Governor of Victoria to open conference

Professor David de Kretser, AC, Governor of Victoria, will open the Universities Marketing, Communications and Development Conference on Wednesday 28th March 2007.

Professor de Kretser, one of Australia's most eminent medical researchers, was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and migrated to Australia in 1949.

He was educated at Camberwell Grammar School and Melbourne and Monash Universities.

His academic career bridged medicine and anatomy having held positions at Monash University as Professor and Chairman of Anatomy, Founding Director of the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development and Associate Dean for Biotechnology Development.

His research into reproductive biology, infertility and endocrinology has been recognised nationally and internationally. With support from the Federal Government, he initiated a highly successful program of community and professional education in male reproductive health called Andrology Australia.

He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australian Academy of Science and the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2001 and a Companion in the Order of Australia in 2006, and received the Centenary Medal in 2003.

Professor de Kretser and his wife Jan have four sons, and three grandchildren. Professor de Kretser assumed office as the 28th Governor of Victoria on April 7th, 2006.