David de Kretser AC

PROFESSOR DAVID de KRETSER, AC
GOVERNOR OF VICTORIA

Professor David de Kretser AC was born in 1939 in Colombo, Sri Lanka, and migrated to Australia in 1949.

He was educated at Camberwell Grammar School, the University of Melbourne and Monash University. He received his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery degrees from the University of Melbourne in 1962, and his Doctorate of Medicine from Monash University in 1969. His doctoral research focussed on the structure and function of the human testis.

Professor de Kretser was the founding Director of the Monash Institute of Reproduction and Development from 1991-2005, and a Professor of Anatomy of the Faculty of Medicine of Monash University since 1978. He was also Associate Dean for Biotechnology Development in the Faculty from 2002 to 2006. In 2003, he was named a Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor. In 2000, with support form the Federal Government, Professor de Kretser initiated a highly successful program of community and professional education in male reproductive health called Andrology Australia.

Professor de Kretser’s research into reproductive biology, infertility and endocrinology has seen over 600 papers featured in national and international peer reviewed journals, with many being presented at international meetings. Professor de Kretser has made important contributions to our understanding of how sperm and testosterone are produced and how these processes can be disturbed in infertile men. His laboratory also pioneered a program of research that resulted in the isolation of novel proteins that, in addition to controlling reproductive processes appear to have key roles in modulating the inflammatory response.

He has served on various boards, including the Human Reproduction Program at World Health Organisation and the Executive Council of the International Society of Andrology. Professor de Kretser 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 a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2006, and received the Centenary Medal in 2003.

Professor de Kretser and his wife Jan have four sons, and five grandchildren. He was named Victorian Father of the Year in 2001. Professor de Kretser assumed office as the 28th Governor of Victoria on April 7th, 2006.

Professor de Kretser shall be speaking at Make An Impact on Saturday morning