Wesfarmers : Richard Goyder AO appointed Chair of the JDRF Australia Board of Directors

In the 34 years since it was founded, JDRF Australia has evolved from a small volunteer-based charity to being a leader in the Australian not-for-profit sector. The scale of JDRF Australia's activity and ambitions to deliver on behalf of the type 1 diabetes community has also grown, along with the skills and capabilities required to achieve our goals.

To support this continued growth and evolution, the JDRFA Board has over the past few years been navigating a managed process of Board renewal. As part of this process, we are excited to welcome a new Chair, Richard Goyder AO, who was elected to the position in late June. Mr Goyder is Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Wesfarmers, one of Australia's largest listed companies, and is one of the most respected business leaders in Australia. Mr Goyder has been a Director on the JDRF Australia Board since March 2016 and Co-Chair of the JDRF Australia Advisory Board since 2010.

Mr Goyder said, 'I am pleased to accept the role of Chair of JDRF Australia. JDRF is a professional, respected organisation, and one close to my heart as the father of a son with type 1 diabetes. It is an exciting time to be part of its ongoing growth and development.'

Paul Heath, who had served as Chair since 2013, stepped aside from the role as a planned part of the renewal process. Mr Heath will remain a Director of JDRF Australia, and has been recently appointed to the Board of JDRF International.

Mr Heath said, 'Richard brings to the JDRF Australia Board a breadth of knowledge, experience, and understanding that will be extremely beneficial to the delivery of JDRFA's strategy for positive impact on the type 1 diabetes community. I look forward to working with him as a Director on the JDRF Australia Board, and to continuing to connect JDRF Australia to our global colleagues in my new position as a Director of JDRF International'

'I thank Paul Heath for his significant contribution to the evolution of the organisation during his time as Chair. He leaves a strong legacy on which we can continue to build. I look forward to working with him and my fellow directors as we seek to support JDRFA's future success,' said Mr Goyder.

JDRF CEO and Managing Director, Mike Wilson, said, 'JDRF Australia is incredibly fortunate to have Directors of such quality and experience overseeing the work of JDRF's passionate and committed staff and volunteers. We have great ambitions and urgency for change on behalf of the type 1 diabetes community. Having a Board led by one of Australia's most respected business leaders, a Treasurer who is also the Treasurer of the Macquarie Group, and senior Directors with broad experience across business and science, positions JDRF Australia very well for the future.'

Recently, JDRF Australia, in conjunction with other diabetes organisations, achieved a remarkable outcome in securing commitments from both the Coalition and the Australian Labor Party for Federal Government funding to subsidise access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology.

'This achievement helps deliver on JDRF's commitment to supporting access to life-changing breakthroughs for the type 1 diabetes community. This is in addition to our successful advocacy efforts that in 2013, enabled us to secure Australian Government's largest ever single commitment to type 1 diabetes research in Australia, a $35 million grant for the expansion of the JDRF Australia Type 1 Diabetes Clinical Research Network, which is now funding and supporting clinical research around Australia,' said Mr Wilson.

View the full JDRFA Board on the JDRF website.