Ian Hickie
Professor of Psychiatry
University of Sydney
Profile
In October 2006, the Australian Financial Review included Professor Ian Hickie in its list of the top 10 cultural influences. The specific comments noted his role as a long-term campaigner, the person who orchestrated the campaign that led to the COAG announcements ( billion dollars over five years) and congratulated him on (his) depth of involvement and (his) huge contribution. From 1997 to 2003, professor Hickie was Professor of Community Psychiatry at the University of NSW. In October 2000 he was appointed as the inaugural CEO of beyondblue: the national depression initiative and from 2003-06 served as its Clinical Advisor. In 2003, he was appointed as the inaugural executive director of the flagship Brian and Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney. This institute leads innovation in research, clinical service and health policy developments in the Brain and Mind Sciences. It has attracted over million in new investments in infrastructure in this key health domain. In 2006, Professor Hickie received the Australian Honours Award of Member (AM) in the General Division; for services to medicine in the development of key national mental health initiatives and general practice services in both the public and non-government sectors. In 2007, he was appointed to the Prime Minister’s Australian National Council on Drugs and has led the BMRI as a founding member of the new National Youth Mental Health Foundation (‘headspace’). From 2008-13, Professor Hickie is one of the first round of new NHMRC 2008 Australian Fellows; recognising excellence in Australian Medical Research. His research, clinical and health services development work focuses n expansion of population-based mental health research and development of international mental health strategies. In 2007, Professor Hickie was elected a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia.
