John Watkins takes on the role of Deputy Chair in the Board of Parkinson's NSW
Scoop on John Watkins AM's Appointment and his Journey:
John Watkins AM recently claimed the Deputy Chair role at the Parkinson's NSW Board, as per the recent March 2022 meeting. And yeah, this dude's living with Parkinson's! But hey, he's no stranger to challenges. He dabbled as a teacher for 16 years before finding his way into the NSW Parliament in 1995, and by August 2005, he was Deputy Premier – not too shabby!
John also pocketed some top Ministerial jobs like NSW Transport Minister, Minister for Finance, and even State Development, Police, Education and Training, Corrective Services, Fair Trading, and Sport and Recreation. Can you believe he managed all that? No offense intended, but it's impressive as hell.
Finally, he bid farewell to politics in 2008 and stepped into the role of CEO at Alzheimer's Australia. Kept that going for nine jolly years before the company transformed into Dementia Australia. After that, he became Dementia Australia's Ambassador.
John's resume is as stacked as a skyscraper with non-exec role credentials, having chaired Calvary Healthcare, Catholic Health Australia, and even Mary MacKillop Today. The latter, by the way, helps communities in countries like the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Peru, and also aids Australian indigenous students in higher education.
Oh, and let's not forget about his roles on the Governing Council of Neurological Research Australia (NueRA) and as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University. John's a busy man, so if you see him, holler at him!
By the way, he got a gong in the 2015 Queens Birthday Honours List, acknowledged for significant service to the community through leadership in health, education, and the NSW Parliament. Shout out to John Watkins AM for his badass career!
Trivia Corner:- Did you know what you eat and meds you take could impact how your body absorbs Parkinson's drugs? Learn more here.- Wanna know about a novel drug molecule that rejuvenates brain cells in young Parkinson's patients? Check it out here.- Curious about cutting-edge research on Parkinson's? Bonus information here.
- John Watkins AM, now the Deputy Chair of the Parkinson's NSW Board, has been active in support groups for neurological disorders such as Parkinson's, concurrently pursuing a career in science and health-and-wellness sectors, including roles as CEO at Alzheimer's Australia and Dementia Australia.
- In addition to his work in mental-health and neurological-disorders, Watkins' career has also encompassed various ministerial positions, including in transportation, finance, state development, education, and sport and recreation.
- After leaving politics, John Watkins AM continued his commitment to the health and wellness industry, serving on the Governing Council of Neurological Research Australia (NueRA) and as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Centre for Emotional Health at Macquarie University.
