Dr Geordan Shannon
International Leadership Award - 2024
Dr Geordan Shannon’s journey in medicine and public health is a story of resolute dedication and visionary innovation. With a career that has spanned continents and touched some of the world’s most marginalised communities, Geordan has become a leading voice in the field of global health, working tirelessly to address the complex challenges that define our time.
“Health is shaped by a myriad of factors, from the air we breathe, to the food we eat, to the health we have and where we live. Communities the world over are facing increasing health inequality, precarity of livelihoods, and experiencing worsening effects of the health impacts of climate change.”
Geordan’s career began with a strong foundation at the University of Newcastle, where she first discovered her passion for rural and remote health.Her early exposure to rural health challenges inspired her lifelong commitment to addressing health inequalities and promoting equity.
“The University of Newcastle really encouraged work in rural settings and in many ways, my story begins here in the bush and has taken me all around the world. And that's thanks to the experiences that I received at medical school.”
Geordan’s compassionate spirit has driven her to some of the most remote and underserved corners of the globe. In the heart of the Australian outback, she developed a deep connection to Aboriginal health. In the expanses of the Peruvian Amazon jungle, she brought critical health services to isolated communities. In the western deserts of Kenya, she empowered local populations through community health programs and capacity building. These experiences have fuelled her passion for decentralising health care and ensuring that the voices of those most affected by global health issues are heard and empowered.
“A common thread that I've seen everywhere I’ve worked is that communities have access to an abundance of resources that are often hiding in plain sight. So that might be knowledge, social networks or physical resources. And with these resources, communities are often in the best place to innovate. I think it's my job to help every community to be able to identify and systematise these resources so that they can build healthy people and planet.”
2024 Alumni Excellence Award Recipient | Dr Geordan Shannon 1:41
Geordan is not only a doctor but also an organisational Founder and global health advocate. Her interdisciplinary collaborations with the World Health Organisation and the Global Health 5050 Initiative highlight her profound influence on shaping international health policy. As the Founder and Co-Founder of several groundbreaking non-profit organisations—Global Health Disrupted, Unexia, Race & Health, and STEMA Health Systems—she has tirelessly championed innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
“Those who are closest to the problems that they experience are often in the best place to solve them.”
One of her most recent endeavours is the Planet Health Network, a community of practice that imagines and prototypes flourishing planetary health futures. Geordan’s vision extends beyond isolated innovations; she believes in scaling local solutions to have a global impact.
“Innovation often begins here at the peripheries and that's what's driven me to use my medical work to help build technologies that allow that innovation to go to scale and for everyone everywhere to contribute to building healthier, more flourishing planetary futures.”
Her work reflects her belief in the power of radical collaboration and coordination across the globe, which she sees as essential for solving the multi-faceted crises facing the world today. In 2018, Geordan’s extraordinary contributions were recognised when she was named the Young Australian of the Year in the UK, emphasising her relentless dedication to global health.
As a medical doctor, CEO, and technology innovator, Geordan’s work is guided by a philosophy that values the richness of diverse experiences and the power of creativity. Her optimism and drive to make a difference are evident in every aspect of her work, as she continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in global health.
“I believe strongly in radical collaboration across all different types of inputs to be able to really find the best in each situation. I guess I'd describe myself as an impatient optimist.”
Dr Geordan Shannon
CEO, Founder, Global Health Advocate Founder, Unexia CEO, United Health Futures
Bachelor of Medicine 2008
Innovation often begins here at the peripheries and that's what's driven me to use my medical work to help build technologies that allow that innovation to go to scale and for everyone everywhere to contribute to building healthier, more flourishing planetary futures.
Alumni Excellence Awards
International Leadership Award
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.