John Yu

Biography

John Yu is a retired Paediatrician who was the Chief Executive of the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children for 19 years firstly at Camperdown and then at Westmead. He was involved in the planning, the design and then the move of the Hospital ensuring that it boasted the latest medical advances but importantly provided a caring and human environment for children and their families. During this time he served on the Council of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australian College of Paediatrics and the Health Services Association (HSA) of NSW. He was awarded the Sax Medal of the HSA and the Weary Dunlop Medal of AsiaLink of University of Melbourne. He received Honorary degrees from the University of Sydney, The University of Western Sydney and the University of NSW.

He was active in many community organisations, being Chancellor of the University of NSW, Chair of the George Institute for Global Health, Deputy President of the Art Gallery of NSW, Chair of VisAsia, and Board member of the Penrith Regional Gallery, Powerhouse Museum, Musica Viva (national board), Australian Cancer Research Foundation, HCF Council, HCF Research Foundation and St Vincents Hospital in Sydney. He was a member then Chair of the Australia China Council of DFAT. He was the inaugural Chair of the Advisory Committee of the NSW Commission for Children and Young People and served on the NSW Public Education Council.

He is the foundation Chair of the Museum of Chinese in Australia and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Chinese Gardens in Darling Harbour, Sydney and the Art and Culture Committee of Mosman NSW.

He was appointed a member of the Order of Australia in 1989 and a Companion of the Order in 2001. He was the 1996 Australian of the Year. He is a National Living Treasure of the National Trust.