2019 AAMRI Convention: Photos and speeches

Our 2019 AAMRI Convention was our biggest yet. An impressive number of our members’ staff and Boards, industry leaders, MPs and guest speakers joined us in Canberra over two days to analyse the big issues in our sector.

Our Strategy Meeting, attended by more than 120 delegates representing 44 of our 54 members, were joined by Chief Executive of the NHMRC, Professor Anne Kelso AO, as well as Professor Sir John Savill (Executive Director of the Melbourne Academic Centre for Health, and former Chief Executive of the UK Medical Research Council).

Professors Kelso spoke on NHMRC’s new grant program, sat down for a chat with AAMRI President Professor Jonathan Carapetis AM and took questions from the floor. Professor Savill discussed how UK funding bodies promote translational health research, followed by a panel discussion on ‘Making the most of the Medical Research Future Fund’ featuring Professor Carapetis, Professor Sir Savill, Professor Sharon Lewin AO, Professor Peter Schofield AO and Professor Helen Christensen AO.

 

We were joined by nearly 200 guests for the AAMRI Annual Dinner, with Professor Carapetis opening proceedings with a speech addressing areas we can work on together as a sector, and his ideas for AAMRI during his presidentship. Professor Carapetis’s speech is available to read – here.

the Minister for Health the Hon Greg Hunt MP as our guest speaker for the evening. Minister Hunt spoke on celebrating successes in medical research and his vision for the future, you can read a transcript of his speech online.

 

 

Congratulations to this year’s CSL Florey medallists, Professor Andreas Strasser and Professor David Vaux from WEHI for their work on the molecular mechanisms for cell death and their continued contributions to the development of cancer treatments. Professor Vaux joined us at the dinner to accept the award and delighted guests with an informal chat with MC Bernie Hobbs.

 

The Convention rounded off the next day with the AAMRI President’s Breakfast, with guest speaker the Hon Chris Bowen MP, the Shadow Minister for Health. Mr Bowen discussed his priorities in strengthening the Medical Research Future Fund.

Finally at the AAMRI AGM we welcome five new Board members. AAMRI is delighted to announce their Board better represents the diversity of talent in medical research with women making up more than half of Board members (five women, three men), read our full media release here.