AMBASSADORS

Jamila Rizvi

Ambassador  |  JAMILA RIZVI

Jamila is author of the best-selling Not Just Lucky, a career manifesto for millennial women and The Motherhood, an anthology of letters about life with a newborn, both published by Penguin. She is currently working on her third book, with author Rosie Waterland, about the intersections of physical and mental health. 


Jamila is Editor-at-Large of the Nine Network’s Future Women, host of their weekly podcast and a columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. She is also a regular commentator on The Project, Today, The Drum, Q and A, an occasional host on ABC Radio Melbourne. 

Jamila is author of the best-selling Not Just Lucky, a career manifesto for millennial women and The Motherhood, an anthology of letters about life with a newborn, both published by Penguin. She is currently working on her third book, with author Rosie Waterland, about the intersections of physical and mental health. 


Jamila is Editor-at-Large of the Nine Network’s Future Women, host of their weekly podcast and a columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. She is also a regular commentator on The Project, Today, The Drum, Q and A, an occasional host on ABC Radio Melbourne. 


Jamila is the co-founder of the popular event series Tea with Jam and Clare, which attracts an audience of thousands each year. She previously worked in politics for the Rudd and Gillard Governments, advising on issues including media, women, child care, and employment. 


Jamila is an Ambassador for CARE Australia and board member of the Melbourne Writers’ Festival. She has been named as one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence by the Australian Financial Review.


Jamila shared her story at The Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation 26th Annual Gala Ball & Auction 2019, and now supports the Foundation as the newest Ambassador.


Ambassador  |  DENIS WALTER OAM

Denis Walter OAM, is an Australian radio presenter, singer, recording artist and media personality, having presented television news for 16 years.
 
Between 1992 and 2008, Denis has presented the news in regional Victoria for WIN Television, as well as hosting nightly Keno lottery draws, and presenting the weather on Nine News.
 
In 2008, Denis began hosting Afternoons on 3AW (693 AM) Melbourne, now moving to a new time slot in 2020 as the host of a new local program, 3AW Nights.
 
In 2018, Walter was announced as a presenter on the Nine Network's new travel series Helloworld.
 
Denis' career has lasted almost fifty years, having recorded 16 albums to date, and regularly performing at concerts throughout Victoria, including the long-standing Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve in Melbourne. This year Denis has signed with Sony Music for an album dedicated to music from the musicals.
Denis Walter
Denis was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours list "for service to the performing arts as a singer and entertainer, and to the broadcast media."

Denis has hosted The RMH Neuroscience Foundation Annual Gala Ball & Auction since 1996, maintaining the energy and the formalities of the night as Master of Ceremonies, and now adds to his voluntary involvement with the Foundation as an Ambassador, a role he is very proud of.

Mr Anthony Howard AM QC and HE The Hon Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria

PATRON  |  ANTHONY HOWARD AM KC

Mr Anthony Howard AM KC  is married to the Governor of Victoria, the Hon. Linda Dessau AC.  He was born in Melbourne and educated at Xavier College.  He graduated with Bachelors of Laws and Jurisprudence from Monash University, and a Diploma of Criminology from the University of Melbourne.


In 1973, Mr Howard was articled to Frank Galbally CBE in the firm  of Galbally and O’Bryan where he then worked as a solicitor  before  signing   the  Victorian  Bar  Roll  in  1975.  At the Bar he read with John Walker KC, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1992.


Other than almost three years in Hong  Kong where, with the Governor, Mr Howard was prosecuting criminal trials in

the Attorney-General’s Chambers from 1982 to 1985, he remained at the Victorian Bar, specialising in criminal law, until his appointment as a Judge of the County Court of Victoria in October 2006.


Mr Howard was actively involved in the life of the Victorian Bar. He was Chair of his list of barristers, and was a member of the Bar Council from 2001 to 2004. He chaired the Legal Assistance Committee (the Bar’s pro bono legal service), contributed to the development of the Equal Opportunity Briefing Policy to promote the advancement of women advocates, and chaired a committee to create a dining and networking space for members of the Bar and a committee to assist new barristers as they started out in their careers.


As a Judge of the County Court, Mr Howard was, at different times, a member of the Court’s Executive and Management Committees and chaired the Media and Communication Committee. He was also a member of the Bar’s Indigenous Lawyers’ Mentoring Program. Mr Howard retired as a Judge of the County Court in late 2016.


Mr Howard has also been involved in various community and not-for-profit organisations, including as a Trustee of the Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation for 10 years, founding Chair of the Essendon Football Club Lawdons coterie and as a Board member of the youth mentoring organisation Big Brothers, Big Sisters.


Mr Howard was made a Member of the Order of Australia on 26 January 2019 for significant service to the law, to the judiciary, to professional standards, and to the community of Victoria.


The Governor and Mr Howard married in 1982 and have two sons, both of whom graduated from Monash University with Bachelors of Law and Art.


The Royal Melbourne Hospital Neuroscience Foundation welcomes two new Ambassadors


The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) Neuroscience Foundation is excited to announce two new Ambassadors to support the vital work of the Foundation.


These are the well-known author, presenter and brain tumour survivor, Jamila Rizvi, and performer, presenter, and veteran MC, Denis Walter OAM.


Denis has hosted The RMH Neuroscience Foundation Annual Gala Ball & Auction since 1996, and continues to donate his time voluntarily each year.


Jamila, a first-time guest speaker at the 26th Annual Gala Ball & Auction in 2019 - which raised over $298,000 - will continue to support The RMH Neuroscience Foundation with an ongoing role.

“A brain tumour diagnosis is an indescribable shock but truly, it’s only the beginning of a long and difficult shift emotionally, physically and mentally. Medical research holds the key to a better life and better survival outcomes for people like me and it’s an honour to take on this ambassadorial role.”


The RMH Neuroscience Foundation raises funds for vital research into the prevention and treatment of brain tumour, spinal cord and neuromuscular diseases, conducted at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The University of Melbourne.


 “We are excited and thankful to have both Jamila and Denis as official Ambassadors of the Foundation,” Foundation Chair, Mr Jonathan Tribe, said.  “The research we are able to fund thanks to the generosity of our supporters and our ambassadors, gives us a great opportunity to make a strong positive impact on life threatening neurological diseases and conditions.”


Further information on Jamila and Denis can be found under Ambassadors.


The 27th Annual Gala Ball & Auction is unable to proceed in 2020, due to the response required to slow the progression of COVID-19, which was due to be hosted by Ambassador and MC Denis Walter, with Ambassador Jamila Rizvi in attendance, as well as regular guests HE the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria, and Foundation Patron, Mr Anthony Howard AM KC.


Neuroscience research and clinical work continues at The Royal Melbourne Hospital, and the Foundation, more than ever, needs support from its donors and sponsors to continue this vital work.


To make a donation in lieu of the Ball, please CLICK HERE.


Carrie Bickmore

INAUGURAL Ambassador  | Carrie Bickmore

Carrie has been co-hosting Network Ten’s The Project since 2009.  During that time she has delivered live news ‘but not as you know it’ to homes across Australia, and has travelled the world for stories.

Carrie’s popularity grew to such an extent she received a TV Week Logie Award for Best New Talent in May 2010, and by 2015, Carrie was honoured to receive the Silver Logie for Best Presenter and the Gold Logie for Most Popular person on television.  Carrie used this opportunity to raise awareness for Brain Cancer, encouraging everyone to get involved and wear a beanie for brain cancer, launching Carrie's Beanies4BrainCancer.

Carrie believes in giving back to the community and donates her time to many charity events and causes, including being the Australian Ambassador for UNICEF (neo-natal tetanus program).  She is also the proud mother to her wonderful son, Ollie and beautiful girl, Evie. 

We are ever grateful to Carrie for her involvement with the Foundation, spanning eight years, and the enormous donation from Beanies4BrainCancer towards crucial Brain Cancer research within The Royal Melbourne Hospital and The University of Melbourne.
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