Your chance to hear from Prof Fiona Stanley, 2022 Grimwade Medallist

World leader in child health research Prof Fiona Stanley AC to deliver Grimwade Medal Oration and exclusive Q&A. Don’t miss these events. Bookings essential..

Professor Fiona Stanley AC has been awarded the Grimwade Medal for Biochemistry in recognition of her distinguished career and outstanding contributions to society.

Prof Stanley has dedicated her life to improving the health of children and Indigenous Australians. She is founder of the Telethon Kids Institute, responsible for ground breaking research on the role of folic acid in preventing of spinabifida, and is namesake to Western Australia's Fiona Stanley Hospital.

Upon accepting the award on 16 June, Prof Stanley will deliver what is set to be an inspiring Grimwade Medal Oration. Following this, early career and graduate researchers and Bachelor of Biomedicine students are invited to an exclusive Q+A event with Prof Stanley - hosted by the School of Biomedical Sciences Early and Mid-Career Researcher Association - on 17 June.

GRIMWADE MEDAL ORATION: 'What did this epidemiologist do before COVID?'

Register via eventbrite

EXCLUSIVE Q+A WITH PROF STANLEY AC

Have one of the country’s most esteemed medical researchers answer your questions, hear about what inspired her, lessons learnt along the way, and how she developed a career in biomedical sciences.

  • When: 10:30 - 11:30am, Friday 17 June
  • Where: Bio21 Institute Auditorium, 30 Flemington Rd Parkville, Melbourne
  • Free event for ECRs & Biomed students

Among her many accolades, Prof Stanley was named Australian of the Year in 2003. She went on to create the Australian Early Development Census in 2009 – a population measure that provides a snapshot of children’s development from birth to five years of age.

She says, collecting data during a child’s first year of school helps show the way forward for children to have the best start to life.

Prof Stanley is also a Vice Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne, Honorary Professor in the Melbourne School of Population & Global Health, and UNICEF Australian Ambassador for Early Childhood Development. In 1996, she received an Order of Australia and in 2014  named a National Living Treasure (Australia).

“The most important investment for any nation is investment in early childhood environments, so our children can grow up healthy and well,” she says.

More recently, Prof Stanley became a spokesperson for the Climate Council, Doctors for the Environment Australia and 350.org, on the health effects of climate change.

The Grimwade Medal is supported by the Russell and Mab Grimwade Miegunyah Fund. It recognises notable scientists working within biochemistry and pharmacology. The recipient delivers the annual Grimwade Medal Oration.