New chair for QIMR Berghofer council

Her Excellency Penelope Wensley AC, Governor of Queensland, has officially appointed The Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Chief Justice of Queensland, as the new Chair of the Council of the QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute.

QIMR Berghofer Director and CEO, Professor Frank Gannon, said he was very pleased to welcome Chief Justice de Jersey as the 11th Chair of Council.

“The Chief Justice’s distinguished legal career and diverse record of community involvement will bring a wealth of experience and make a significant contribution to QIMR Berghofer,” Professor Gannon said.

Chief Justice de Jersey said he had no hesitation in accepting the role.

“It is an enormous privilege to chair the distinguished Council of this highly respected medical research institute. Its reputation for scientific excellence is of global dimension,” the Chief Justice said.

“Importantly, QIMR Berghofer research has a long history of producing good practical outcomes in new treatments for a range of disorders, including cancer, infectious diseases and mental illness.

“As all Queenslanders are proud of their internationally renowned Queensland Institute, as a Queenslander I am very proud now to lead it.”

Chief Justice de Jersey was called to the Bar in 1971 and appointed to Her Majesty’s Counsel in 1981. A Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Chief Justice de Jersey was appointed Chief Justice of Queensland in 1998.

A strong supporter of local not-for-profit organisations, Chief Justice de Jersey acts as patron for a number of organisations including the Medico-Legal Society of Queensland, the Queensland Justices Association Inc and the UQ Pro Bono Law Centre and has led the board of the Australian Cancer Society and the Queensland Cancer Fund.

Chief Justice de Jersey’s appointment as Chair of QIMR Berghofer’s Council is effective immediately.