Alex is an internationally leading Aboriginal clinician/researcher who has worked his entire career in Aboriginal health in the provision of public health services, chronic disease care, health care policy and research. Much of his work has been at the difficult interface of geographical isolation, complex cultural context, severe socioeconomic disadvantage, and profound health disparities.

His transdisciplinary program of research focuses on documenting the burden and contributors to health inequality in Indigenous Australians, with a primary focus on cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and cancer, spanning time at Menzies School of Health Research, Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (2012-2021). During his most recent appointment at SAHMRI, he oversaw the establishment of an integrated centre of excellence in Indigenous chronic disease and public health research. In 2022 he took up a new position as Professor of Indigenous Genomics for Telethon Kids Institute and ANU, leading a national approach to ensure the benefits of genomics and precision medicine are realised for Indigenous Australians.