What does high performance really look like when it’s shaped by lived experience?

In this episode of Cognitio, we explore the intersection between professional capability and chronic illness—and how navigating personal health challenges can fundamentally shape resilience, leadership, and perspective in the life sciences sector.

Hosted by Anna Megalakakis from ARCS, this conversation brings together Mark Del Borgo from the Department of Pharmacology at Monash University and his PhD student Isabella Simon. Both are not only researchers, but also consumers of the healthcare system—offering a rare and powerful dual perspective from inside the science and the lived experience it ultimately serves.

From the realities of diagnosis and long-term treatment, to the unseen pressures of maintaining performance in high-demand roles, this discussion highlights what often sits beneath the surface in our workplaces and research environments.

It also raises important questions for the sector:
How do we better support high performers managing chronic conditions?
What does empathetic leadership look like in practice?
And how can lived experience strengthen—not limit—professional contribution?

This is a conversation about resilience, but also about understanding. About the human side of science, and the importance of creating environments where people can perform at their best—because they are supported, not despite their challenges.

• Living and working with chronic illness in life sciences
• The impact of diagnosis on career direction and ambition
• Navigating research, academia, and health simultaneously
• Empathy, leadership, and building high-performing teams
• The role of lived experience in shaping better science and outcomes

• Anna Megalakakis – ARCS
• Mark Del Borgo – Department of Pharmacology, Monash University
• Isabella Simon – PhD Candidate, Pharmacology

ARCS Australia is the peak body for the life sciences sector, supporting professionals across the full product lifecycle through education, professional development, and community.

Key Topics CoveredFeatured in this EpisodeAbout ARCS