Ian Wronski

Professor Wronski's professional background is public health medicine, and he has 40 years’ experience as a clinician, educator, health service planner, and in policy development. He was the first Director of Health Services, Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council and Medical Director of the Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service.

In the last 20 years he has led JCU’s development of research, education and training programs designed to develop regional research and ameliorate health workforce shortages in regional communities. He was a strong advocate for the foundation of the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM) and for the establishment of the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre. Ian has also provided intellectual leadership nationally and internationally in focusing attention on health issues of importance to rural, remote, regional, Indigenous and tropical populations. He is a member of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Life Sciences Innovation Forum Board. He has led a number of major reviews of state and Commonwealth health policy affecting rural, regional, and Indigenous Australians: recommendations from those reviews have been implemented in subsequent policy and practice.

In 2014 he was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to higher education, particularly in the areas of tropical and rural health and the health of Indigenous Australians. He was made a a Life Fellow of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, was awarded the Tropical Medicine Medal by the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine and was awarded the Life Sciences Queensland Industry Excellence Award. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.