Fiona Stanley announces retirement

WA’s top child health researcher is stepping down from the helm of the world-famous institute she has been running for more than two decades.

Professor Fiona Stanley announced today she will retire as director of the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research at the end of the year.

The 64-year-old former Australian of the Year will continue to be involved in the institute as its patron and mentor for young researchers.

She said the time was right to move on so she could spend more time with her family, particularly her two grandchildren.

“It has been a wonderful adventure and privilege to lead this institute from inception to where it is today,” she said.

“I know the research ethos is solid and the institute is financially sound and I look forward to focusing more on my own research and of course, my family.”

Board chairman John Langoulant said he was pleased Professor Stanley had agreed to continue her close association with the institute as patron.

“Fiona was the founding director of the institute and deserves so much credit for building this organisation to where it is today as an internationally recognised leader in so many aspects of child health research,” he said.

“Her research and advocacy on behalf of Australia’s children and families has made a profound and ongoing impact to the lives of so many.”

Professor Stanley will continue her links with the University of WA as a vice chancellor’s distinguished professorial fellow.

An international recruitment process is underway to find a new director for the institute.