Brenda Booth OAM, who has been an integral consumer voice in HMRI’s world-leading stroke research, has just been awarded the Stroke Foundation’s President’s Achievement Award.

“To be honest, I’m still a bit stunned,” says Brenda.

“There are a lot of people doing amazing work so I feel truly honoured to receive this award.”

Brenda, who had a stroke in 2001 when she was 41, has worked tirelessly to advise on everything from Government policies, including the National Acute Stroke Standard(s) (2015), to a rapid recommendation for the BMJ (2018).

Brenda started her career as a registered nurse, moved into a State Government role and, most recently, has worked in the Commonwealth Government Disability Sector.

She is also the President of the Working Aged Stroke Group on the Central Coast and has been on the Stroke Foundation’s Consumer Council, Research Advisory Committee and added her voice to the Living Stroke Guidelines.

In 2019, Brenda was awarded an Order of Australia in recognition of her services to consumer advocacy in stroke.

Brenda, who was on holidays in the Cook Islands when the presentations took place, watched the awards online and will travel to Melbourne in June for a face-to-face celebration with the Stroke Foundation.

Brenda says that she still experiences transient ischemic attacks (TIAs – episodes that feel similar to a stroke).

“I still have a lot of word finding issues and after every TIA, my speech gets worse. Everything is affected but now I have learnt to comfortably deal with it. I had two choices – suck it up and get on with it or let it rule my life,” says Brenda.    

After twenty years of tireless voluntary advocacy and advisory work, Brenda embodies everything that the President’s Award is about – exceptional individuals that go above and beyond.