The Population Health Research Network (PHRN) Board and wider network were deeply saddened to hear that PHRN Board member, Adjunct Professor John Bancroft, died in England on 31 July 2024.

Professor Bancroft had a distinguished career across a range of sectors, specialties and geographical locations. He was a graduate Chemist, a Fellow of the UK’s Institute of Sales and Marketing Management, a Visiting Professor in Science and Innovation at the University of Huddersfield and an Adjunct Professor in Research and Innovation at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He had over 40 years’ experience in industry, academia and government across the globe, including in Australia and New Zealand. This included leading sales and marketing, investment generation, knowledge exchange, innovation, impact generation, IP exploitation and business growth teams.

Professor Bancroft joined the PHRN Board in September 2020. His extensive experience proved invaluable at a time when the PHRN was seeking greater engagement with industry within Australia and beyond. He was able to highlight opportunities for the PHRN and provide practical suggestions on how these might be progressed. He was energetic, enthusiastic and well informed, bringing fresh perspectives drawn from his tremendous experience.

The PHRN will greatly miss Professor Bancroft’s insights into pathways for greater use of Australia’s linked population data, as well as his cheerful presence at Board meetings.

We are enormously grateful for his contribution. The PHRN extends its sincere condolences to Professor Bancroft's wife and family as they come to terms with this unexpected loss.