Past recipients
Australian Capital Territory | Dr Kerryn Coleman and team
The team consists of Fellows Dr Kerryn Coleman (CHO), Dr Vanessa Johnston (Deputy CHO) and Dr Miranda Harris. Trainees are Dr Naomi Clarke, Dr Karin English, Dr Sabrina De Bellis-Ayres and Dr Claire Behm. The team plan, instigate and continually improve the ACT Health response to COVID to protect the health of the public.
New South Wales | Dr Kerry Chant and team
The team consists of Dr Kerry Chant, Chief Health Officer of NSW, and Health Protection NSW. Health Protection NSW is responsible for surveillance and public health response in NSW, including monitoring the incidence of notifiable infectious diseases and taking appropriate action to control the spread of disease. Dr Kerry Chant deserves particular credit for the way she has nurtured and grown Health Protection NSW over the past decade. She has tirelessly managed the pandemic, showing outstanding leadership in formulating timely responses to complex public health issues.
Northern Territory | Associate Professor Vicki Krause
Associate Professor Vicki Krause, Director of the NT Centre for Disease Control, has led the NT COVID response with utmost professionalism amidst significant professional upheaval. Her work, like many excellent public health professionals, goes unrecognised because of her outstanding success in health protection and disease control.
South Australia | Professor Nicola Spurrier and team
The team consists of Professor Nicola Spurrier, SA Chief Public Health Officer, and the team at the Communicable Disease Control Branch for SA Health. They provide safe, transparent and effective leadership, advice and guidance for the health of all South Australians during the pandemic. Throughout the public health emergency, Professor Spurrier has presented as calm, learned and collected.
Queensland | Dr Sonya Bennett
Dr Sonya Bennett, head of the Communicable Disease Branch for Queensland Health and Chair of the Communicable Disease Network of Australia, has been instrumental not only in the Queensland response to COVID but also the national response. Her leadership was recognised during the year with a secondment to Victoria and in August 2020 when she was appointed as Deputy Chief Health Officer for Queensland.
Tasmania | Dr Mark Veitch
Dr Mark Veitch, Director of Public Health at Public Health Services, leads the public health response to COVID in Tasmania. He demonstrates extraordinary leadership, provides clear and considered guidance to government and supports his colleagues and the public health workforce. He is an example of excellence in public health communication to people and groups at all levels, including politicians, colleagues and the public.
Victoria | Professor Brett Sutton and team
Professor Brett Sutton, the Victorian Chief Health Officer, is the face of public health medicine in the state for the COVID pandemic. He provides astute public health advice to inform the response and a collaborative approach amongst public health agencies and experts. Professor Sutton is a supportive leader for the public health team across all levels of government, health services, community organisations and businesses. His ability to engage with the community has been pivotal in ensuring strong public support for the necessary public health actions.
Western Australia | Dr Revle Bangor-Jones and team
Dr Revle Bangor-Jones, Principal Medical Officer in the Office of the Chief Health Officer and Deputy Coordinator of the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre in the Health Department, has been a leader in public health medicine in Western Australia for many years. She leads the Public Health Emergency Operations Centre strategy team, dealing with issues of communication and administration, and liaising with the State Health Incident Coordination Centre.
2021 | Dr Satyamurthy Anuradha, Dr Margaret Young
2020 | Dr Elizabeth Ellis (Trainee Commitment), Dr Priya Janagaraj (Trainee Commitment)
2019 | Dr Vicky Sheppeard
2018 | Professor Lynne Madden
2017 | Dr Marianne Jauncy (Policy and Advocacy), Dr Judy Straton (Education, Training and Assessment), Dr Aditya Vyas (Trainee Commitment)
2016 | Dr Tony Gill (Education, Training and Assessment), Dr Kushani Marshall (Trainee Commitment), Associate Professor Nicola Spurier (Education, Training and Assessment)
2015 | Dr Abdullah Demirkol (Education, Training and Assessment), Associate Professor Linda Selvey (Policy and Advocacy), Dr Simon Crouch (Trainee Commitment)
2014 | Professor Michael Ackland (Education, Training and Assessment), Dr Michael Bret Hard (Policy and Advocacy), Dr Benjamin Scalley (Trainee Commitment)