Former Australian of the Year
Fiona Stanley was born in NSW in 1946 but her family moved to Perth, WA, when she was a child. Her interest in science and medicine developed throughout her childhood and she was heavily influenced by her father, who was one of the world's first virologists and worked on the polio vaccine in the 1950s.
Fiona completed her medical degree at the University of WA in 1970. During her studies she worked in the Aboriginal Clinic in East Perth. The poor health of many of the children who visited the clinic inspired Fiona to dedicate her professional life to researching the causes of childhood illness and birth defects.
After graduating from university Fiona worked in the UK, completing a Masters Degree in Epidemiology from the University of London, and then worked in the USA. She returned to Australia and held positions at the University of Western Australia and the Health Department of Western Australia before establishing the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research in 1990. Today, the research areas of the institute include Aboriginal health; asthma; allergy and respiratory disorders; bioinformatics; children's cancer & leukaemia; child development and wellbeing; diabetes; obesity and related disorders; disability and developmental disorders; drug discovery (phylogica); environmental impacts on health; genetic impacts on health; impacts on policy and practice; infectious disease; mental health; and pregnancy and maternal health.
Her achievements have been recognised with a number of awards and honours. She was named a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1996, received a Centenary Medal in 2001, was the 2003 Australian of the Year. She was named a national living treasure by the National Trust in 2004. Her image has also been featured on Australian stamps and she was an Olympic torch bearer in 2000.
Fiona retired at the end of 2011 but remains involved in a number organisations, including the School of Paediatrics and Child Health at the University of Western Australia and the University of Melbourne. She is a board member of the ABC and chairs of the Alcohol Advertising Review Board.
Fiona is married to Professor Geoffrey Shellam. They have two daughters. A hospital named after her is due to open in Murdoch, Western Australia in 2014.