Maxine is a Professorial Fellow at Monash University in the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine and on the Board of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes.

She has a background in health, cancer research, government and not-for-profit management. She began her career in general and specialist nursing and then worked as a Victorian Transplant Coordinator. An interest in health and statistics lead to a research role at the Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer at Cancer Council Victoria. 

In 2002, Maxine was elected to the Victorian Parliament. During her eight years in Parliament Maxine served in a range of senior positions including Parliamentary Secretary for Health, then Minister for Children and Early Childhood Development and Minister for Women’s Affairs. Maxine is a passionate advocate for women’s equality of opportunity and led major legislative reform in women’s health. 

A diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer in 2011, provides Maxine with a personal insight into the impact and management of a cancer diagnosis. 

In 2022, Maxine was acknowledged as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for significant service to the Parliament of Victoria, and to community health.