Ruth Sanger Orators

Lawrence (Larry) graduated in 1955 and trained in haematology in San Fransisco. He then completed a Fellowship at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School in London under Sir John Dacie in the field of haemolytic anaemia. He then returned to San Fransisco to become chief of the Haematology-Immunology Research Unit at Pacific Hospital in San Francisco subsequently taking on leadership roles at UCLA Medical Centre and StemCyte.

Barry Boettcher commenced his career as a primary school teacher in Victoria.  Barry matriculated by correspondence and obtained a South Australian teaching bursary to undertake a BSc, majoring in genetics and biochemistry.  He developed, and maintained, a fascination with blood groups.  His second scientific publication concerned Rh deletion phenotypes. In 1963 Barry was awarded a Reserve Bank of Australia 50^th Anniversary scholarship to undertake a PhD at Adelaide University in genetics.  The thesis focussed investigated whether infertility might be due to ABO blood group incompatibility between sperm and fluid in the female reproductive tract, was “The Genetical Control of Blood Group Compounds in Body Secretions”.    The examiners of the thesis were Drs Rob Race and Philip Levine.  Although Barry found that the possible mechanism for infertility did not occur, he found several people who were immunised against sperm.

Susan Serjeantson graduated in science from the University of New South Wales and in 1970 was awarded a PhD from the University of Hawaii. She worked in the Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research before joining the Department of Human Biology at the John Curtin School of Medical Research in 1976. She was appointed as Head of the Department of Human Genetics in 1987 and was promoted to Professor in 1988. From 1994-97 she was Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, ANU. Since her resignation from the University in 1997 she has been a Visiting Fellow in the Division of Molecular Medicine.

Bob Beal was one of the most recognised people in Australian haematology and blood transfusion. He commenced his career as a research fellow in 1959 at RPAH.  Appointed as Director of the Red Cross BTS in Adelaide in 1964. He was a Clinical Professor at Flinders Medical School and a founding member of the Society.

Peter graduated from Sydney University with  BSc( Med) and MB BS degrees (in 1957 and 1959 respectively), and obtained a PhD from ANU in 1965. He joined CSL in 1965 and held positions of Chief of Research, R & D Director and Medical Director of the Bioplasma Division over a 34 year career with the company. His contribution was recognised in 1999 by the establishment of the Peter Schiff Award.

Jack Morris was the first assistant director of the Red Cross BTS in Melbourne, the first fully paid position of its type in the Australian Red Cross. He was Director from 1954 to 1988. He implemented the more sensitive papain cross match technique in the BTS laboratory

Harry Kronenberg was key in establishing and nourishing the new specialty of haematology in Australia. Committed to education and focussing on laboratory haematology, for more than a decade, he was Chairman of the  Education Board and Chief haematology examiner for the RCPA. In 1971 he chaired the NSW BTS Scientific Committee (1971-2001). He insisted on trainee exposure to transfusion medicine and covered the hosting of the XIXth ISBT Congress in Sydney. Harry was recognised with an AM in 2001 for services to haematology, transfusion medicine and education. The RCPA recognised Harry as a Distinguished Fellow in 2000.

John Case was born in England and began his career in transfusion science in the Royal Army Medical Corps and the South East London Blood Transfusion Centre. In 1959 he moved to New Zealand and took up a charge technologist position in the Dunedin hospital blood bank.  In 1971 he moved to Australia to work at the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories and then in 1976 to Houston Texas as Vice president of Regulatory Affairs at Gamma Biologicals limited where he continued until his retirement in 1999.

Dr Kathy McGrath trained in Medicine in Melbourne and then trained in haematology becoming the Director of Diagnostic haematology at the Royal Melbourne hospital and later a Professor of Medicine at the  University of Melbourne. She went on to become the Deputy Director-General, Health System Performance, with the NSW Department of Health with responsibility for performance improvement, quality and safety, and information management and technology.

Gordon Archer began his career as a pathology registrar under Edgar Thomson in 1954. He commenced working at the blood bank in 1957 where he studied the phagocytosis of antibody coated red cells by eosinophils and the relationship between white cells and allergy. His research commitment resulted in his election as president of the Australian Society of Medical Research in 1965.

Derek qualified in Microbiology, Haematology and Blood Transfusion in England. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1961 to work at the University of Otago Medical School. In 1971 he moved to Australia becoming the Director of the WHO National Blood Group Reference Laboratory.

Anne studied at the University of Sydney achieving a BSc, MSc and PhD. In 1969 she began work for the NSW Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service from 1969 and in 1997 became a senior executive in the newly established Australian Red Cross Blood Service with responsibility for the strategic direction of R&D, ethics, and haemovigilance.

Dr Anthony Keller graduated from Sydney University and after spending 7 years in the U.K, pursued a career in Immunology and Transfusion Medicine. Following his appointment as head of the Hunter Valley in 1980 he became Director of the West Australian Blood Transfusion Service in 1984. In 1996 after the establishment of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service he served on the National Executive before taking on the role of National Donor and Product Safety Manager for the organisation as well as taking on the role of Manager of the Northern Territory Blood Service He has published over 60 peer-reviewed research papers and was a member of the Council of Europe Expert Committee on Transfusion (SP-GTS) for several years.

Dr Gordon S. Whyte has been described as a pioneer in transfusion medicine. He was appointed as Director of the Victorian Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service inheriting an organisation that was confronted with major challenges of inadequate governance, chronic underfunding and risks presented by the emergence of HIV/AIDS and HCV. He modernised the service creating a financially independent and professionally managed blood service that would meet public healthcare needs well into the future. The resulting operational model assisted in the subsequent establishment of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.

James P. Isbister graduated from the University of NSW in 1967. He undertook postgraduate training in haematology at St Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney and Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London. Returning to Australia he became a consultant at  St Vincent’s Hospital and in 1983 was appointed as head of haematology at Royal North Shore Hospital and later emeritus Physician from 2004.

Robyn Barlow had a long association with the Society commencing with her employment in 1969 at the Red Cross NSW Blood Transfusion Service as it then was, until her retirement in 2006.  Robyn became the Coordinator of the NSW Rh Anti-D Programme in which special donors donated plasma containing high levels of anti-D for the prophylaxis of Rh Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn. Robyn  served as Executive Officer of the Joint Congress of the International Society of Haematology and the International Society of Blood Transfusion which was held in Sydney in 1986. Robyn’s contribution to the Rh Program was extraordinary. She built very strong relationships with each of the Rh donors  leading to a faithful and long-standing commitment by those donors which ensured adequate supplies of anti-D plasma over decades.  Robyn’s passion and contribution to the Rh Project was recognised by her selection as Ruth Sanger Orator in 2005.

Professor Donald Metcalf was a biomedical expert and pioneer in experimental haematology based at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the University of Melbourne. He is known for his work on the use of growth factors and in particular human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Millions of patients worldwide have benefited from this original basic research discovery.

Richard began his training in Medicine in the late 1950s and undertook early specialist training in Haematology at St Thomas’ Hospital, London. In 1967 he migrated Australia and continued his training in Adelaide. In 1975, he was appointed to a specialist position in Canberra responsible for both promoting the development of cancer services for the ACT and overseeing the development of the ACT Division of the ARC Blood Transfusion Service until its incorporation into the ARCBS in 1996.   Following retirement in 2000, he spent time with the newly created NZBS. Then from 2004 to 2019 he was employed as a medical officer by the TGA attached to the Office of Devices, Blood and Tissues.

John trained in Medicine at Monash University and completed Haematology training at Geelong Hospital, Alfred Hospital and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. He took a position of Staff Haematologist at the Royal Brisbane Hospital (RBH) and, after a period of study leave at University Hospital of Wales (Molecular Genetics of Haemophilia), was appointed Director of Haematology at RBH and later Director of Haematology for the statewide service. He was Chairman of Australian Haemophilia Centre Directors Organisation 2003-2007.

After working in the Maltese Blood Service, Albert’s career has seen him engaged in every aspect of the blood and biotherapeutics industry. Over 42 years, he has contributed to product development, regulatory affairs and policy in blood and plasma collection agencies, government bodies and commercial organisations globally. Serving on bodies including the US and European Pharmacopeia Commissions, WHO, World Federation of Haemophilia, AABB and ISBT.

Jim Faed graduated in medicine from the University of Otago in 1969. He undertook postgraduate training in haematology and blood transfusion in Dunedin and Edinburgh. He returned to New Zealand to take up an academic position at the University of Otago and Head of the Blood Transfusion Service in Dunedin. He was an a member of thew New Zealand Blood Transfusion Advisory Committee in the 1990s and an active contributor to the New Zealand Blood Service following its establishment in 1998.

Wendy trained in medicine and haematology in Sydney and completed her PhD on a Rhodes Scholarship at the University of Oxford.  She has worked as a Consultant Haematologist in Perth and Cambridge (UK). In these positions she has been Head of Haematology (WA Centre for Pathology and Medical Research, Perth) and Addenbrooke’s Hospital (Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust).

Ken Davis was born in Scotland moving to Australia where he had a distinguished career in transfusion science. He was the chief biomedical scientist in the blood bank at Royal Adelaide hospital for over 30 years. Ken was committed to education and improving transfusion practice throughout his career. He was a Fellow of the Faculty of Science of the RCPA. He was am member of the Scientific sub-committee and closely involved in the drafting of Guidelines on both pretransfusion testing and blood grouping in the antenatal and perinatal setting. He was the Society President from 2003 to 2007. His contribution was recognised with the Peter Schiff Award in 2009 and the Ruth Sanger Oration in 2012.

Amanda trained in medicine in Sydney and then completed haematology training becoming a dual FRACP/FRCPA fellow. After working at the North London Blood Transfusion Centre for several years, she returned to the NSW Blood Service, subsequently taking up haematology appointments in Sydney.. She also continued roles as specialist with the ARC Lifeblood and as medical editor/writer with BloodSafe eLearning Australia.

Cathy trained in medicine at the University of Western Australia (UWA) and specialised in paediatric haematology/oncology in Vancouver Canada. She was director of the Haematology and Transfusion laboratory at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children and PathWest  in Perth from 2002 until 2017 and began the transfusion committee in 2003. She was the inaugural professor of paediatric haematology and oncology at UWA from 2008-2017 and Chief of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Sidra Medicine in Doha, Qatar from 2017 until 2020 when she joined Lifeblood in Perth as a transfusion medicine specialist. Her Sanger Oration reviewed the history of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia through randomised controlled clinical trials and the importance of remaining at arm’s length from industry. Cathy remains a passionate teacher and devotee of patient blood management.

Kathryn is a haematologist with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and Queen Elizabeth Hospital, training in Adelaide, Melbourne and Oxford. On returning to Adelaide in 2001, she helped to establish ‘BloodSafe’ state-wide collaborative to improve transfusion practice and continues as Medical Advisor. She has been involved in development of BloodSafe eLearning and the  ‘flippin blood’ bedside transfusion resource.  Kathryn has developed iron deficiency improvement programs, resources and pathways and was a National PBM Guidelines expert working group member. She has contributed to development and enhancement of Transfusion/PBM aspects of SA Health’s Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and associated workflows, supporting alignment with ANZSBT guidelines and led EMR Transfusion Dashboard development in SA. She was a  member of the CPIC from 2008 to 2013.

Erica trained in haematology in Australia and the US. In 2000 she took up a position with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service.  In 2012, she moved to the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Monash University to lead the Transfusion Research Unit.  She was the RCPA Chief Examiner, Haematology from 2012-15, a founding member of ‘Blood Matters’ and an NHMRC Leadership Fellow.  She was a member of the Clinical Practice Improvement Committee (2007-10), the Scientific Subcommittee (2005-07) and the Research Advisory Committee from 2016.   Erica was President of the International Haemovigilance Network from 2010-19, and from 2020-22 President of the International Society of Blood Transfusion. She was awarded the International Haemovigilance Medal in 2022.    Her Ruth Sanger Oration focussed on the development of haemovigilance systems and their contribution to improving clinical transfusion practice. Erica was awarded an AO in 2023 in recognition of her “distinguished service to transfusion medicine and haemovigilance, to haematology, and to national and international organisations’.

Peter trained in medicine and haematology in the UK. He worked for the blood service in England from 1987 to 1998 when he moved to New Zealand to take up the role of National Medical Director in the newly established New Zealand Blood Service. He was a member of the WHO Expert panel in Transfusion and an expert in Council of Europe committees.  He was closely involved with the International Society of Blood Transfusion as President in 2012-14 and then Chair of the Standing Committee on Ethics for many years. He was responsible for a major review of the Society’s Code of Ethics.

David completed his undergraduate Medical Science training at RMIT, Melbourne, followed by Master of Applied Science post-graduate studies at the University of South Australia, and subsequently completing his PhD at Flinders University. His career involved work in Transfusion laboratories and for many years he was Head of the SA Pathology Transfusion Service. He was a very active member of the ANZSBT serving as Secretary between 1993 and 1995, Treasurer from 1995 to 1999 and 2003 to 2009 and chaired The TSSC from 2007 to 2017. He was a member of the ISBT Clinical Transfusion Working Party, chair of the Transfusion RCPAQAP and numerous other national committees and working groups.

Following his University of Adelaide medical degree in 1978, Ian completed a PhD in extracellular matrix biology, trained as a general physician, completed a postdoc in St Louis, Missouri, and then returned to Australia for training in clinical and laboratory haematology at the IMVS and RAH. He was a staff specialist in haematology at the Canberra Hospital from 1992-2009, and has been senior medical adviser for the biologicals framework at the Therapeutic Goods Administration from 2009 until the present, where he has responsibility for the regulation of human cell and tissue therapies, including blood and blood products. He has been a national examiner for both the RACP and RCPA, and has interests in postgraduate medical education and clinical research.

Linley’s training in nursing, haematology, transfusion, and management supported her work in a variety of senior nursing roles with both adult and paediatric patients and at Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. Linley managed the Victorian Blood Matters Program since 2011.

Dr Savoia is a consultant Haematologist and Transfusion Medicine Specialist at the Royal Children’s and Royal Women’s Hospitals in Melbourne and has been practicing in the area of pregnancy-related haematology since the late 1990s.
Helen is currently Director of Laboratory Services which contributes to the provision of clinical and laboratory haematology and transfusion services to the Royal Children’s and Royal Women’s Hospitals.
Helen is an Honorary Fellow in the Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, completed her undergraduate medical degree at the University of Melbourne and is a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia.

Professor Robert Flower is a National Leader in R&D Australian Red Cross Lifeblood. He is an auditor for NATA and has more than 30 years’ experience teaching and supervising in hospital blood banks and universities. Robert’s research focuses broadly on transfusion safety, with teams using in vivo and in vitro models to investigate impacts of transfusion as well as application of genotyping to improve matching of blood for patients.

Alison’s first encounter with ASBT was attending the 1987 HSA/ASBT meeting on Hamilton Island during a Queensland cyclone. At that time, she was Director of the Haemophilia Centre at Alfred Health, focussing on preventing and managing transfusion transmitted HIV/HBV/HCV. She worked closely with governments and blood and blood product providers to improve product safety, advocating strongly for the early adoption of recombinant FVIII products. She was a foundation member of the Australian Red Cross Blood Service board and chaired their Research Advisory Committee before being appointed to the National Blood Authority Advisory Board and Chair of their Haemovigilance Advisory Committee. Alison was honoured with life membership of ANZSBT in 2015 and presented the Ruth Sanger Oration at the 2024 ASM, celebrating ANZSBT’s 60^th anniversary.

• ANZSBT acknowledges Australia’s and New Zealand’s First Nations Peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of these two lands and their surrounding waters, also acknowledging and paying respect to their elders, past, present, and emerging.

• The History Project was brought into existence by work of the following members and friends of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Blood Transfusion, with support of the ANZSBT Council to celebrate the ANZSBT 60th anniversary.
• Mr Simon Benson (Inaugural Committee Chair)
• Ms Robyn Barlow
• Dr Peter Flanagan ONZN
• Dr Anne Fletcher
• Dr James Isbister AM
• Mr John Lown
• Ms Rebecca McClean
• Dr Robyn Minchinton (Committee Chair)
• Dr David Roxby
• Mr Robert (Ed) Sage
• Dr Alison Street AO
• Ms Anne Wiseman