In this episode of The Raw Nerve, host Jeremy Henderson sits down with Associate Professor Des Graham, the outgoing President of MS Australia.
As Des prepares to step down from his role on 28 November 2024, he reflects on a rich career trajectory that has culminated in over a decade of distinguished leadership of the MS community in Australia.
The self-described ‘boy from the bush’ began his working life with a carpentry apprenticeship and has arguably been building something bigger and more valuable ever since.
From sheep shearing to nursing; ”a significant shift that lit a fire under me”, to a varied and distinguished career as a senior health bureaucrat, “I was a clinician who understood good governance”, and his latest career leading the MS community post his MS diagnosis, Des has always been driven by a desire to improve the health and welfare outcomes for people in the community.
Des discusses the achievements he is most proud of, including the merger of MS Research Australia and MS Australia, the challenges and opportunities he has encountered while leading MS Australia, and how his lived experience with MS continues to shape his approach.
Join us for a heartfelt and insightful conversation with a dedicated advocate for the MS community, as Des shares his hopes for the future of MS research and treatment.