18/06/2026
From LMRF Research Fellow… to Officer of the Order of Australia.
We are incredibly proud to celebrate Emeritus Professor Michael Roberts AO, recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours.
Mike’s LMRF journey began with a single phone call. In 1987, he made the bold decision to leave a tenured professorial role in New Zealand to pursue a five-year Lions Medical Research Fellowship in Queensland — an opportunity that allowed him to follow his passion for medical research and support his young family.
What began as a significant career risk became the foundation of an extraordinary lifetime of achievement. Reflecting on this transition, Mike shared:
“LMRF funding has been the foundation stone in my transition… to do what I love, trying to make a difference through medical research.”
That decision led to:
• Nearly three decades as an NHMRC Senior Principal Research Fellow
• A globally recognised program of research
• Mentoring and influencing the careers of future research leaders
• Lifelong connections with the Lions community and a commitment to giving back
Beyond his own career, LMRF support helped seed the next generation of medical researchers and build enduring collaborations that continue to shape healthcare today.
This is the power of early support at the right moment.
Every LMRF-funded Fellowship is an investment in people, in possibility, and in the future of medical discovery.
We are honoured to have played a part in Mike’s journey.
Congratulations, Mike — and thank you to our Lions community who make stories like this possible.
👉 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-11/eyre-peninsula-siblings-both-receive-kings-birthday-honours-sa/106780030
