Why is philanthropic and donor support so important to advancing medical research and making a difference in health?

It’s absolutely critical. Every gift is a powerful vote of confidence in researchers and their ideas.

Donor support helps to back big, bold thinking and gives researchers the freedom to push the boundaries of what’s possible.

Unlike many other sources of funding, philanthropy can move quickly, respond to urgent needs and support research at pivotal moments. It can help turn promising ideas into discoveries, and discoveries into better treatments, diagnostics and health outcomes.

What makes philanthropy so special is that it is freely given. It’s an act of trust, optimism and belief in a better future. That support can help create the conditions for truly transformative outcomes.

What excites you most about the future of WEHI and the growing community of people who support our mission?

WEHI is a powerhouse of discovery research and one of Australia’s most respected medical research institutes. It has a remarkable history, rooted in philanthropy and founded through Eliza Hall’s extraordinary generosity over 110 years ago.

WEHI’s continued tradition of generous personal support is part of its culture and a key part of the fabric that sustains its world class science.

What excites me most is the opportunity ahead. WEHI has an incredible story to tell, from the discoveries being made in our laboratories today to the impact they can have on people and communities in the future.

I’m excited about engaging with even more people to be part of WEHI’s story, enabling discoveries that will improve health outcomes and change people’s lives.

When someone chooses to give to WEHI, what impact are they making possible?

Every gift is an act of hope.

At its heart, a donation is an investment: in science, in expertise and the relentless pursuit of answers. Donors give our researchers the freedom to pursue bold ideas – they lay the foundations for tomorrow’s breakthroughs.

That’s no small thing. Every treatment that we now take for granted started in a lab, as someone’s unproven idea, enabled through donors who had trust in the process before there was proof.

Over time, that research can lead to better treatments, healthier lives and more time with the people we love. A birthday, a wedding, an ordinary family dinner that someone gets to have because science got there first. That’s what philanthropy and medical research build together – not just knowledge, but time returned to the people who need it most.

Is there a moment that has shaped your understanding of the power of giving?

One story has always stayed with me.

When I was living in Canada and working for a paediatric cancer centre, one of my son’s friends from kindergarten was diagnosed with cancer.

Later that year, this boy featured in our fundraising appeal, as he was one of the children who would be spending Christmas in the hospital.

When the appeal arrived at our home, my son recognised his friend and immediately emptied his piggy bank into the donation envelope. He wanted to help his friend have a better Christmas.

It wasn’t a large gift, but it was a deeply generous one. It reminded me that philanthropy is ultimately about people caring for one another – and that every act of generosity matters.