Laying the foundations for innovative healthcare solutions
Professors Robyn Norton AO and Stephen MacMahon AO, co-founders of The George Institute for Global Health, have spent their lives addressing some of the world’s most urgent health challenges. Through decades of groundbreaking research and visionary leadership, they have championed scalable solutions that have inspired a global movement for health equity.
Now, in an extraordinary act of generosity, Robyn and Stephen are giving back to the organisation they built, pledging AUD $1 million to advance two critical areas of women’s health equity.
This gift, combined with a matching contribution from The George Institute, creates a total pool of AUD $2 million. This funding has enabled the establishment of the Founders’ Fund, empowering some of the organisation’s most talented people and partners to unite in advancing this vital mission.
Advancing sex and gender equity in health
To address persistent inequities in healthcare, AUD $1 million of the funds has contributed to establishing the Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine. This national Centre aims to become a world-leading institution tackling the under-representation of women and gender-diverse individuals in health research, policy, and practice.
Without accurate data that reflects the experiences of all individuals, we cannot truly achieve equitable healthcare. When women and gender-diverse individuals are excluded from research, medical advances fail to meet the needs of entire populations. This initiative is a critical step towards building a future in which no one is left behind.
By: Professors Robyn Norton AOCo-founder, The George Institute for Global Health
The Centre aims to change the narrative, ensuring healthcare research prioritises inclusion and building a foundation for equity worldwide.
Transforming maternal and neonatal care
The other AUD $1 million of the committed funds will support the Pregnancy and Postnatal Care Program, an initiative focused on improving outcomes for mothers and babies living in under-served regions globally.
This program is developing innovative tools to provide women in disadvantaged communities with life-saving care. It will also invest in workforce training, empowering local health workers to provide effective care in regions with little or no access to high-quality medical services.
This work uses AI and mobile technology to help community health workers monitor women experiencing high-risk pregnancies and ensure timely treatment of life-threatening complications. This is about giving every mother and baby the best chance of a positive outcome irrespective of their circumstances. With the right tools and strategies, we believe it will be possible to dramatically improve outcomes and create a healthier future for families living in disadvantaged circumstances worldwide.
By: Stephen MacMahon AO Co-founder, The George Institute for Global Health
Robyn and Stephen’s generosity through these two gifts will help ensure The George Institute remains at the forefront of tackling health inequities by challenging the status quo, developing innovative ways to improve health, and believing that a better future is possible for all. It is an exceptional example of how a lifelong belief in the need for robust scientific evidence to guide healthcare innovation can be leveraged to support teams of world-leading researchers to develop effective, affordable solutions to some of our greatest health challenges.
You can read more about the establishment of the Founders’ Fund here.
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