HMRI Director Maree Gleeson OAM has been named Hunter Business Chamber’s Business Person of the Yea

HMRI Director Maree Gleeson OAM has been named Hunter Business Chamber’s Business Person of the Year.

The awards were presented at a dinner sponsored by GradSchool at the University of Newcastle and attended by more than 500 business people.
Professor Gleeson has led HMRI since 2006.Business Chamber President Brett Derwin said that under Professor Gleeson’s directorship HMRI had developed and implemented business strategies to enhance and promote health and medical research in the Hunter.

“Professor Gleeson has led the project team that facilitated the funding, design and construction of the new HMRI Building which has helped put the Hunter at the forefront of this field,” he said.

In January this year, Professor Gleeson was one of 70 Australian women to be awarded a prestigious Board Diversity Scholarship by the Federal Government and Australian Institute of Company Directors.

In June she was honoured with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her services to medicine.

HMRI had proud links with several other award winners at the Hunter Business Chamber’s gala night.

The Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation, an HMRI donor, received the President’s Award for its outstanding contribution to regional charities and welfare support groups.

HMRI board member Neville Sawyer AM was bestowed a Life Membership.

PULSE chair Rebecca Wilson, the Marketing Communications Coordinator for Newcastle Airport, was named Young Achiever of the Year, while a Business Achievement Award went to HMRI donor Pegasus Management, owned by Peter and Gill Eason.

Mrs Eason is also a member of the HMRI Singleton Foundation.