The Australia & New Zealand Chapter of the Explorers Club (ANZEC) is proud to announce our first EC 50 Science dinner to be held in a private room at The Oaks Hotel, Neutral Bay.

Each year, The Explorers Club recognizes 50 extraordinary people who are doing remarkable work to promote science and exploration but remain under the radar and out of the limelight. 

The EC 50 Science Dinner is a special event at a new venue with two Explorers Club 50 (EC50) presenters.  This dinner is open to all members and non-members and will include stimulating presentations from Mark Hannaford, CEO of World Extreme Medicine, and virus hunter Richie Madden.

‘Hepatitis E: Emerging from the shadows’ by Dr. Richie Madden

Richie G. Madden hails from Belfast, Northern Ireland. After a brief spell as an outdoor pursuits' instructor, he went on to study medicine at the University of Exeter, UK where he developed a passion for scientific field research, exploration & discovery. He is Director of operations, Australia and New Zealand, World Extreme Medicine, Fellow of Extreme and Wilderness Medicine, Fellow International of The Explorers club (Australia & New Zealand chapter), and firefighter for the Country Fire Service South Australia. Richie is committed to pushing boundaries in extreme medicine and research. 

He is a clinician and researcher affiliated with the University of Adelaide with interests in gastroenterology, hepatology, global and public health. He is a leading expert in hepatitis E virus (HEV), has published in high-impact journals, peer-reviewed for medical journals/conferences, a field innovator, and is CEO / co-founded the HEV international direct-action group which aims to seek HEV where it may be hiding, take direct action to mitigate its effect on human health worldwide, using a ‘One health’ approach. He founded and is chair of the HEV international eJournal club, which aims to engender HEV enthusiasm and exchange of views in an international context. Richie believes anyone can be a ‘virus hunter’ and that having fun is a vital part of the journey. 

Richie will be presenting ‘Hepatitis E: Emerging from the shadows’.  HEV is the most common cause of viral hepatitis in the world. It is estimated that millions of people are infected every year, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. It is an underestimated and emerging threat in industrialised countries and hides in plain sight. Recognition and diagnosis of HEV infection is needed for us to understand the natural history of the disease, improve management, and reduce the global burden of disease. This requires focused field research via scientific exploration on a global scale.

‘Extreme Medicine - ‘life on the edge’ by Mark Hannaford

Mark Hannaford is renowned for his significant contributions to the field of extreme medicine.  He is an expedition Leader, former coastguard award-winning photographer,  and honorary aquanaut.

He is the founding director and CEO of World Extreme Medicine, an organization that provides specialized training for medical professionals to operate in extreme environments. His pioneering work has earned him the world's first Honorary Associate Professorship in Extreme Medicine from the University of Exeter.  He was also awarded an Explorers Club EC50 Award '50 people whose work the world needs to know about' and is now a fellow of the prestigious New York Club for global explorers. 

His initiatives have fundamentally changed medical care provision in extreme environments, built a vast online community of medics working in remote areas, and developed the first-ever Master of Science program in Extreme Medicine in collaboration with the University of Exeter Medical School and an innovative graduate program with Northeastern University in Boston.

Through World Extreme Medicine & Across the Divide Expeditions, he has also facilitated the raising of over £105 million for charity.

This evening Mark will present ‘Extreme Medicine - ‘Life on the Edge’. Medicine is evolving to cater for the errant DRD4-7R  gene and take humans to the edge of our solar system.

An Evening Not to be missed

Join ANZEC for an evening that promises to be informative, entertaining and inspirational.

When: Wednesday 10 April from 6.00 pm. Presentations commence at 7pm

Where: The Oaks Hotel Neutral Bay (Private Roon - The Licensee’s flat), 118 Military Road Neutral Bay

Members Fee:  $50 Click here to book

Non Members Fee:  $60 Click here to book

Includes Canapes and a selection of Pizzas.  Beverages are available for purchase

Bookings are essential as we have room for just 60 guests.

The Oaks Hotel Neutral Bay (Private Roon - The Licensee’s flat), 118 Military Road Neutral Bay