Fiona Stanley AC, FAA, FASSA is noted for her public health work, and her research into child and maternal health, and birth disorders such as cerebral palsy. She is the Founding Director and Patron of the Telethon Kids Institute and Distinguished Research Professor, School of Medicine at the University of Western Australia, Director, ANDI (Australian National Development Index) at the University of Melbourne. Trained in maternal and child health, epidemiology and public health, Professor Stanley has spent her career researching the causes of major childhood illnesses such as birth defects.

Her major contribution has been to establish the Telethon Kids Institute, a unique multidisciplinary independent research institute focussing on the causes and prevention of major problems affecting children and youth. She has over 300 publications, books and book chapters. She is a board member of the Gurrumul Yunupingu Foundation, a Governor of The Ian Potter Foundation and a former member of the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council, and a former board member of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and has served on major international, national and local committees. For her research on behalf of Australia’s children and Aboriginal social justice, she was named Australian of the Year in 2003 and in 2006 she was made a UNICEF Australia Ambassador for Early Childhood Development.