women’s Leadership Development Program, 2024
• Diploma in Business Governance, Institute of Community Directors, 2024 (Future 500Women’s Governance Scholarship)
• McKinsey Young Leaders Forum, 2022 (Australian Scholarship Foundation Scholarship)
• Emerging Leaders 2022- Telethon Kids Institute, 2022
• Certificate in Management Training - Australian Institute of Management WA, 2018
• Certificate in Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence - Case Western Reserve University, 2017

Scholarships and Grants

• Understanding Hearing Loss to address the health needs of Older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People- A life course approach. MRFF Indigenous Health Research, APP 2025826 ($2.1M), Bessarab, Jayakody, Flicker et al. (2023-2027).
• WA Near-miss Awards: Emerging Leaders, WA Office of Medical Research and Innovation APP WANMA/EL2022/1 (100K), Jayakody (2023-2024).
• Hearables Trial - whether hearing rehabilitation using hearables & behaviour activation could reduce mental distress, social isolation & loneliness, NHMRC APP2015794 ($571k), Ford, Jayakody, Almeida, Flicker et al. (2023-2025).
• William Demant Foundation ($1.5M). Bellekom, Eikelboom and Jayakody (2021-2025).
• Career Advancement Fellowship, Jayakody, $227k (2022-2025)
• Royal Perth Hospital Research Impact and Innovation Grant ($600k). Ford, Flicker, Pettigrew, Frances & Jayakody (2020-2024).
• Rebecca L Cooper Foundation Project Grant 2020-2022. Hearing Aids to Improve Mood and to Frailty in Older Adults at Risk of Cognitive Decline, $100K, Jayakody.
• CAPITA Foundation Grant 2019- A Computerised Cognitive Training Program for the Cochlear Implant Recipients, $20,000.00. Lawrence, Jayakody, Eikelboom. Grant was awarded, had to be declined as the PI has resigned.
• Department of Health Research Translation Project 2020-2022. Hearing Aids to Support the Cognitive Functions of Older Adults at Risk of Dementia- the HearCog Trial, $237,691.00. Ford, Jayakody, Flicker & Makate.
• Oticon Ltd Equipment Grant. Hearing Aids to Support Cognitive Functions of Older Adults at Risk of Dementia: the HearCog trial’. AU$1, 200,000.00. Jayakody, Almeida, Leon & Ford, 2019.
• Oticon Foundation Grant 2018. ‘Listening Effort and Cognitive Decline’, 1.1 million DKK (AUD 300,000). Maier, Patou, Lunner & Jayakody.
• Copenhagen Centre for Health Technology – CACHET Grant for PhD Student Projects 2019. ‘Listening Effort and Cognitive Decline’, 1.1 million DKK (AUD 300,000). Maier, Patou, Lunner & Jayakody.
• Equity Trustees Charitable Foundation - The Ron & Peggy Bell Family Legacy, Hearing Aids to Support Cognitive Functions of Older Adults at Risk of Dementia: the HearCog trial’. $75,000.00. Jayakody, Almeida, Leon & Ford.2018.
• Cochlear Ltd. Association between Cognition and Hearing Loss.AU$100,000.00. Robertson, Atlas, Taljaard, Eikelboom & Jayakody, 2014-2016.
• Cochlear Foundation. Cochlear Implant Management Skills Survey. AU$50,000.00. Robertson, Atlas, Bennett & Jayakody, 2014-2016.
• Southern Cochlear Implant Program (SCIP), New Zealand. Travel Grant to attend 12th International Conference on Cochlear Implants and Other Implantable Technologies. Baltimore, USA. NZ$5,000.00, 2012.
• Deafness Research Foundation, New Zealand. Pitch Perception Skills of Tonal Language Speakers. NZ $5,000.00, 2010-2012.
• GN-Resound Grant for University of Canterbury Audiology Students. Pitch Perception of Cochlear Implant Recipients, NZ$1,000.00, 2012.
• Travel Grant from Southern Cochlear Implant Program (SCIP), New Zealand. To attend 7th Asia Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implants and Related Sciences in Singapore, NZ$5,000.00, 2009.
• Phonak Hear the World Foundation Research Grant, Denmark. Pitch Perception of Hearing Impaired, NZ$8,000.00, 2009-2010.
• Department of Communication Disorders PhD Scholarship, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ, 2010-2012.
• College of Science PhD Scholarship- University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ.