Portrait of Dr Shyamsundar Muthuramalingam

Dr Shyamsundar
Muthuramalingam

Consumer leader · Scientist · Research executive

My lived experience became my greatest teacher—and my most powerful motivator.

Shyam works at the intersection of lived experience, research and health-system change.

His perspective has been shaped by genetic kidney disease, haemodialysis and kidney transplantation, as well as by his training as a scientist and his leadership across clinical research, teletrials, consumer engagement and research governance.

Across national committees, research collaborations and health services, Shyam advocates for consumers and communities to be partners in setting priorities, shaping studies, improving services and translating evidence into better care.

He founded Consumer Engagement Matters to help organisations move beyond tokenism. His approach combines lived expertise with practical strategy, capability building, inclusive co-design and a clear focus on whether engagement changes decisions and outcomes.

Science shaped the foundation.
Lived experience shaped the purpose.

Bachelor of Biotechnology

SASTRA University

Diagnosed with kidney disease

Lived experience begins

MSc Nanotechnology

Flinders University

PhD Chemistry

Flinders University · Biosensors & Nanotechnology

Kidney transplant

A turning point in life and leadership

Consumer Engagement Executive

ANZDATA / SAHMRI · National consumer leadership

Manager, Consumer Engagement

South Australian Prison Health Service

Director, Clinical Research & Teletrials

Barossa Hills Fleurieu Local Health Network

Leadership across systems, research and communities.

01

Strategic leadership

Research strategy, system transformation, executive leadership and change management.

02

Clinical research & teletrials

Clinical trials, digital health, ethics, governance and research translation.

03

Consumer engagement

Co-design, lived-experience leadership, consumer partnerships and community engagement.

04

Policy & governance

Accreditation, advisory committees, policy development and healthcare governance.

05

Communication & influence

Public speaking, keynote presentations, media, podcasts and stakeholder engagement.

06

National contribution

Leadership across medical accreditation, research assessment, kidney health and teletrials.

Lived expertise.
A national perspective.

Shyam brings scientific training, health-system leadership and consumer advisory experience to each engagement.

Meet your consultant
National advisory experience

NHMRC Consumer Advisory Group

Listed on NHMRC's Consumer Advisory Group for 2024–2027, contributing a consumer perspective to health and medical research.

View NHMRC profile ↗
Research & community involvement

The George Institute for Global Health

Former member of its Consumer and Community Advisory Committee, bringing lived experience into research involvement.

View committee profile ↗

Turn lived experience into meaningful change.

Discuss a project