Twenty years ago this month, Professor John Shine AO FAA joined the Garvan Institute as its Deputy Director. Three years later he had the top job.

Since John joined Garvan, staff numbers have quadrupled (from 113 to over 400), and income has grown ten fold. Through his professional activities, vision, and capacity to comprehend the social and ethical implications of scientific discoveries, John has helped build the credibility of the Garvan externally as well as internally.

The Institute's board Chairman, Mr Bill Ferris AO, says: "John has a great strength of character, incredible leadership skills and a humility that allows him to interact with everyone from scientists, politicians, business people, donors, to board members".

The last two decades have also seen Garvan grow in a number of other ways, which have helped cement its place as one of the leading medical research institutes in Australia. They include: a state-of-the art building complete with the latest equipment; an endowment fund to ensure a stable financial footing; expansion of the precinct and integration of new research programs to extend our disease research capabilities; and the implementation of a business development unit to help take our discoveries one step closer to patient care.

To mark the twenty year occasion, John was presented with with a 20 year old bottle of vintage Grange.