Our Patrons

Emeritus Professor David Penington AC (1930-2023)

Penington Institute is named in honour of one of its patrons, Emeritus Professor David Penington AC, 1930-2023.

One of Australia’s leading public intellectuals and health experts, he courageously advocated for sensible drug policy in his roles as former chairman of the National AIDS Task Force, the Victorian Premier’s Drug Advisory Council, and the Victorian Government’s Drug Policy Expert Committee.

His unstinting efforts over many years helped to make Australia a world leader in HIV/AIDS public health strategies and in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

He believed that contributing to rational debate on drug-related issues is one of the most important things Penington Institute can do. “The institute will be bringing in very respected contributors to help mobilise the debate in ways that will help to change community attitudes to alcohol and illicit drug problems.”

Professor Penington’s other leadership roles included: Professor of Medicine, Dean and Vice Chancellor at the University of Melbourne; chairman of Cochlear Ltd, Bio21 Australia Ltd, the Bio21 Institute, and Bionic Vision Australia; and former president of Museum Victoria.

Emeritus Professor David Penington AC

Emeritus Professor David Penington AC (1930-2023)

Emeritus Professor Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE

Professor The Hon Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

Professor Suzanne Cory AC

Emeritus Professor David de Kretser AC

Professor Peter Doherty AC FAA FRS

Professor Margaret Hamilton AO

Professor The Hon Barry Jones AC

The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG

Emeritus Professor David Penington AC

Professor Fiona Stanley AC FAA FASSA

Kathryn Greiner AO (Chair)

Carmel Arthur OAM

Professor Nicholas Lintzeris MBBS, FAChAM, PhD

Scott Wilson

Vern White

Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO

David Stewart

Carmel Arthur (Chair)

Shobhana Chetty BSc, M.Acct

Joe Flinn BAcc, CA

Bruce Lanyon B Bus, MBA, FCA, SF Fin

John Ryan
Chief Executive Officer

Brian Scammell
Manager, Corporate Services

Dr Karen Gelb
Manager, Research and Policy

Anna Northey
Director of Strategic Communications

Emeritus Professor Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE

Professor The Hon Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

Professor Suzanne Cory AC

Emeritus Professor David de Kretser AC

Professor Peter Doherty AC FAA FRS

Professor Margaret Hamilton AO

Professor The Hon Barry Jones AC

The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG

Emeritus Professor David Penington AC

Professor Fiona Stanley AC FAA FASSA

Kathryn Greiner AO (Chair)

Carmel Arthur OAM

Professor Nicholas Lintzeris MBBS, FAChAM, PhD

Scott Wilson

Vern White

Dr Bulent Hass Dellal AO

David Stewart

Carmel Arthur (Chair)

Shobhana Chetty BSc, M.Acct

Joe Flinn BAcc, CA

Bruce Lanyon B Bus, MBA, FCA, SF Fin

John Ryan
Chief Executive Officer

Dr Karen Gelb
Manager, Research and Workforce Development

Brian Scammell
Manager, Corporate Services