Two QBI Board Members recognised in Australia Day Honours

Two of UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute Advisory Board Members, Jeff Maclean and Beverley Trivett, have been recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours. 

• Jeff Maclean, Chair of QBI’s Advisory Board, was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the community through a range of organisations.
• Beverley Trivett, QBI Advisory Board Member, was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to community health through brain cancer research.

QBI Executive Director Professor Pankaj Sah said QBI is tremendously grateful to Jeff and Beverley for their steadfast support for QBI. 

“The drive, energy and backing from community members like Jeff and Beverley helps to support QBI’s research success,” Professor Sah said. 

“Their personal commitment to funding research is commendable, and we are delighted to see them honoured this Australia Day.” 

Jeff Maclean 

Jeff Maclean first connected with QBI through his father, Ross Maclean. The founder of the Index Group, Ross, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). While he realised research would not progress fast enough to help him, Ross was determined to support fundamental research into MND and potential treatments to help others. 

The Maclean family established the Ross Maclean Senior Research Fellowship before Ross passed away in 2005. 

Jeff continues to back QBI, organising fundraising events like the Ross Maclean Race Day and encouraging family, friends and colleagues to support MND research. 

He said they have tried to raise additional funds to support QBI’s work each year.
 
“I’d like to thank everyone for supporting our ongoing efforts,” Mr Maclean said. “Their donations and attendance at the many race days and sporting events have made a difference.
 
“It is a great honour to be recognised for supporting QBI along with several other organisations, though I must admit to being a little embarrassed when I compare myself to some of the wonderful researchers and the amazing work that they are doing at QBI.”

Beverley Trivett

Beverley Trivett’s early career was in fashion, design, development and retail. She travelled and worked around the world. Until a personal tragedy focused her mind on brain research. 

“My husband, John, and I worked together in business, and in 1996, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour,” Mrs Trivett said. 

“It was glioblastoma (GBM), and we were told he had six months to live, and there was nothing we could do. I couldn’t accept that appropriate research solutions couldn’t be found.”

After John passed away, Beverley established the John Trivett Foundation, which later merged with the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation. The Foundation funded its first Fellowship at UQ’s Institute of Molecular Bioscience. At that time, QBI had not yet been established. 

In 2003, Beverley met Emeritus Professor Perry Bartlett to discuss QBI’s research. Through this association, Mrs Trivett joined the QBI Advisory Board and has championed its research ever since.  

“It is very poignant to receive an Australia Day Honour when all this started from my frustration with the status quo that we couldn’t change the outcome for John,” Mrs Trivett said. 

“It is very humbling to get this recognition, and remarkable that two members of the QBI Advisory Board have been acknowledged this year.” 

Jeff and Beverley join a prestigious group of UQ researchers, staff, alumni and community members acknowledged for their significant contributions to society. View the full list here.