Professor Anne Kelso AO awarded honorary doctorate
Professor Anne Kelso AO and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Professor Jane Gunn.
Professor Anne Kelso AO, a highly respected medical researcher in the field of immunology and vaccines, has been awarded the Doctor of Medical Science honoris causa by the University of Melbourne.
The award was conferred at a ceremony on Saturday 9 December, recognising Professor Kelso for her significant contributions to national and international science, community health and medicine.
Professor Kelso is a graduate of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, where she attained her PhD in 1980.
After undertaking further immunology research in Australia and overseas, she moved into leadership roles to foster research and pathways to better health and health care.
She has held directorship roles at the Cooperative Research Centre for Vaccine Technology and the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, and in 2015 was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).
Professor Kelso’s NHMRC leadership saw the reform of the agency’s grant program, the establishment of the National Network for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Researchers, and the development of a regulatory framework to support the staged introduction of mitochondrial donation into clinical IVF practice. The organisation also provided support to researchers and clinicians throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
During her tenure at NHMRC, Professor Kelso drove a major initiative to improve gender equality at the highest levels of the health sector by setting targets for the award of grants to outstanding women in health and medical research.
This initiative required extensive national consultation to find a way to create genuine gender equity at leadership levels and will provide the pathway for changes in practices within research organisations.
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Professor Jane Gunn said:
“An honorary doctorate recognises those whose work has had a lasting impact on the communities they serve. Professor Kelso is a transformative health leader who, over the course of her career, has made significant contributions to training, research and leadership at scientific organisations in Australia and internationally. In recent years, she has been tenacious in her quest to transform the health sector to improve gender equity in health and medical research, so that all researchers are better supported throughout their careers. Professor Kelso is a distinguished researcher and a courageous leader, and it is with great pleasure we recognise her invaluable contributions in this way.”
Professor Kelso said:
“I am overwhelmed by this very great honour. Since graduating from this University, I have been exceptionally fortunate to pursue a career in health and medical research as a bench scientist and in other roles. It was a special privilege to serve as CEO of NHMRC where I had the opportunity to influence research funding policies in areas such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and the health impacts of climate change. I also hope our initiatives to improve gender equity will benefit the wider community by diversifying the talents, perspectives and interests of Australian health and medical researchers.”
Professor Kelso was appointed Officer in the Order of Australia in 2007 for her service to science.