Acclaimed meningococcal B pioneer Professor Helen Marshall named SA Australian of the Year for 2022

Top infectious disease specialist Professor Helen Marshall has been named the SA Australian of the Year for 2022.

Acclaimed meningococcal B pioneer Professor Helen Marshall has been named the SA Australian of the Year for 2022.

Professor Marshall, 59, a vaccinology, public health and infectious disease specialist at the University of Adelaide’s Robinson Research Institute, was recognised for her work as lead investigator of the “B Part of It” survey, examining the effectives of meningococcal B vaccines in teenagers and young adults.

Since 2004, she has published 211 peer-reviewed papers and been awarded 17 research grants totalling more than $33m.

She also advised Health Minister Stephen Wade and chief public health officer Prof Nicola Spurrier on Covid-19 vaccines.

Professor Helen Marshall University of Adelaide

The 2022 SA Senior Australian of the Year award was presented to educator, counsellor and author Mark Le Messurier, 67, who has devoted his life to improving the self-worth, wellbeing, mental health and life outcomes of young people.

Special needs dentistry consultant Trudy Lin, 29, won the SA Young Australian of the Year prize for her work providing oral healthcare to people with disability, psychiatric illness, and complex medical issues such as cancer.

SA child behaviour expert Mark Le Messurier.

Dr Trudy Lin. Picture: Supplied

The SA Local Hero award was presented to Lymphoedema Association SA Inc president Monique Bareham, 50, who was diagnosed with lymphoedema after receiving a cancer diagnosis 10 years ago.

She was recognised for prompting the state government to introduce a compression garment subsidy scheme in July last year.