It is with deep sadness and regret that the International Diabetes Federation was informed of the passing of Prof. Trisha Dunning, a former Vice-President (2011-15) and long-standing contributor to the activities of the Federation.
Prof. Dunning, from Australia, was an internationally renowned diabetes researcher and educator with more than 50 years’ service to the discipline of nursing. She was Chair in Nursing and Director of the Centre for Nursing and Allied health Research at Deakin University and Barwon Health in Geelong, Victoria. Her work focused on diabetes and older people, palliative and end of life care and the needs of family carers and medicines.
Prof. Dunning was an active volunteer of IDF for many years. In addition to serving as Vice-President for two terms, she was a member of the IDF Consultative Section on Diabetes Education and co-chaired the Writing Group for the IDF Global Guideline for Managing Older People with Type 2 Diabetes.
In Australia, Prof. Dunning was a board member of Diabetes Victoria and served on numerous national committees. In 2004, she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her contributions to diabetes and nursing, and in 2014 she was admitted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women for her exceptional work towards improving the lives of people with diabetes.
In 2020, Prof. Dunning received the Foundation of European Nurses in Diabetes (FEND) 25th Anniversary Recognition Award.
IDF extends its most heartfelt condolences to Prof. Dunning’s family and friends at this time of sadness.
