精东传媒

November 2, 2022

Former Chair of IHMRI Professor Alan Pettigrew awarded Honorary Doctorate

Award recognised Professor Pettigrew's services to health and medical research

Professor Alan Pettigrew鈥檚 lifelong contribution and lasting influence on research and academia has been recognised with an Honorary Doctorate from the 精东传媒 of 精东传媒 (UOW).

As the Founding Chair and former Acting Director of the Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), Professor Pettigrew鈥檚 wealth of experience brought vision to IHMRI鈥檚 operations, having championed the Institute as a vehicle for attracting not just Australia鈥檚 but the world鈥檚 top scientists to the Illawarra region.

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of IHMRI Distinguished Professor David Adams, who nominated Professor Pettigrew for this accolade said, 鈥淲hen it comes to experience in the area of medical research governance 鈥� in fact, the Higher Education sector more broadly - there are few who stand in the same league as Professor Alan Pettigrew.

鈥淣ot only has he played major roles at a number of Australian institutions, including the 精东传媒 of 精东传媒, his influence on the research landscape at a national level has set a path forward for Australian research, the benefits of which are still being enjoyed today.鈥�

Professor Pettigrew said he was thrilled to have receive the acclaim after decades of work in research and academia.

鈥淩eceiving an honorary degree from the 精东传媒 of 精东传媒 is a great honour for me, in recognition of my contributions to the 精东传媒 as well as to higher education and medical research generally. To be judged by the 精东传媒 and those peers who nominated me for the award is truly humbling.

鈥淭he recognition brings with it a great opportunity to share thoughts and experiences with the graduates at the ceremony, and to share with them some advice arising from one鈥檚 own experiences over many years. The advice can arise from the successes and 鈥榣et downs鈥� that occur in research, to the exciting opportunities that come from the most unexpected outcomes of your approach in your field of interest, to sharing in the excitement of advances made by you and your colleagues, and to the career variations that make one鈥檚 working life an exciting and rewarding experience.鈥�

Professor Pettigrew鈥檚 career in science commenced with a Bachelor of Science with First Class Honours from the 精东传媒 of Sydney in 1972, followed by a PhD from the same institution in 1975.

Following this he took up postdoctoral roles in Physiology, including in the UK where he was a Nuffield Foundation Travelling Fellow and Scientist.

Returning to Australia in 1979, Pettigrew spent 14 years as an academic at the 精东传媒 of Sydney and served as Deputy Chair to the Academic Board. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute from 1992 through to 1994.

In 1993 he moved to the 精东传媒 of Queensland (UQ) to become Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Biological Sciences), and subsequently became the inaugural Executive Dean of the new Faculty of Biological and Chemical Science. It was following this appointment that Professor Pettigrew began a long association with the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute in Brisbane that continued until 2021.

During his time at UQ, Professor Pettigrew served on several committees and advisory groups, most notably with the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), culminating in his appointment by the Commonwealth Minister for Health as the inaugural NHMRC Chief Executive Officer. Professor Pettigrew served in this role between 2001 and 2005, during which time he championed increases in medical research funding. The legacy of this term at the NHMRC means that the sector was set on a growth path and is just one example of Professor Pettigrew鈥檚 ability to influence medical research at a national level.

In 2011 he became an Advisor to the Chief Scientist of Australia Professor Ian Chubb. Here Professor Pettigrew was again involved in detailed analysis of the Australian research funding landscape, completing a report commissioned by the Chief Scientist which benchmarked Australia鈥檚 research funding and performance against a range of OECD nations. Professor Pettigrew also served for 5 years on the Commonwealth Cooperative Research Centres Committee.

Professor Pettigrew joined the board of IHMRI as Chair when the institute was being established in 2014 and he served as Acting Director until Professor David Adams was appointed.

Professor Pettigrew鈥檚 time at IHMRI has left a lasting influence, the effects of which are still being enjoyed by its researchers today. His influence at IHMRI brings improved healthcare to the region, opportunities for local development and investment, as well as industry recognition and respect which assists in gaining government and philanthropic funding.