Queen’s Birthday Honour for former MCRI Board member

Former Murdoch Children’s Research Institute Board Chairman Leigh Clifford has been recognised for his contributions to the community in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Mr Clifford, Chairman of the Murdoch Children’s Board from 2010 to 2016, was one of 37 eminent Australians to be made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest Queen’s Birthday honour.

Mr Clifford received the AC for eminent service to business in the aviation, arts and education sectors, to the community through charitable support and scholarships, and for philanthropic contributions.

This honour comes 14 years after he was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008, for service to business through executive roles in the mining industry, to the promotion of international trade and the development of export markets, and to the arts.

In 2014, Mr Clifford and his wife Sue set up the Clifford Family PhD Scholarship, which is designed to support the best and brightest clinical health professionals to undertake postgraduate research training at the Melbourne Children’s Campus and develop their careers as clinical researchers.

Prior to his time at Murdoch Children’s, Mr Clifford was Chairman of Qantas from 2007 to 2018 and worked with Rio Tinto for 37 years. He was appointed a Director of Rio Tinto in 1994 and became Chief Executive in March 2000. He retired as Chief Executive and Director in 2007.