Biography
Jillian Skinner retired from state politics in 2017 after six years as NSW Minister for Health and 14 years as Shadow Minister. She was also the first stand-alone Minister for Medical Research in NSW. In those roles Jillian created a more unified health sector by focussing on local decision making, boosting the clinical workforce, investing in infrastructure, and providing record recurrent spending to deliver tens of thousands additional emergency department treatments, hospital admissions and elective surgeries.
Jillian was noted for her commitment to health and medical research, particularly her support for innovative treatments arising from new understanding of disease and best models of care. She also championed social policy programs including community-based preventive programs, increased organ donation, better access to pain management, improved palliative care and elimination of the transmission of HIV. Jillian has continued her passion for health through numerous part time engagements. In 2018, she was conferred Doctor of Science honoris causa by Macquarie University in recognition of her contribution to healthcare and health policy in NSW.
Jillian began her career as a journalist in Melbourne, has run her own business, worked in the public sector, and served on many community and advisory bodies.
Since retiring from Parliament and as NSW Health Minister, Jillian continues her involvement in health-related activities, including her role as:
- A Director of the Board of the Children’s Cancer Institute Australia.
- Member of the Cancer Australia Advisory Council.
- Chair of the Advisory Board of OUTBREAK - recipient of a Medical Research Futures Fund Frontier’s grant to address the global problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with its implications for clinical practice, agriculture and food production, industry, biosecurity, and regional planning.
- Member of the Australian British Chamber of Commerce Health Catalyst taskforce which develops and helps run a UK based conference with a focus on IT and cyber security.
- Independent Chair of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association.
She is a member of the Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre Subcommittee and the Marketing & Fundraising Subcommittee.
