About the MBF Foundation

From the Chairman

Now in its fifth year, the MBF Foundation has built a substantial portfolio of initiatives and is entering an exciting phase of seeing the real outcomes of a number of our earlier investment decisions.

The MBF Foundation Steering Committee’s careful and strategic selection of programs since the organisation’s inception in 2005, has resulted in some valuable outcomes that have direct impacts on the lives of many Australians. In conjunction with our partners, the Foundation has contributed to a wide range of initiatives and programs that will help us better understand our community’s health, improvements in health outcomes and sustainability of healthcare in Australia. As described in more detail in other sections of this website, some key achievements include:

In conjunction with our partners, the Foundation has contributed to a wide range of initiatives and programs that will help us better understand our community’s health, improvements in health outcomes and sustainability of healthcare in Australia. As described in more detail in other sections of this website, some key achievements include:

• Initiatives to help people with bipolar disorder to better manage their condition and avoid recurrent hospitalisation and relapse,
• Estimating the huge annual cost of chronic pain in order to increase the visibility of this massive problem to health policy and decision makers,
• Annual award to six of the nation’s top private hospital nurses of $10,000 scholarships to enhance their skills and knowledge and undertake specialist graduate certificates,
• Setting a world record in 2008 when almost 12,000 Australian children joined their NZ counterparts by participating in the Weet-Bix Kids TRY-athlon to make the series the largest children’s triathlon on the planet, and
• The MBF Foundation Magic Garden exhibit at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum is not only one of the museum’s most popular exhibits, but delivers a wonderful message of healthy eating and activity to children, parents and other visitors as they fall under the spell of the exciting visual and audio technology.

We have also been busy growing our portfolio of research and health promotion partners. In keeping with our strategic direction, we have looked to develop partnerships that promote health research and education, and programs for leading healthy lives. In the last 18 months, commitments to new initiatives totalled $4.5 million, bringing the overall committed investment to date to $9.15 million and around 40 projects nationwide.

In our previous competitive Expression of Interest process we received submissions from 246 applicants of an exceptionally high calibre. This suggests that the Foundation is recognised as a valuable source of research and development funding and support from among the country’s top academics and organisations. We continue to attract and target a variety of quality initiatives in keeping with our key strategic areas of:

• Wellness & obesity
• Healthy ageing and
• Keeping healthcare affordable.

The Foundation anticipates holding its next competitive round of Expressions of Interest in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The MBF Foundation 2008 Highlights Report has been developed to showcase a number of initiatives both current and complete. The Foundation looks forward to building on this work in the coming year to ensure the investment in key initiatives continues to yield real value in improving health outcomes for all Australians.

We are proud that the important work of the MBF Foundation will continue following MBF Australia’s successful merger with Bupa Australia in June 2008.

With clarity of direction, sound processes and a reinvigorated Steering Committee we are well placed to pursue our objectives and continue to help build a healthier Australian community.

Foundation Board

The MBF Foundation’s Board is comprised of the following members:

• Mr John Conde AO (Chairman)
• Mr John Allpass
• Mr Richard Humphry AO
• Mr Dean Holden
• Mr Richard Bowden
• Mr Benjamin Kent
• Mr Garry Royal

Foundation Steering Committee

The MBF Foundation Steering Committee (Foundation Steering Committee) leads the strategic process of investment in targeted initiatives, reviews any new proposals, and manages and monitors the progress of current initiatives and activities.

Committee members for 2009 are:

• Dr Christine Bennett, Bupa Australia Chief Medical Officer and Director Health relations and Wellness Services (Chair, MBF Foundation Steering Committee);
• Mr Hisham El-Ansary. Bupa Australia Chief Financial Officer;
• Mr Mark Engel, Director of Marketing, Bupa Australia;
• Mr Ben Kent, Finance Director, Bupa Asia Pacific;
• Dr Stan Goldstein, Head of Clinical Advisory, Bupa Australia;
• Ms Justine Waters, Head of Health Leadership, Bupa Australia

The Foundation Steering Committee may also appoint an independent clinical expert to the Committee or choose to seek external independent clinical advice on proposals.

Related links

Foundation Charter | Foundation Constitution | Foundation Guidelines | MBF Foundation 2008 Highlights | MBF Foundation Annual Report 2006-2007 | MBF Foundation Annual Report 2005-2006 | Media Releases