Robyn Ward

Professor Robyn Ward (AM) is an academic leader, cancer researcher, and clinician who has made significant contributions to health policy and practice in Australia, as well as to the higher education sector. Since 2018 she has served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor Medicine and Health, and Executive Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney. Previous career roles included Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Queensland, as well as senior academic roles at UNSW Sydney.

Since 2009, Prof Ward has served as the Chair of the Commonwealth’s Medical Services Advisory Committee, advising the Commonwealth Health minister on the circumstances under which public funding should be provided for medical services, technologies, and procedures. She is the longest-serving member of the Australian Commonwealth’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (2000-2019), where her expertise in oncology and cancer biology helped evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of subsidizing drugs, as well as developing policies regarding the best use of medicines in Australia. Over her research career, she has published over 270 original manuscripts that have been cited over 20,000 times by peers.