The announcement from our Board Chair, Des Graham, that he will be retiring from this role at the forthcoming AGM presents us with an opportunity to reflect on his extraordinary contribution to the MS community and also the toll MS continues to take on the 33,335 Australians who live with the disease, day in and day out.
Despite his MS, Des has been a tireless leader of the MS community, serving on the Boards of MS Plus, MS Australia and the MS International Federation. He has driven both change and innovation, leading to a stronger national body that has worked successfully with our Member Organisations and the Federal Government to pump record funds into life-changing MS research.
He has strengthened and championed MSA’s advocacy role, leading to actions by government to support research, listen more closely to consumers and build the first national data set for neurological conditions.
His first consideration has unfailingly been for those living with MS, their family, friends and carers. This approach is embedded in our strategic plan, our mission, our values and all that we do.
It has been an extraordinary privilege to work with Des, not only because he has a clear vision for the MS movement but also because he has a real fire in his belly to get things done.
While we will miss Des, we know that he leaves MSA well on its way to achieving great things – from our PLATYPUS clinical trials, our emerging prevention international research collaboration to our advocacy for a new MRFF neurological research mission and our support and leadership for the Neurological Alliance Australia.
I am enthusiastic about our future as the baton is handed to our incoming Board Chair, George Pampacos, who will continue the great legacy left to the MS community by Des.
Together, we will keep the pedal to the metal in our quest for a world without MS.
