1. /
  2. About us /
  3. Our people and structure /
  4. Patrons and ambassadors

Patrons and ambassadors

Patron-in-Chief

Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC
Governor of Victoria

Patrons

Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO
Former Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia 

The Hon Steve Bracks AC
Former Premier of Victoria 

Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty AC
Awarded 1996 Nobel Prize for Medicine and Burnet Institute Board member from 2002-2011 

Professor Allan Fels AO
Former Chairman of the ACCC and Foundation Dean of the Australian & New Zealand School of Government 

Professor David Ho
Director, The Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Centre, New York 

Dame Carol Kidu DBE
Patron-in-Chief Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Program; Former PNG Member of Parliament and Minister for Community Development 

The Hon Justice Michael Kirby AC CMG
Former Justice of the High Court and a Member of the UNAIDS Global Panel on Human Rights 

Lady Primrose Potter AC
Director, Ian Potter Museum of Art; Life Governor, Ian Potter Foundation; Founding Patron, Victorian Opera Company; Patron, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art

Ambassadors

Ms Deanna Blegg
Burnet Ambassador since 2008; Elite HIV-positive athlete, mother of two 

“The main aim should be prevention - it solves so much more than a cure. The Institute gave me the opportunity to travel to Papua New Guinea to see the Tingam Liap program in action. It humbled me to be introduced to the wonderful communities and see the level of dedication of the locals committed to the HIV Prevention Programs.” 

Princess Kasune Zulu
Burnet Ambassador since 2011; HIV-positive Activist, Author 

“The best of humanity of what I see at Burnet. I have seen HIV bring out the best of humankind with scientists devoting their lives to finding better ways to prevent and treat the disease.” 

Ms Belinda Collins
Burnet Ambassador since 2011; HIV activist and Author 

“Burnet’s expertise from a cellular level to a global level is unique, as is its passion and heart.”
On this page