Business Events Perth has announced the 2025 Aspire Award recipients, representing excellence across each of the program’s partner categories in recognition of Western Australia’s leading researchers, academics and professionals.
The Aspire Awards support Western Australian researchers, academics and professionals to attend an international business event for their professional development. Successful recipients receive travel funding to participate in a conference of their choice, providing the opportunity to share knowledge, connect and collaborate with peers, showcase their discoveries and strengthen global engagement.
This year, the Perron Institute Aspire Award recipient is Dr Julie Brose, a qualitative postdoctoral research fellow at the Perron Institute and The University of Western Australia.
“My research at the Perron Institute focuses on gaining a deeper understanding the lived experiences of people living with life-limiting illnesses, and the families and professionals who support them,” Dr Brose said.
“Through qualitative methods, I’m investigating the nuance and complexity of living with neurodegenerative conditions, particularly motor neurone disease, with the goal of helping to shape more meaningful models of palliative and neurological care.
“Ultimately, my aim is to help optimise function and quality of life for individuals and their families.
“I’m honoured to receive the Perron Institute Aspire Award, and to have the support of Business Events Perth and the Perron Institute to attend the World Federation of Occupational Therapists Congress in Bangkok.
“What I value most in my work is the privilege of listening to people’s stories and translating those insights into tangible improvements in care and service design.
“Attending this international conference will allow me to connect with leading researchers in neurological and palliative rehabilitation, foster new collaborations, and bring fresh perspectives back to Western Australia’s research community. I also hope to help strengthen WA’s profile in this field and support efforts to position our State as a future host for this important global event.”
Dr Rebekah Puls, Head of Research at the Perron Institute said, “Dr Julie Brose is one of our highly valued qualitative researchers at the Institute. She worked as an occupational therapist across many countries and settings, prior to undertaking a PhD examining the lived experience of everyday life and the process of adaptation in working aged people in functional decline due to cancer. She has leadership roles internationally in palliative care, rehabilitation and qualitative research networks.”
“We are delighted that she will be supported to attend this conference through the generosity of the Aspire award and look forward to the personal and professional growth that will ensue. Julie is a fine researcher who will no doubt continue to build her international network through this conference, for the benefit of all West Australians.”
Dr Yuval Gurfinkel received the 2025 Murdoch University Aspire Award for his personalised medicine research that aims to develop genetic therapeutics for motor neurone disease (MND). He said, “WA has a larger amount of people living with MND per capita in comparison to other states in Australia. So, addressing this local challenge is vital, and I believe our region is leading the way in innovative solutions. I’ll be attending the International Symposium on MND/ALS, where I’ll have opportunities to connect with industry leaders, working together to plan collaborative studies to advance the therapies being developed for MND.”
This year, an additional Business Events Perth Early Mid-Career Aspire Award was given to Dr Jessica Cale, Personalised Medicine Centre at Murdoch University and Perron Institute, and Dr Jun Yuan, Perron Institute and UWA. Dr Cale is developing treatments for rare diseases, using the platform technology for Duchenne muscular dystrophy developed at the Perron Institute by Professor Steve Wilton AO and Professor Sue Fletcher AO and their team. Dr Yuan is focused on the bone and brain axis and developing new therapies for ageing adults. They are planning to attend the annual Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society Meeting.
Gareth Martin, CEO, Business Events Perth congratulated the 2025 Aspire Award recipients for their outstanding achievements.
“Each year, the Aspire Awards showcase the incredible depth of talent, innovation and leadership within Western Australia’s academic and professional community. Through the Aspire program, we’re proud to assist thought leaders to engage at these global conferences, experiences that not only advance their research and professional development but also create opportunities for these events to return to WA in future years.”
For more information and to view the recipients’ videos, visit:
https://www.businesseventsperth.com/aspire-program/
Article based on Business Events Perth statement and videos. Image/video credit: Business Events Perth.