Last night at an event at NSW Parliament House, Professor Maria Craig and Leo Tutt (AM) were honoured for their contribution to diabetes receiving the 2020 and 2021 Sir Kempson Maddox Awards, respectively.

Each year, Diabetes NSW & ACT recognises a person who has made a significant and lasting contribution to the field of diabetes through the Sir Kempson Maddox Award. As COVID-19 forced the cancellation of last year’s event the Awards for 2020 and 2021 were presented as part of a joint event.

Sir Kempson Maddox

The award honours the memory of Sir John Kempson Maddox, a leading cardiologist, with an interest in diabetes, who pioneered diabetes self-management. He was founder of the Diabetes Association of Australia, which went on to become Diabetes NSW & ACT.

Professor Maria Craig

The 2020 award winner Professor Maria Craig works at both the Children’s Hospital at Westmead and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of NSW. She has a long history and interest in childhood diabetes working in both a hands on and research capacity.

Over the last 15 years Professor Craig has made a difference to the lives of children living with type 1 diabetes as a voluntary camp doctor at DNSW & ACT DiaBuddies Camps. She also has an extensive portfolio of research into childhood diabetes, including studies focused on prediction and prevention of type 1 diabetes.

Professor Craig is the principal investigator for the CoRD trial – a world first phase 1 study using autologous cord blood for prevention of type 1 diabetes in children with islet autoimmunity. She is a principal investigator for the Australasian Diabetes Data Network (ADDN – addn.org.au) and her other research interests include the epidemiology of childhood diabetes (type 1, type 2, cystic fibrosis related diabetes and monogenic diabetes) and diabetes complications, in collaboration with Prof Kim Donaghue at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

Diabetes NSW & ACT is extremely grateful to Professor Craig for her support of the DiaBuddies Program and is proud to acknowledge her extensive research achievements with the 2020 Sir Kempson Maddox Award.

Leo Tutt AM

Leo Tutt has had a long connection to Diabetes NSW & ACT and his contribution to the diabetes community as a member and Chair of the Board reflects his passion for making a difference for people living with diabetes.

Mr Tutt’s contribution to diabetes has not been limited to his involvement with Diabetes NSW & ACT as he was also a past Director of Diabetes Australia, Diabetes Queensland and the GI Foundation.

Passionate about helping people, his drive has always been to create success, make a positive difference and improve the lives and opportunities available to all people living with diabetes.

During his time as Chair of the Board of Diabetes NSW & ACT, Leo developed a vision for Diabetes NSW & ACT which initially focused on merging with Diabetes ACT. He then considered the strategic opportunity to work more closely with Diabetes Queensland and finally, to foster support for bringing together the state diabetes organisations to form a strong and unified national organisation representing the interests of Australians living with diabetes.

Sturt Eastwood, CEO Diabetes NSW & ACT noted that throughout his career, Mr Tutt had shown an outstanding commitment to the diabetes the community.

“It has been a pleasure to work closely beside Leo on the Board of Diabetes NSW & ACT. His contribution has and will continue to make a difference to thousands of lives. He is definitely a worthy recipient of the 2021 Sir Kempson Maddox Award,” he said.

Diabetes NSW & ACT is proud to acknowledge Professor Maria Craig and Leo Tutt AM as the winners of the 2020 and 2021 Sir Kempson Maddox Awards.