REFRAMING WOMEN’S HEALTH AS A SYSTEM-WIDE AGENDA ACROSS INNOVATION, REGULATION, WORKFORCE AND POLICY
With
Professor Robyn Norton AO
Founding Director, The George Institute for Global Health &
Professor of Public Health,
Faculty of Medicine, UNSW Sydney &
Emeritus Professor, Imperial College London
PEOPLE IN HEALTH CARE SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | July 2026
In May 2026, Professor Robyn Norton AO, played a prominent role at the inaugural Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA) Women’s Health MedTech Summit, Breaking the Silos, held in Sydney.
Professor Robyn Norton AO FAHMS is one of the two Founding Directors of The George Institute for Global Health, Professor of Public Health at UNSW Sydney and Emeritus Professor of Global Health at Imperial College London. Robyn co-established The George Institute’s Global Women’s Health Program and more recently the Centre for Sex and Gender Equity in Health and Medicine, where she co-leads the Business Translation Working Group. Robyn is a director on the board of the Black Dog Institute, a member of the Women in MedTech Committee of the MTAA and a member of Chief Executive Women. She also chairs the NHMRC’s Gender Guidelines Development Committee and the Advisory Board of the Network of Excellence in Women’s Health at Imperial College London.
Suiting her significant contribution to global health research, her involvement extended beyond being a keynote speaker—she helped frame the strategic direction of the summit and the broader conversation around women’s health innovation in Australia.
The summit itself was designed to address longstanding gaps in women’s health research, medical technology, clinical trials and policy by bringing together clinicians, researchers, industry, investors, government and consumer advocates. Following the event, MTAA reported that almost 200 participants attended and used the discussions to inform a Women’s Health Action Plan aimed at driving future MedTech policy and innovation.
Australian Health Journal spoke with Professor Norton on her research journey, the early stages of the George Institute for Global Health and the priorities for advancing women’s health.
Source: Adapted from MTAA Women’s Health MedTech Summit speaker profile and agenda
Media access credit: Medical Technology Association of Australia (MTAA)
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AHHA Sidney Sax Medal 2019 Awarded to Vicki Wade
AHHA Sidney Sax Medal 2019 awarded to Vicki Wade
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Metabolic health expert talks about healthy ageing
David Beard is a highly experienced Exercise Physiologist with a specialisation in metabolic health and healthy aging. He has spent over 40 years in this profession, even before exercise physiology was formally recognised as a discipline. His extensive background includes over a decade of working in aged care and a strong focus on adult health and fitness. David has authored a book on healthy aging and dedicated the last 10 to 12 years to advancing his expertise in metabolic health issues such as diabetes, weight loss, and inflammatory conditions. He is a co-owner of HFRC in Nedlands, Western Australia, where he has worked for nearly a decade.
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Cardiologist broadens Tasmania’s surgical abilities
Dr Heath Adams is a Tasmanian born, bred and educated interventional and structural cardiologist who works at Hobart Private and Royal Hobart Hospital and is a researcher through the Menzies Research Institute.
Dr Adams clinical interest and expertise is in the management of aortic stenosis, valvular heart disease and acute coronary syndromes. Dr Adams performs coronary interventions including stenting, and structural heart interventions including TAVI, mitral edge to edge repair, mitral valve replacement and left atrial appendage closure. In 2020, Heath performed the first TAVI in Tasmania, is the clinical lead for the local program at the Royal Hobart Hospital and is a nationally accredited TAVI practitioner.
