The Queensland Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young PSM is now officially the patron of QIMR Berghofer after formally presenting the Patronage Certificate on 13 April, 2022.

The Institute is familiar ground for Her Excellency who served on the iconic research organisation’s Council from 2005 to 2019.

Council Chair Professor Arun Sharma and Director and CEO Professor Fabienne Mackay took Her Excellency on a tour of the Institute. Dr Young was briefed on the latest research being led by Professor Greg Devine into mosquito-borne diseases.

Thanking the Governor for her role as patron, Professor Sharma said no one better understood the value and importance of medical research, such as that being undertaken at QIMR Berghofer.

“COVID-19 has shown us that we are at an inflection point in history where medical research has never been more vital. Our researchers at QIMR Berghofer have shown that we are prepared and ready to respond to historic pandemics such as COVID-19 with world-leading, meaningful research that is making a difference to everyday people,” Professor Sharma said.

QIMR Berghofer Director and CEO Professor Fabienne Mackay said it was a tremendous privilege to have the support of the Governor of Queensland.

“Her Excellency has been a genuine and committed supporter of QIMR Berghofer for many years, we look forward to continuing this long-standing relationship.”

The presentation at QIMR Berghofer was an opportunity for Her Excellency to meet staff who work in diverse areas of the Institute and are in different stages of their career, including research award winners, long-serving employees and a PhD candidate.

The Governor also made a special presentation to one of QIMR Berghofer’s original employees, 92-year-old Ian Cook, who started with the organisation as a cadet just after the Second World War.

Her Excellency presented Mr Cook with a framed photo of his cohort and thanked him for his incredible service to the Institute.