St Gregory's College Newsletter

'Old Boys' News

Macarthur local presents on TEDx stage - Dean Williamson, Class of 2001

Camden local, Dean Williamson, doesn’t normally fancy the limelight, but his latest achievement saw him delivering a speech at TEDx Parramatta, about new-age workplace thinking: People-centred organisations are good for business.

 

Dean said, “Research shows us that if you look after your employees, you’ll have a healthier bottom line. But so many organisations don’t really know how to move more towards this. They’ve embedded a not-so-healthy culture, or one based on control, and don’t know how to progress from there. We see it all the time. We help companies move past where they are, to where they want to be. My TEDx presentation was about how organisations that focus on people, rather than processes, are great for employees, great for the company and great for society. Win win win.”

 

Having a local on the TEDx stage can only be a good thing. “Our region is seeing unprecedented population and business growth, and our growing pool of talented, clever workers are looking more and more for good, flexible, healthy cultures close to home. Western Sydney is increasingly where the people are, and we’re going to see a lot more organisations trying to base themselves here to take advantage of that. We want to help them be cutting-edge in employee engagement, health and productivity.” Especially when Dean’s topic of presentation is one that is crucial for business success and backed by research.

 

Dean was selected out of hundreds of submissions to speak at the event held at WSU Parramatta, late last year. And the famous TEDx video was released on YouTube in January 2020. Dean said, “Our work with Human Systems Co is based on research and fact. We get people and what makes them tick. I’m just happy that I could share some of our thoughts and hopefully help others start to make that transition towards people-centred organisations. TEDx is a great avenue to help people do that.”

 

About Dean

Growing up in Campbelltown and schooled at St Gregory’s College, Dean went onto study Psychology and Marketing, before moving into a career in engagement, or what he likes to call, a career in ‘people’. From there, he started his own business and explored the areas of culture, people and systems. Joining forces with Megan Storey (also Campbelltown born and schooled), they created Human Systems Co, which encourages organisations to think about their people, organisational goals and achievements differently, with a focus on organisational development, mentally-healthy workplaces and great culture.

Old Boy Geoffrey Currie -  Class of 1985 received an AM

Dr Geoff Currie, BPharm, MMedRadSc(NucMed), MAppMngt(health), MBA, PhD, AM

AM Award - Admitted as Member of the Order of Australia (2020)

 

For significant service to nuclear medicine and medical radiation science.

 

Dr Geoff Currie completed his HSC at St Gregory’s College in 1985 before pursuing a career in nuclear medicine and molecular imaging. He has a bachelors degree in pharmacy, masters degree in medical radiation science (nuclear medicine), masters degree in applied management (health), masters degree in business administration and a doctorate of philosophy. Dr Currie has published more than 150 manuscripts in peer reviewed international journals, is a reviewer for more than 20 major international journals, has presented more than 150 scientific abstracts at major conferences around the globe, has given more than 60 invited speaker presentations at conferences, received 11 research excellence awards, has been editor for 5 books, written 2 book chapters and is the author of 2 books in writing. Dr Currie is internationally recognised for expertise and leadership across nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, in radiopharmacy and pharmacology, in research and education, and in the applications of artificial intelligence in imaging (intelligent imaging).

 

The AM award specifically recognises his contribution to:

 

  *   re-engineering nuclear medicine scientist training, advanced training and scope of practice,

  *   re-defining lobbying and representation of the industry particularly those geographically or professionally isolated,

  *   re-imagining the role of the nuclear medicine scientist in research and education, and

  *   re-energising professional commitment to enhancing our communities.

 

The award recognises activities over several decades amongst political, professional and general population communities. He has enjoyed a celebrated leadership status in his profession in Australia and across the globe for more than a decade, and been proactively committed to the responsibility that comes with that status. He has been a strong and constant voice representing the nuclear medicine industry in the general community, amongst key stakeholders, across the health care sector, and at all levels of Government.

 

When asked about the award, Dr Currie reflected:

It is an honour and a privilege to be able to represent and advocate for the nuclear medicine community in Australia, as well as internationally; particularly in the USA and Canada. To be nominated by my nuclear medicine peers and recognised for the leadership and innovation I have provided is humbling but gratifying. I have been very fortunate to have been gifted with amazing opportunities for clinical practice, research and education associated with frontier technologies that, with hard work, change the lives of many Australians. I have been a firm believer in “as you sow, so shall you reap” (quae seminaveris metes), and this award and the successes I have had in my career are attributed to that mantra.

 

Summary of most recent activities;

Administration:

  •  Convener, 50th milestone annual scientific meeting of ANZSNM 2020
  • Executive Advisory Board Member and Continuous Education Committee Vice Chair, the 13th Asia Oceania Congress of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (AOCNMB), Shanghai, China, 2019.
  • Therapeutic Goods Administration Medical Shortages Committee, 2019- current
  • ANSTO Nuclear Medicine Liaison Group, 2019- current
  • Australian Radiopharmaceutical Crisis Management Team, 2019- current
  •  ANSTO Health Advisory Board, 2017-current
  • ANZSNM Scientific advisory Panel, 2018-2020.
  • Co-Chair, Technologist Track, Scientific Committee World Federation of Nuclear Medicine and Biology (WFNMB) Congress, 2017/2018.
  •  Local Health Advisory Committee, Murrumbidgee Area Health Service, 2017-2018
  • Department of Industry and Science, Commonwealth Government of Australia, member of the phase 2 Independent Advisor Panel (IAP2) for the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Project, 2017-2018
  •  Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Technologists Section (SNMMI-TS in USA), member of the Educators Committee, member of the Continuing Education Committee, 2016-2019.
  •  Department of Industry and Science, Commonwealth Government of Australia, member of the Independent Advisor Panel (IAP) for the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility Project, 2015-2016.
  • Deputy Editor, Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Science (Canada), 2014-2019
  • International Consulting Editor, Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology (USA), 2012-…….
  • Co-founder and Executive member of RAINS (Australia’s largest nuclear medicine professional membership), 2007-……..

 

Current active external collaborations include:

  •  Cardiac Health Institute
  •  High Institute for Allied Health Technologies of Porto Polytechnic Institute of Portugal
  •  Pakistan Institute of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan
  •  The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada
  •  Baylor Medical College, Houston, Texas, USA
  •  Stanford University, California, USA
  •  Greater Poland Cancer Centre, Poznan, Poland
  • University of Otago, New Zealand
  •   Lucerno Dynamics, USA
  •   ANSTO
  •   National University Hospital, Singapore