Burnet Institute extends its deepest sympathies to the family of renowned epidemiologist Professor Mary-Louise McLaws, whose work, wise counsel and advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic helped save thousands of lives.
Professor McLaws died at the weekend, aged 70, 18 months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
The Professor of Epidemiology, Healthcare Infection and Infectious Diseases Control at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) became a trusted household figure with her advice for community and policymakers during uncertain times.
She complemented her calm and measured delivery with direct messaging on the issues of the day, including the need for border controls during the early stage of the pandemic, criticism of delays to the procurement of vaccines, and was a strong and early advocate for the use of masks.
"Mary was unique, genuinely a one off, able to say bold even sometimes radical things, yet be listened to and universally revered,” Burnet Director and CEO Professor Brendan Crabb AC said.
“The whole community tuned in to her every word. Every journalist clearly respected her deeply, it seemed more than they would a head of state. Her work and views and advocacy helped save thousands of lives.
"She was ‘untrollable’, and you can't say that about many in her line of work.
"The consequences of losing her so early, at a time of such continuing public health concern, are enormous. She was a national treasure. Vale Mary-Louise."
Before rising to public prominence, Professor McLaws was already a major international figure in disease control and infection prevention having worked to prevent SARS from becoming a global pandemic and was a member the World Health Organization’s Infection Prevention and Control Global Unit.
As the Director of the Public Health Unit for the Sydney South West Area Health Service, her work focused more broadly on the elimination of HIV, hepatitis B and C, and measures to contain the spread of the swine flu.
In 2022, UNSW named its new clinical education centre in Professor McLaws’ honour, and she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to medical research, particularly to epidemiology and infection prevention, to tertiary education, and to health administration.
Mary-Louise McLaws is survived by her husband, Richard, and her children Zia and Zachary.