SSMRF Annual Dinner 2026

SOLD OUT

Keynote speaker – Associate Professor Stephanie Ward

Join St George & Sutherland Medical Research Foundation on Friday 15 May 2026 for our Annual Dinner, as we recognise our Research Grant Recipients and celebrate the impact of local medical research.

Due to unforeseen personal circumstances, Professor Henry Brodaty AO is unfortunately no longer able to attend. While we are disappointed he cannot join us, we are delighted to welcome Associate Professor Stephanie Ward as our guest speaker.

Associate Professor Ward is a leading geriatrician, researcher and advocate in dementia care. As well as working at the Prince of Wales Hospital, she is a Conjoint Associate Professor at the Randwick Clinical School, UNSW and the Clinical & Initiative Lead for the Australian Dementia Network (ADNeT) Clinical Quality Registry.  

Many guests may also recognise her from the Emmy Award winning ABC series Old People’s Home for 4 Year Olds and Old People’s Home for Teenagers.

We look forward to hearing her insights into dementia research, healthy ageing and the role of intergenerational connection in improving quality of life for older Australians.

We are also excited to share that Arlo Sim, a finalist from The Voice, will be joining us on the night for a special live performance.

This special evening brings our community together – supporters, clinicians, researchers and friends – to share in the progress being made across cancer, women’s health, neurodegenerative diseases, immunotherapy and more.

Enjoy a relaxed and inspiring evening with a two-course meal, drinks and fundraising activities, all while supporting vital medical research in our local hospitals.

Be part of a night that celebrates progress, connection and the power of research to change lives.

Dress code: Business Attire / Cocktail

About our Research Grant Recipients

Dr Michelle Fitzmaurice – Development and Validation of Glycated Insulin as a Novel Early Biomarker for Gestational Diabetes Risk

Dr Joyce Chiu – Targeting Tumour-Derived Enzymes to Boost T-Cell Infiltration and Immunotherapy Success, supported by Southern Cancer Care

Dr Jennifer Wen Ying Lim – Single-cell RNA Sequencing of Gastro-Entero-Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours: Diagnostic Feasibility and Translational Insights from Core and Fine-Needle Aspirate Biopsies

Thisun Jayawardana (PhD Student) – St George and Sutherland Understanding of Paediatric Environmental Risk Factors: Knowing IBD Through Diet and Studies of the Microbiome – SUPERKIDS

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