WIRF named WA State Winner in 2025 Telstra Best of Business Awards
WIRF has been named the Western Australian State Winner in the 2025 Telstra Best of Business Awards, recognised for its outstanding impact on the health and wellbeing of women, babies, and families.
The Women and Infants Research Foundation (WIRF) has been named the Western Australian State Winner in the 2025 Telstra Best of Business Awards, recognised for its outstanding impact on the health and wellbeing of women, babies, and families.
WIRF received the top honour in the ‘Championing Health’ category, which celebrates organisations leading the way in innovation and driving meaningful change in health outcomes across Australia.
Based at King Edward Memorial Hospital, WIRF is one of Australia’s leading independent medical research institutes dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of women, babies, and their families.
Through world-class research, education, and community programs, WIRF is driving life-changing discoveries in areas such as preterm birth prevention – one of the leading causes of death and disability in children under five – and advancing treatments to improve long-term outcomes for premature babies.
WIRF’s work also extends to endometriosis and gynaecological cancers, perinatal mental health, and First Nations maternal and family health, addressing some of the most pressing and under-recognised challenges facing women’s health today.
WIRF Chief Executive Officer Deb Portughes said the award is a proud acknowledgement of the Foundation’s commitment to creating a healthier future for women, babies, and their families.
“We are incredibly honoured to be recognised among Western Australia’s most impactful organisations,” Ms Portughes said.
“This acknowledgement reflects the dedication of our small but passionate Foundation team, our world-class researchers, our clinical, research and community partners, and our generous supporters – who share our vision of giving every baby the best possible start to life, every woman the brightest future, and every family the opportunity to thrive.”
The Telstra Best of Business Awards celebrate Australia’s most inspiring small and medium-sized organisations, recognising excellence in innovation, leadership, and community impact.
As a WA State Winner, WIRF will now represent Western Australia at the National Telstra Best of Business Awards to be held in November 2025.
Pictured left right are WIRF researchers Dr Sean Carter, Hannah Watson, Dr Erin Johnson, and Dr Haruo Usuda.
Related updates
Stay up to date on our latest research breakthroughs, community initiatives, events and ways to get involved.
Boronia Gala Day raises $32,800 to support women and babies in crisis through WIRF
WIRF has received a generous $32,800 donation from this year’s Boronia Pre-release Centre for Women’s Gala Day, helping strengthen vital support programs for King Edward Memorial Hospital patients facing crisis.
From premature baby to paediatrician: Jamie’s journey comes full circle
Thirty-three years ago, Jamie Hullick was welcomed into this world six weeks early. He spent his first few weeks of life in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Royal Darwin Hospital. Today, he walks those same corridors - this time in scrubs, caring for premature and sick babies as a paediatrician.
World-first ECMO breakthrough offers hope for preterm babies under 2kg
A new study has demonstrated for the first time the successful use of a pump-free ECMO (extracorporeal membranous oxygenation) system in premature lambs weighing under 2kg.
