Person

Penington, David Geoffrey (1930 - 2023)

AC

Born
4 February 1930
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Died
6 January 2023
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Occupation
Medical scientist and Vice-Chancellor

Summary

Professor David Penington was a distinguished medical scientist and academic leader who played an important advocacy role in national and international health policy. As chairman of the National AIDS Task Force 1984-1987, Penington laid the groundwork of Australia's international reputation as a leader in the management of HIV/AIDS. He was Vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne 1988-1995, and Emeritus Professor from 1996. He took a leading role on many medical and research boards and committees, and was a co-founder and Principal partner of Foursight, a company established in 1996 to provide advice on R&D and science to companies, investment institutions, academics, and government. He was a strong advocate for drug law reform, evidence-based drug policies supported by academic research, and for engaging and changing community attitudes to problems arising from the use of alcohol and drugs.

The "David Penington Building" at the University of Melbourne, and the "Penington Institute" are named in his honour.

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Details

David Penington was educated at the Universities of Melbourne and Oxford, MA DM BCh.

Chronology

1950
Award - Undergraduate scholarship, while at University of Melbourne
c. 1953
Education - Master of Arts (MA), Oxford University
c. 1955
Education - Doctor of Medicine (DM BCh), Oxford University
1963 - 1967
Career position - Consultant Physician, London Hospital
1967
Life event - Returned to Australia
1970 - 1987
Career position - Professor of Medicine, University of Melbourne
1976 - 1983
Career position - Chairman, National Blood Transfusion Committee of the Australian Red Cross Society
1978 - 1984
Career position - Member, Board of Management, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
1978 - 1985
Career position - Dean, Faculty of Medicine, University of Melbourne
1978 - 1986
Career position - Member, Board of Management, Cancer Institute
1980 - 1985
Career position - Member, National Health and Medical Research Council
1984 - 1987
Career position - Chairman, National AIDS Task Force
1988
Award - Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) - For service to medicine and to the community, particularly in the field of medical education and health care
1988 - 1995
Career position - Vice-Chancellor, University of Melbourne
1988 - 1995
Career position - Member, Board of Management, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research
1989 - 1991
Career position - Chairman, Australian Higher Education Industry Association (and antecedent body)
1991 - 2000
Career position - Member, Board of Directors, Pacific Dunlop
1995
Award - Doctor of Laws (LLD), honoris causa, University of Melbourne
1995 - 2002
Career position - Chairman, Cochlear Limited
1996 -
Career position - Co-founder, Principal Partner, Foursight
1996 - 2023
Career position - Emeritus Professor, University of Melbourne
1997
Award - Doctor of Science (DSc), honoris causa, Federation University
2001
Award - Centenary Medal - for outstanding leadership in medicine and outstanding service to Victoria's drug strategies
2012
Award - Brownless Medal, University of Melbourne
2014
Award - Named Victorian of the Year

Related Corporate Bodies

Archival resources

National Library of Australia Oral History Collection

  • Interview with David Penington, medical researcher [sound recording] / interviewer, Diana Giese, 2 June 2000, TRC 4582; National Library of Australia Oral History Collection. Details

Published resources

Books

  • Penington, David, Making Waves: Medicine, Public Health, Universities and Beyond (Melbourne: Miegunyah Press, 2010), 389 pp. Details

Newspaper Articles

  • University of Melbourne, 'Penington, David AC [Death notice]', The Age (2023), 34. Details

Resources

See also

  • Robson, Alexandra K.; Production Manager and Editor eds, Who's who in Australia 2019 (Southbank, Vic.: AAP Directories, 2018), 1788 pp. Details

Rosanne Walker; Ken McInnes

Created: 30 June 1997, Last modified: 23 August 2023

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