Future Focus Group’s final working meeting ahead of review [22.09.2009]
Dr Judith Slocombe
The September 2009 meeting of the Future Focus Group marked the final project stage for our current program. Hosted by Future Focus Group participant and Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI)’s Queen Elizabeth II Fellow, Dr Ben Kile, it was the last chance for project team members to work together at a monthly meeting before the Project Review Panel on Wednesday 11 November, 2009.
Teams will be expected to present a summary of what they have achieved, how the project will continue into the future and what they have learnt from the program. To find out more about the teams and what they do, please refer to our website.
Future Focus Group members were also given a very informative tour of the Division of Molecular Medicine in Parkville.
Following Dr Kile’s brief presentation about his job and the challenges it involves, WEHI’s Head of Business Development, Dr Julian Clark, welcomed the emerging leaders at dinner and introduced our key speaker - The Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s CEO, Dr Judith Slocombe.
Future Focus Group Manager Mr David Gould hopes that Dr Slocombe’s speech will inspire the emerging leaders to understand that anything is possible.
“Dr Slocombe’s talk was the perfect way to end the working meetings. I hope that everyone who heard her speak today can walk out with a new perspective in the way that one handles work, leadership and life in general,” Mr Gould said.
A woman who has achieved so much in her lifetime, Dr Slocombe gave an inspiring speech about the many roles she has had, including veterinarian, entrepreneur, business owner, senior executive within a large corporation and in the non-for-profit sector, as well as non-executive roles with a variety of organisations.
Dr Slocombe also discussed her passion to give back to the community through her leadership of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation, an organisation that aims to give all innocent children who have been hurt by violence a safe and happy childhood.