Image: Professor Julie Byles, University of Newcastle
Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, The Hon. David Hurley has named Professor Julie Byles an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the 2022 Australia Day Honours List.
Professor Julie Byles is honoured for her distinguished service to medical research, to gerontology, and to professional scientific organisations.
As a clinical epidemiologist, Professor Byles interests are in risk determination, health assessment, other health care evaluation, and measurement of health outcomes.
As a gerontologist and Fellow of the Australian Association of Gerontology, her research interests in ageing include the role of health services, preventive activities, and treatments in maintaining quality of life for older people, and in determining physical, psychological and social factors associated with optimal physical and mental health of men and women as they age.
Professor Byles is an Associate Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence in Ageing Population Research (CEPAR), Global Innovation Chair in Responsive Transitions in Health and Ageing at the University of Newcastle, and a Director of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health (ALSWH).
The ALSWH study is the largest, longest-running project of its kind ever conducted in Australia. The population-based survey explores the factors contributing to the health and wellbeing of over 57,000 Australian women in four cohorts. Their data provides invaluable information about the health of women across the lifespan.
Professor Byles is also Head of the International Longevity Centre - Australia (ILC-Aus), and co-President of the International Longevity Centre Global Alliance. Within the Asia/Oceania region she is Chair of the International Association of Gerontology Social Research and Planning sub-committee. She has been a frequent advisor to the World Health Organisation, assisting with translation of evidence on health and ageing.
The Order of Australia recognises Australians who have demonstrated outstanding service or exceptional achievement. An Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) is recognised for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.
For a full list of Australia Day honours and biographies on the recipients, visit the Governor General’s website.