King’s Birthday gongs for radio

• Host, Mornings with Leon Byner, FIVEaa, Nova Entertainment, Adelaide, since 2000.
• Broadcaster, 5KA/KAFM, Adelaide, 1975-2000.

• Specialist Producer, Anzac Day Broadcasts, ABC Perth.
• Owner, since 2018.

ABC Western Australia

• Former Executive Producer and Presenter, 7.30 Report, Western Australia.
• Former Presenter and Scriptwriter, Four Corners/Today Tonight.
• Former Presenter, Nationwide News.
• Former Contributor, Consuming Passions.
• Director and Producer, 1994-2015.
• Journalist and Presenter, 1968-1994.

Media – Other

• Volunteer Creator, Royal Western Australian Historical Society, 2019
• Volunteer Creator, St John of God Health Care 30th Anniversary.
• Volunteer Creator, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science.
• Former Producer, Better Homes and Gardens, Seven Network.

WA Parks Foundation

• Ambassador, since 2018.
• Volunteer Video Producer.

Community

• Master of Ceremonies, Fundraising Gala, Claremont Football Club, 2019.

Awards and Recognition include:

• AH Kornweibel Arts Prize, West Australian Media Awards, 2008.
• Feature Prize, Australian Journalist Association, 2003, and 2006.

• Newsreader, WIN TV, Wollongong, 1988-2019.
• Radio 2OO, Wollongong, 1983-1988.
• Radio 2WL, Wollongong, 1972-1983.
• Radio 2LM, Lismore, 1971-1972.
• Radio 2NX, Newcastle, 1970-1971.

Community

• Director, Illawarra Olympic Fund Committee.
• Director, Illawarra Retirement Trust.
• Committee Member, Wollongong Hospital Children’s Ward Appeal.
• Committee Member, Linear Accelerator Appeal, Illawarra Cancer Care.
• Supporter, The Cockatoo Run using the steam train 3801.
• Supporter, The Fleet Air Arm Museum, HMAS Albatross Nowra.
• Ambassador, Relay for Life, Cancer Council, 2017.
• Supporter, Wollongong Roller Hawks (playing wheelchair basketball).
• Compere, The Illawarra Connection, 25 years.
• Compere, charity functions 1973-2019.

Fundraising

• The Illawarra Steelers / St George Illawarra Dragons.
• The Illawarra Hawks.
• The Wollongong Wolves.
• The Illawarra Academy of Sport.
• The Black and White Ball, fundraising for Vision Impaired.
• The Butterflies Ball, fundraising for The Shepherd Centre.
• The Red Shield Appeal, fundraising for The Salvation Army.
• Greenacres Association, fundraising for the Disabled.
• Wollongong Surf Club, fundraising for equipment.
• North Wollongong Surf Club, fundraising for equipment.
• The Illawarra Retirement Trust, fundraising for retired seniors.

Awards and Recognition include:

• Wollongong Citizen of the Year 2020.
• Rotary Paul Harris Fellow.
• Life Member Illawarra Hawks Basketball.

• National Medical Reporter, ABC TV News, 7.30, ABC Radio and ABC online, since 1999.
• Blogger, Living an Authentic Life, Health and Wellbeing online, current.

Australasian Medical Writers Association

• Former Vice-President.
• Former Board Member, 2010s.

Medical – Other

• Board Member, Australian Medical Association (NSW) Charitable Foundation, since early 2010s.
• Founding Board Member, Australian Mental Health Prize, University of New South Wales.
• Advisory Board Member, Contemplative Studies Centre, University of Melbourne, current.
• Advisory Board Member, Centre for Research Excellence in Digestive Health, University of Newcastle, current.
• Ambassador, Bowel Cancer Australia, since early 2010s.
• Ambassador, Pain Australia.
• Master-of-Ceremonies, medical-related conferences and events, since 2002.
• Patient Reviewer, British Medical Journal.

Academia

• Adjunct Associate Professor, School of Medicine, University of Notre Dame, since 2020.

Publications

• Author, Road Testing Happiness; How to be Happier, No Matter What, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, 2010.
• Author, Live a Longer Life: The Scientific Secrets of Health and Wellbeing at Any Age, HarperCollins Publishers Australia, 2007.

Awards and Recognition include:

• Excellence in Reporting Award, Royal Australasian College of Pathologists, 2018.
• Kennedy Award for Excellence in Consumer Affairs Reporting, 2017.
• Excellence in Broadcast Journalism Award, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 2007.
• Highly Commended, International Lung Cancer Journalism Awards, Global Lung Cancer Coalition, 2007.
• Inaugural Media Award, Broadcast Category, Royal Australasian College of Pathologists, 2006.
• Research Australia Award, for services to the media and highlighting the importance of medical research, 2005.
• Eureka Award, for Medical Reporting, Australian Museum, 2004.
• Excellence for Television Reporting Special Award, Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, 2000.

• Founding Member, African Australian Council ACT, current.
• Member, Executive Committee, Federation of African Communities Councils in Australia, 2014-2019.
• Member, African Ministerial Consultative Committee, 2012-2013.

African Australian Association

• President, 1993-1995.
• Former Secretary.
• Foundation Member, 1990.

Ghana Australia Association Inc

• Foundation Member, 2000-2008.
• Public Officer, 2000-2008.

Migrant and Refugee Settlement Services Australia Inc (formerly Migrant Resource Centre of Canberra and Queanbeyan Inc)

• Chair, 2003-2005 and 1991-1992.
• Deputy Chair, 2002 and 1991-1992.
• Public Officer, 2001-2002.
• Secretary, 1988-1990.
• Harmony Ambassador, current.

Companion House (formerly Torture Rehabilitation and Network Service ACT (TRANSACT) Inc)

• Life Member, since 2012.
• Chair, 1989-1992.
• Foundation Member, 1990.

Multicultural – Other

• Master of Ceremonies, National Multicultural Festival, many years.
• Member Chief Minister’s Advisory Council on Multicultural Affairs, ACT Government, 2003-2005 and 1991-1992.

Community Radio 2XXFM

• Coordinator and Presenter, Radio Ghana in Canberra, since 2009.
• Board Member, 2011-2012.

Community 

• Director, Returned and Services League of Australia and Citizens Club Canberra, 2005-2007.
• Member, Ministerial Taskforce on Elder Abuse, ACT Government, 2006.

Podiatry Board of Australia

• Community Member, 2009-2019.
• Chair, Strategic Policy and Planning Committee, 2015-2018.
• Chair, Registration and Notification Committee, 2009-2011.

Health

• Panel Member, Nurses and Midwifery Board of Australia, since 2010.
• Legal Member, Podiatry Council of New South Wales, 2011-2019.
• Former Community Member, ACT/TAS/VIC Psychology Board of Australia.
• Legal Member, Psychologist Board of ACT, 2006-2009.

Awards and Recognition include:

• African Australia Diaspora Award, 2019.
• African Community Ambassadorial Award Celebration of African Australians Inc, 2015.
• Outstanding Volunteer of the Year, ACT Centenary Multicultural Awards, 2013.
• ACT Chief Minister’s Award for services to the African Community, 1998.