Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) Director Professor Kathryn North AC delivered the keynote oration at the inaugural Marie Krogh Young Women in Science Prize, established by Novo Nordisk to spotlight Australia’s next generation of women in science and medicine.

The $50,000 national prize was awarded to Associate Professor Ines Pires da Silva from the Melanoma Institute Australia for her transformative contributions to melanoma research and patient care.

She was selected by an esteemed judging panel that included MCRI’s Population Health Director Professor Sharon Goldfeld AM.

The prize also awarded $5,000 cash prize to each of the seven finalists, including MCRI’s Cancer Therapies Group Leader Associate Professor Rachel Conyers who was recognised for her leadership in paediatric cancer research.

All finalists will be inducted into the Marie Krogh Alumni Network, creating an ongoing platform for collaboration, visibility and support.

Image: Associate Professor Rachel Conyers. Credit: Novo Nordisk

Professor North said the initiative was both a celebration and a strategic investment in Australia’s STEM future.

“Supporting the next generation of women in science and medicine isn’t just about equity, it’s about excellence,” she said. “The Marie Krogh Prize highlights the innovation and leadership that drive meaningful change in health outcomes, and I’m honoured to help recognise these future leaders.

“When I began my career, female professors in medicine could be counted on one hand. Progress is possible — but it doesn’t happen by chance. It happens when people make deliberate choices to open doors for others.”

Image: (L-R) Marie Krogh Prize finalists Dr Deborah Burnett, Associate Professor Rachel Conyers, Dr Amali Mallawaarachchi, Associate Professor Ines Pires da Silva, Professor Shanshan Li, Associate Professor Sarah Zaman, Associate Professor Susann Beier and Dr Ann-na Cho. Credit: Novo Nordisk

Named after Dr Marie Krogh (1874–1943), a pioneering Danish physician and co-founder of Novo Nordisk, the Prize honours her legacy as one of the first women in Denmark to earn a doctorate in medicine.

Alongside her husband, Nobel Laureate August Krogh, she played a key role in developing insulin treatment protocols, helping transform diabetes – a chronic condition she herself lived with – from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable condition.

Watch Kathryn's keynote speech