The George Institute for Global Health has been awarded the “Highly Commended CitySwitch Signatory of the Year Award” in the over 2000sqm office building category, in recognition of demonstrated outstanding environmental leadership.

“We are really pleased to receive this award from the City of Sydney in recognition of our efforts to imbed sustainability into our business practices,” said COO Tim Regan.

“Our Greenies Committee in Australia have been working hard to implement initiatives that have a real impact on our carbon footprint - we implemented a carbon offsetting scheme for air travel, have been awarded a 5.5 (out of 6) NABERS rating (a measure of energy efficiency of a building) for our King Street offices, and also invested in a 100 percent carbon neutral energy supplier and use 50 percent renewable energy to power our building."

“We look forward to continuing this effort and working with our sector colleagues to investigate how Medical Research Institutes can become more sustainable.”

CitySwitch, run by the City of Sydney, helps office-based businesses to improve their energy and waste efficiency.

The program helps commercial office tenants around Australia to:

• enhance energy efficiency and reduce costs;
• manage energy price increases and mitigate business risks;
• work towards a carbon positive future;
• reduce waste, and
• improve the health and productivity of employees.

The George Institute for Global Health celebrated 20 years of ground breaking health and medical research on Thursday 21 November 2019. Together with alumni, key partners and collaborators, policy makers and government officials, the Institute gathered at NSW Parliament House in Sydney to reflect on the achievements of the Institute, and the legacy of impactful research by its committed staff.

Executive Director of The George Institute Australia, Professor Bruce Neal, opened proceedings by discussing the growth of the Institute over the past 20 years:

“In 1999, The George Institute for Global Health was established to tackle the rise of chronic disease and injury worldwide. We started as three people in a small office with one big idea.

“Today we have grown to over 700 global staff, projects in more than 50 countries and major centres in Australia, India, China and the UK.

“At The George we are proud of the growth that has been achieved, and recognise the contribution of our dedicated employees, board and academic affiliations.”

Professor Robyn Norton AO, Principal Director and Co-founder followed, explaining that the key to the Institute’s success has always been “our mission and our incredible staff.”

Principal Director and Co-founder of the Institute Professor Stephen MacMahon AO said: “When we first started, we could have never envisioned where we are now 20 years later.”

Chairman of the Board, Mr David Armstrong acknowledged the role of the Board and its Directors in supporting the Institute’s mission.

The NSW Minister for Health and Medical Research, the Hon. Brad Hazzard MP delivered remarks on the achievements of the Institute, and its success as a world leading institute founded in NSW.

The Minister offered warm and sincere congratulations in closing up the formal proceedings on the night saying,

“You are making a difference in the world and on behalf of the government of New South Wales - congratulations and well done, we look forward to another 20 years.”

Invited guests, including alumni, current staff members and key stakeholders, then shared conversations about memorable moments in the Institute’s history and how to better support the Institute’s mission in the coming years.