Professor Stokes’ many achievements in an illustrious career include being one of WA’s most distinguished neurosurgeons and the founding head of the Neurosurgery department at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Clinical Professor Neville Knuckey, head of Stroke Research at the Perron Institute, and previous head of Neurosurgery, was a student of Professor Stokes.

For many years Professor Stokes was a Perron Institute Board Director (originally the Australian Neuromuscular Research Institute) and was a tireless driving force behind the concept and development of the Ralph and Patricia Sarich Neuroscience Research Institute at the Queen Elizabeth ll Medical Centre.

It was his vision to bring all of the key neuroscience groups together in one building, to nurture and foster collaboration.

Professor Stokes was Acting Director General of the Department of Health (2013-2015), served as Chair of the North Metropolitan Health Service, and was the inaugural chair of the Royal Perth Hospital Medical Research Foundation.

Currently, Professor Stokes is the Chair of the Neurotrauma Research Program, and has been for over 20 years.

Professor Stokes has championed excellence in clinical practice and medical research and has made an enormous contribution to public health and governance. He was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List.  Read more here.

Steve Arnott, CEO of the Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science,  has held positions on Government Statutory Authorities and on Western Australian Government Industry Development Agencies where his role was to facilitate industry development across a range of industries in Western Australia. Dealing with the highest levels of private enterprise and government, Steve was instrumental in securing significant investment in value adding and service-based industries in Western Australia and played a crucial role in infrastructure development and research commercialisation. Read more here.

Adviser to the Deputy Premier, Minister for Health and Mental Health in Western Australia.