March 7, 2025
The Society’s 2025 Annual Dinner and Awards Presentation was held in the Strangers’ Room of Parliament House, Sydney on the evening of Friday, 7 March 2024, under the kind patronage of the Honourable Stephen Kamper MP, Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Minister for Multiculturalism, Minister for Lands and Property, and Minister for Sport.
It was a wonderful occasion attended by 250 members and friends of the Society, including the 2024 Award winners (shown in the adjacent image) who were presented with their awards by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales and Patron of the Society, and the President, Dr Susan Pond AM FRSN.
The annual dinner enjoyed significant and generous support, including a platinum sponsorship from the national research infrastructure capability, Bioplatforms Australia, gold sponsorships from each of UNSW Sydney and the University of Sydney, and a silver sponsorship from Quantum Law. In addition, there were tables of 10 organised by the University of New England, Western Sydney University, the University of Newcastle and its School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, and the Faculty of Science at the University of Sydney. These sponsorships are vital to the success of the event, underwriting the participation of the award winners, their guests, and dignitaries while enabling a significant surplus to be returned to the Society.
Professor Georgina Long AO FAHMS FAA, the 2024 joint Australian of the Year, who is recognised for her ground-breaking therapies for melanoma, delivered a stirring after-dinner lecture titled Advancing Science through Innovation and Equity. A summary of her talk is shown below.
I believe in the power of scientific innovation, especially in cancer research, where groundbreaking advancements I have helped pioneer—like the ABC (brain) trial and the neoadjuvant NADINA trial—have transformed treatment approaches. By challenging conventional methods and embracing bold new strategies, my colleagues and I have worked alongside talented colleagues in my specialty to significantly improve survival rates for melanoma patients. Continuous learning and pushing boundaries are central to my work, and I firmly believe that courage drives innovation in medicine.
As a passionate advocate for melanoma prevention, I emphasise the urgent need for cultural change around sun safety, particularly among young people. Social media continues to glamourise tanning, and I call out its dangerous influence—because the reality is that over 90% of melanoma cases in Australia are preventable. My goal is to make sun safety as instinctive as wearing a seatbelt, ultimately striving to drive melanoma rates to near zero.
Beyond science, I speak openly about the persistent gender inequalities in medicine, research, and leadership. As a parent of three, I’ve navigated career challenges while also witnessing unconscious bias that undermines women’s contributions. I urge workplaces to create environments where women feel empowered to share ideas, take risks, and lead with confidence—rather than being sidelined or doubted.
My message is one of courage—the courage to question the status quo, to embrace failure as a step toward progress, and to amplify women’s voices in every field. I leave you with a call to action: recognise and challenge bias, create space for a broad range of perspectives, and ensure that progress toward equality is not delayed another 30 years. True impact comes not just from individual achievements but from the legacy we leave for future generations.
The Society gratefully acknowledges the outstanding work of the organising committee, chaired most ably by Ross Griffith FRSN, and including Pamela Griffith OAM FRSN, Selena Griffith FRSN. Marian Kernahan, Zile Yu MRSN, and Joanna Mendelssohn FRSN.
Some images from dinner taken by the Salty Dingo photographer are available at this link for viewing and downloading. A separate folder of images of the Award winners is also available.
