- Associate Professor Des Graham will retire as MS Australia Chair on 28 November 2024
- MS Australia Vice Chair George Pampacos has been elected in-coming Chair and will commence his new role on 28 November 2024
Associate Professor Des Graham has brought forward his previously announced intention to retire at the end of 2025, and will now conclude his term as Chair at the MS Australia Board Meeting and Annual General Meeting to be held in Sydney on 28 November 2024.
Associate Professor Des Graham, Chair, MS Australia
It is with a heavy heart, enormous pride in our achievements to date, and extreme optimism about the future of MS Australia and the MS community we serve, that I have announced my intention to end my term as Chair of MS Australia in November this year.
Over the last six months my MS has become increasingly unstable and less predictable, impacting on the high standards I set myself in performing my role as MS Australia Chair and providing me a wake-up call that I attend to my own health needs and participate fully in, and with, my own wonderful family.
For this reason, I have made the difficult and personally, very sad decision to bring forward my previously announced intention to retire at the end of 2025.
With the love and support of my family, I need to prioritise both a focus on my own health and well-being, and equally; quality time with those I hold dearest.
Indeed, the recent birth of our two grandchildren and the joy and new perspectives they have brought to my life has made this professionally challenging decision to retire early on health grounds somewhat easier.
This is the second time my MS has forced my hand to resign. The first from an incredibly fulfilling clinical and executive career within the Australian health and human services sector. And now, from what has been, both professionally and personally an enriching advocacy and leadership role serving the Australian MS Community.
I am resigning from all my current MS roles, including my position as Board Member of MS Plus and my role on the Menzies Institute for Medical Research MS Research Flagship Consumer and Community Reference Committee.
I am enormously proud of my record of achievement and the contribution I have made in service to all Australians living with MS including:
- The merger of MS Research Australia and MS Australia and subsequent highly successful strategic transformation.
- The on-going stewardship of, and investment into MS Research by MS Australia, and the significant Commonwealth funding secured for the sector.
- The establishment of an ambitious Advocacy program that increases our impact, our visibility and our standing in the MS community.
- And investing in international collaborations and partnerships: including Platypus (UK), Primary prevention (Canada), Pathways to Cures (US), the International Progressive MS Alliance and leading the argument for stronger governance of the MSIF.
Yet in my role as Chair, I have always focused on the road ahead and the exciting opportunities in front of us.
Opportunities to further improve the quality of life for those living with MS.
Together with bold Australian and International research partnerships and collaborations that will get us closer to a cure or cures for MS.
Our Advocacy efforts for a better NDIS for people living with MS saw us secure a voice within the National Disability Insurance Agency – a neurological advisory panel that will ensure neurological conditions including MS, and the needs of that community are better served.
But with wholesale and generational reform of both the disability and aged care sectors underway – the opportunities, and challenges – for MS Australia to ensure better support and services for people living with MS, must remain a major focus.
MS Australia’s leadership of, and investment in the Neurological Alliance Australia (NAA) remains enormously significant. MS Australia represents over 33,000 Australians together with their families, friends and carers. Through our leadership of the NAA, we represent millions of Australians – conservatively one in six – granting us a larger voice and even greater influence.
It is with great personal sadness that I will watch these exciting future achievements from the sidelines and not the pitch.
But I have absolute confidence in the team we have remaining on the field.
During my tenure as the inaugural Chair of the consolidated MS Australia, and working with the MS Australia Board, and Chair Elect, Deputy Chair George Pampacos, we built, and continue to drive, MS Australia’s strategic direction.
Being the Chair of MS Australia has been both an honour and a privilege.
I wish to thank the many researchers, community members, advocates and government officials who have assisted me and ensured the Board and MS Australia are recognised, not only nationally, but internationally as well; as a leader in MS research as well as assertive and effective advocacy for improved and more sustainable services for people living with MS.
Thank you as well to the MS Australia members and those respective member Boards who have played such an important role in securing MSA’s leadership role and consumer focused vision.
My thanks to The MSA Executive and in particular Rohan Greenland, who as the inaugural CEO of the consolidated MSA created a shared vision between the Board and staff, and who has always demonstrated not only a high level of professionalism and commitment to the MSA Vision but a level of energy that is reflected in the breadth and depth of MSA’s success.
I wish to thank the MS Australia Board members past and present and make special mention of the Board members who supported the necessary MS Australia/MS Research Australia reforms; in particular Deputy Chair, George Pampacos, who has not only provided enormous support, advice and courage, but who in addition to his counsel, has become a dear lifelong friend.
Together, George and the Board share with me, not only the vision, but also a deep passion, personal commitment and depth of experience.
Under the Chair Elect’s leadership, MS Australia remains perfectly positioned to deliver against our mission to accelerate Australian MS research toward the prevention, better treatments and a cure for MS.
In closing, I want to express and extend my sincere appreciation and thanks to the entire team at MS Australia and the wider MS community for welcoming me and allowing me the privilege to contribute to this cause, and to give back to a community I have been so proud and thankful to serve.
Associate Professor Des Graham
Chair, MS Australia
George Pampacos, Deputy Chair, MS Australia
I am honoured and delighted to be appointed Chair Elect of MS Australia and I look forward to assuming the role of Chair in late November this year.
On behalf of the Board of MS Australia, I wish to first acknowledge, commend and congratulate Des Graham on his enormous contribution to the MS Community, his steadfast dedication and commitment to cause, and passion for creating a better world for all those living with MS.
I also wish to recognise Des’ leadership of the MS Australia Board. It has been my privilege to work closely with Des and my fellow Directors since my appointment to the Board in 2020.
My connection to cause and my interest in MS runs deep. My Mum was diagnosed with MS in 1989 when I was in my teens. In the early 2000s a close friend of mine was diagnosed with MS in his early 20’s. And in recent years my uncle passed away with MS.
I have seen how MS impacts people. And the impact on those around them too.
In 2010 I first joined MSWA out of a desire to give back and help, and to contribute to efforts to ensure that MS will not impact future generations – my own family and yours.
In my previous role as MSWA President, the organisation achieved record growth, research investment and service delivery hours.
As Deputy Chair of MS Australia, I have worked alongside the Chair, Des Graham and our fellow directors, to guide MS Australia and deliver successfully against the organisation’s strategic vision.
Looking ahead I am excited at the potential of our Australian and global research partnerships to deliver better treatments and get us closer to unlocking a cure or cures for MS.
And I am equally enthusiastic about our advocacy efforts, including our strategic membership in the NAA, that will ensure we will be heard and understood by those in power.
I look forward to continuing that work in the months and years ahead, and advancing the interests of the entire MS Community we proudly serve.
George Pampacos
Deputy Chair, MS Australia
