Distinguished Laureate Professor Roger Smith AM admitted his City of Newcastle (CN) accolade was an “unexpected honour”.
The internationally-recognised researcher became the 19th Freeman of the City of Newcastle this week, joining an illustrious group of Novocastrians including Surfest co-founder Warren Smith, award-winning architect Brian Suters and sporting administrator and civic luminary Adele Saunders OAM.
During a career that spans more than 35 years, he’s sought answers to some of medicine’s biggest questions, helping families across the world with his insight into pregnancy, premature birth and stillbirth.
Professor Smith confessed it was “exciting” to be the first scientist to receive the honour.
“I believe it represents a change in the way Newcastle thinks about itself,” he said.
“I’d like to see Newcastle continue to develop as a city of ideas, finding solutions for global problems such as climate change and artificial intelligence, bringing together business groups, the University of Newcastle, HMRI, Hunter New England Health and City of Newcastle to generate this future.
“Also, I would like to be part of Newcastle’s contribution to the world.
“Newcastle has been my adopted home for the past 44 years.
“It’s where we brought up our children… and now our grandchildren are growing up here.
“I love that I can get to work in 15 minutes and have a swim before or after work – or both.
“As well, I love that Newcastle has everything from libraries to the art gallery, a conservatorium, port, airport, sports ground, beaches and restaurants.
“Yet, it’s small enough that it’s like living in a village, which is good for our mental health.”
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said Professor Smith had made his mark in Newcastle and overseas.
“His research is dedicated to improving the welfare and the wellbeing of everyone,” she stated.
“He was instrumental in the creation of the Hunter Medical Research Cooperative Limited in 1990, which eventually became the world-leading Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI).
“Professor Smith established the Gomeroi Gaanyggal project in Tamworth, Newcastle and Walgett, endeavouring to ‘close the gap’ where Aboriginal health is concerned, using art as a medium for increasing Indigenous women’s access to healthcare during pregnancy.
“He also helped create a program in Nepal that reduced maternal mortality by 40% by encouraging the Nepalese military to conduct helicopter evacuations of women with obstetric emergencies.
“The initiative arranged supplies of sanitary napkins for 2.6 million schoolgirls to allow them to stay at school longer and increase their future opportunities.”
Among his incredible list of achievements, Professor Smith and his team of researchers discovered the biological clock within the human placenta that determines the length of human pregnancy.
They discovered how aging of the placenta can be a cause of stillbirth, too, and have developed nanoparticles targeted to the muscle of the uterus as a treatment for premature birth.
Professor Smith was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2013 for his outstanding contribution to the field of human pregnancy physiology and Indigenous health.
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