Celebrating the 2026 LiverWELL Recognition Awards Winners

LiverWELL is proud to celebrate the recipients of our 2026 Recognition Awards, recognising the individuals and organisations making a meaningful difference to liver health here in Victoria and at a global scale.

Presented by Board Director Sharon Bates at our LiverWELL Annual Celebration, the awards acknowledge the power of lived experience, collaboration, advocacy and leadership in improving liver health awareness and supporting our vision of Liver Health for All.

This year, we were delighted to recognise four outstanding recipients.

Christopher Kee: Mark Farmer Award

Named in memory of Mark Farmer, a much-loved friend and former LiverWELL Board member, this award recognises people who share their lived experience of viral hepatitis to support others, raise awareness and reduce stigma.

Christopher Kee was recognised for sharing his story with LiverWELL, helping others better understand the realities of living with liver disease and the importance of open conversations. We also acknowledge his wife, Annie Kee, whose support highlights the important role loved ones play in the lives of people affected by liver disease.

Thank you, Christopher, for sharing your experiences and making a positive difference in our community.

Ballarat Community Health: Organisational Collaboration Award

This award recognises organisations working collaboratively with LiverWELL to improve liver health and the wellbeing of people affected by viral hepatitis and liver disease.

Ballarat Community Health was recognised for its ongoing partnership with LiverWELL, including its support during the filming of a recent video promoting liver health awareness, testing, treatment and access to care across regional Victoria.

Tameaka Lakey, Health Promotion Officer and BBV/STI Prevention Worker at Ballarat Community Health, accepted the award on behalf of the organisation. Through her work in health promotion and regional community initiatives, Tameaka contributes to improving health awareness and access to information and support.

We thank Tameaka and the Ballarat Community Health team for their valued partnership and continued commitment to people living with viral hepatitis and liver disease.

Steve McGhie MP: Individual Contribution Award

This award celebrates individuals making a significant contribution to liver health in Victoria and inspiring positive change.

As the Victorian Member for Melton, Steve McGhie MP has been a strong parliamentary advocate for viral hepatitis. In 2025, he convened a Western Corridor Parliamentary briefing and helped enable a parliamentary report on hepatitis, creating a valuable resource for Parliament and the wider community.

Congratulations, Steve, and thank you for your ongoing advocacy and commitment to a healthier Victoria.

Global Think-Tank on Steatotic Liver Disease: Recognition of Global Leadership

LiverWELL is proud to recognise the Global Think-Tank on Steatotic Liver Disease for its leadership in advocacy, collaboration and evidence-based efforts to advance global awareness of steatotic liver disease, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

MASLD, commonly known as fatty liver disease, affects approximately one in three Australians. Greater recognition of this condition is essential to ensuring liver health receives the attention it deserves.

As part of this recognition, we are sharing a special video message from Professor Jeffrey Lazarus, Director of the Global Think-Tank, whose work continues to advance awareness and action worldwide.

We also encourage readers to explore Professor Lazarus’s recent World View in Nature Medicine, highlighting why lived experience must be central to understanding liver disease and improving care.

Read the article in Nature Medicine.

Congratulations to Professor Lazarus and the Global Think-Tank on this important recognition.

We extend our sincere thanks to all nominees for the 2026 LiverWELL Recognition Awards. The nominees for the Mark Farmer Award were Lisa Zhiu and Christopher Kee; the Organisational Collaboration Award nominees were Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria and Box Hill Institute – AMEP; and the Individual Contribution Award nominees were Dr Julian Rong, Eidan Doidge, Gracy Wu, Jian Wang, Cheng Zheng and Steve McGhie MP. We are grateful to each nominee for their valuable contributions to improving liver health, supporting communities and reducing stigma.

Congratulations to our winners, and thank you for the important contributions you make to our community. LiverWELL’s work would not be possible without the support of people and organisations who stand alongside us in working towards hepatitis elimination and better liver health for all.