New national president for Alzheimer’s Australia

Mr Samuel was formerly vice president of Alzheimer’s Australia, and also chair of the Alzheimer’s Australia Victoria Board, as well as member of the National Board for the past year.

He brings to Alzheimer’s Australia extensive business experience, having been president of the National Competition Council for six years, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for nine years, Commissioner of the Australian Football League, and chairman of the Melbourne & Olympic Parks Trust.

In 1998, Mr Samuel was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia and in 2010 was elevated to a Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration through contributions in the area of economic reform and competition law.

“This cause is very close to my heart. I know firsthand the impact of this chronic disease on the person and their family,” Mr Samuel said.

“As national president, it will be a privilege to advocate for people with dementia as well as their families and carers, and to continue to advocate for better access to dementia services and for research into the detection, prevention and cure of the disease,” he added.

Mr Samuel said he was honoured to “follow in the footsteps” of Ms Buttrose, whose vision and commitment as national president contributed much to the power of Alzheimer’s Australia over the past three years.

“It is a measure of Ms Buttrose’s commitment and vision that dementia is now on the national agenda as a National Health Priority Area. Great achievements have been the additional funding to improve dementia care in the 2012 aged care reforms and the commitment made in the 2014 Budget to $200 million over five years for dementia research,” Mr Samuel said.

Ms Buttrose will continue her advocacy as national ambassador to Alzheimer’s Australia.

“We are delighted that Mr Samuel has agreed to take on the role of National President and to lead the organisation in building on what has been achieved in recent years,” Glenn Rees, Alzheimer’s Australia chief executive, said.

“His expertise in law, economics, business, communications and media, corporate governance and change management brings a wealth of experience to the organisation,” Mr Rees added.

Brian Roche will assume Mr Samuel’s role as vice president of Alzheimer’s Australia which is a commendation of his commitment to furthering the vision of the organisation.

Alzheimer’s Australia has an ambitious vision for the next three years of what needs to be achieved to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia in the Fight Dementia Campaign publication Creating a Dementia Friendly Australia.