Hunter Branch

About the Branch and its Role

The Council of the Royal Society of NSW confirmed the establishment of the Hunter Branch of the Society at its October 2019 meeting. This followed an inaugural meeting, held in Newcastle on 9 October 2019, at which a branch committee was elected.

The Hunter Branch of the Royal Society of New South Wales represents a source of specialised expertise, advice, and support for the various Governmental, industrial and community groupings comprising the Hunter region of NSW. It will:

• It will encourage, stimulate and support the creation of a vibrant intellectual community within the Hunter region of NSW, promoting debate, discussion and policy development around a range of contemporary issues affecting our region’s communities.
• It will encourage, stimulate and support the growth of promising young talent within the Hunter region of NSW, with a particular emphasis on the most disadvantaged members of our community.
• It will encourage and enhance the development of research excellence and leadership across the public, business, and community sectors in the Hunter region of NSW, focusing world-class knowledge and know-how on issues of importance to our region.
• It will raise the national and international profile of the Hunter region as a centre for world-class creativity and innovation.
• It will promote the concept of the Hunter region as a living laboratory where the results of research and innovation can be implemented and assessed in terms of their contributions to the health and wellbeing of local communities as well as the economic and environmental sustainability of our region.
• It will be responsible for awarding an annual prize (the Hunter Medal) to the national or international figure who has made the greatest intellectual contribution to subject areas that have relevance for our region.

Office-bearers for 2023–2024

Office-bearers elected at the third Annual General Meeting held on 16 March 2023 are:

Chair	Distinguished Emeritus Laureate Professor John Aitken FRSE FRSN FAHMS FAA
Secretary and Treasurer.	Honorary Professor Philip Bolton FRSN
Committee Members	Dr Philip Bailey MRSN
	Mr John Dunnet MRSN
	Emeritus Scientia Professor Eugenie Lumbers AM FRSN FAA
	Professor Steven Weller FRSN
	Professor Robert Whittaker AM FRSN

Vote of Thanks

At the Annual General Meeting, Distinguished Emeritus Laureate Professor John Aitken noted that Mr Paul Jeans FRSN (Branch Founding Chair), Professor Natalie Thamwattana FRSN (Deputy Chair), and Professor George Willis FRSN FAA (Treasurer) were each stepping down from the Committee after many years of service to the Hunter Branch of the RSNSW. Professor Aitken thanked each of them for the work they had done in their respective roles in establishing and developing the Hunter Branch of the Royal Society and wished them well. This was unanimously supported by acclamation by all in attendance.

Contact

Please address enquiries to the Branch Secretary.