This year, the Alfred Research Alliance is delighted to welcome John Thwaites AM, Chair of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and Climateworks Centre, as the keynote speaker for the annual Alfred Health Week Keynote Address.
In 2022, climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing our planet. Its impacts are already being felt in myriad ways, and the health sector is no exception. In this special address, John will explore the ways in which climate change impacts health today and how these impacts are likely to continue and change into the future.
The keynote address will be followed by the presentation of the Alfred Research Alliance Publication Prizes in Clinical/Public Health Research and Basic Research.
This is a hybrid event, hosted in the Betty & John Laidlaw AO Alfred Innovation & Education Hub on site and via Zoom online.
ABOUT JOHN THWAITES AM
Professor John Thwaites AM is a Professorial Fellow, Monash University, and Chair of the Monash Sustainable Development Institute and Climateworks Centre.
John is the Chair of the National Sustainable Development Council, which has developed the Transforming Australia: SDGs Progress Report 2018. He was previously Chair of the National Sustainability Council an independent Council appointed by the Australian Government, which produced the Sustainable Australia Report in 2013.
He is a Co-Chair of the Leadership Council of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) launched by the Secretary General of the United Nations to provide expert advice and support to the development and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. He is also the Chair of the SDSN Association, which operates the SDSN network around the world.
In 2013, John was named as one of the 100 Global Sustainability Leaders by ABC Carbon Express. In 2015, he was awarded the “Planning Champion” award by the Planning Institute of Australia and in 2016 was awarded the Richard J Evans Award for excellence in recognition of outstanding contributions to planning in Victoria.
John Thwaites was Deputy Premier of Victoria from 1999 until his retirement in 2007. During this period he held various Ministerial portfolios including Minister of Health, Minister of Environment and was Victoria’s first Minister for Climate Change. In these portfolios he was responsible for major reforms in social policy, health, environment and water.
John was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for “significant service to the environment and to the people and Parliament of Victoria" in the 2021 Australia Day Honours.
