As Inaugural Chair of the newly formed Hunter Medical Research Institute, Geoff Leonard wrote in his first annual report message about the importance of building a research facility in the Hunter.

Building a physical presence for research has always been a priority for the organisation, but this started with unifying people.

Retiring from the Board after 15 years of service that predates HMRI as we know it today, Geoff looks back on the challenges of raising the profile of a “virtual institute”.

“There was no one building to give research a presence in the region; rather we had to create a presence around people. The people, being our local researchers,” he said.

Geoff admires the work of researchers; their conviction, their dedication and the patience it takes to pursue an idea over decades to improve the health of our community.

As a Senior Director in the Private Hospital Industry during the late 1990s, it was obvious to Geoff that “much could be done to help the sick before they came into hospital.”

Leading HMRI in its early stages was one way that Geoff could support a personal goal of doing something about what he saw as a passive response to health care.

An investment in health and medical research was, for Geoff, hope that one day there would be a better way to prevent sickness and disease.

The message was well received by the community, who supported a concept that has delivered significant results over the past 11 years.

It is this combination of bricks and mortar – the Hunter community, the Board, Foundation and staff both past and present and our researchers – that Geoff will remember at the turning of the first sod of the new HMRI Building.

HMRI extends sincere thanks to Geoff for his contribution to life changing research in the Hunter.

Geoff Leonard AM