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UWA Law School’s Deputy Dean Dr Brenda McGivern has been appointed as chair of the Western Australian Reproductive Technology Council (RTC). Having served on the Council since 2005, Dr McGivern will succeed the inaugural Chair, Professor Con Michael AO, who has led the Council since its inception in the late 1980s.

The RTC is a multi-disciplinary body which operates under the Human Reproductive Technology Act to carry out a range of functions associated with the administration and enforcement of that Act and the Surrogacy Act.  These functions include advising the Minister for Health on matters related to reproductive technology; the encouragement and facilitation of research into the causes and prevention of all types of human infertility, licensing, and granting approvals required under the Acts.

The appointment of Dr McGivern to the Chair, effective April 1, was made by the Governor of Western Australia on recommendation by the Minister for Health.

“It is an enormous honour to be appointed as Chair of such a hard-working and dedicated group, and to succeed Professor Michael in that role.  The functions of Council have grown in volume and complexity over the years and could not be achieved without the collective commitment of all members.

“I feel privileged to have this opportunity to serve the community, particularly those engaged in and affected by this important and challenging area of health care,” Dr McGivern said.

Dr McGivern joined UWA in 2006, having previously been in full time practice in the area of professional indemnity insurance, specialising in health law. In addition to her service on the WA Reproductive Technology Council, Brenda currently serves on the Clinical Ethics Service for Princess Margaret Hospital and King Edward Memorial Hospital.