ProfessorRobyn Ward

Professor Ward graduated from the University of New South Wales with a MBBS (Hons 1) in 1984 and then trained as a physician and a scientist, gaining fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Physicians in 1991 and a PhD in Medicine at UNSW in 1994. She previously held positions at The University of New South Wales as Professor of Medicine, Clinical Associate Dean at the Prince of Wales Clinical School (UNSW) and Head of the Adult Cancer Program at the Lowy Cancer Research Centre. Robyn was also Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Centre at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. From 2014 to 2018, Robyn was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Queensland, and also served as Executive Dean (Acting) of the Faculty of Medicine at UQ from 2016-18.

Robyn has demonstrated sustained translational and clinical research performance at the highest level. Her research performance is supported through a consistently strong grant track record, including NHMRC and ARC funding, as well as grants from cancer authorities. She has obtained over $38m in competitive funding to support her research activities and has published over 260 articles, books and chapters including in high impact journals such as British Medical Journal, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Nature Genetics and The New England Journal of Medicine. Robyn’s contributions to medical research have been acknowledged through a Commonwealth Health Minister’s Award for Excellence in Health and Medical Research in 2004, the NSW Premier’s Award for Outstanding Cancer Researcher of the Year in 2007, and membership of the Order of Australia, awarded in 2013.

In addition to her clinical and research leadership experience, Robyn has contributed to the development of Commonwealth and NSW health policy, including through her current roles as Chair of the Commonwealth Medical Services Advisory Committee and member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. Until 2019 she was co-Chair for Global Genomics Medicine Collaborative (G2MC), hosted by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies in Washington. Robyn has been a member of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences since its inceptin in 2013, and has served on its Board and Council since that time.