Where it all began

In 1996, Australian businessman Bob Ingham AO had a vision to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Sydney’s southwest, his home town and heritage.

Sixteen years later on October 23, 2012, the Ingham Institute came to life in the form of a world-class, state-of-the-art research building.

The Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research is a project that highlights Mr Ingham’s entrepreneurial mindset and community spirit. True to his original commitment to the local community, the Institute shares a unique partnership between the South Western Sydney Local Health District (SWSLHD), UNSW Sydney and Western Sydney University.

Continued support

The Institute has received a number of generous donations throughout the years, both through Inghams Enterprises (which was sold in 2013) and directly from Mr Bob Ingham AO and his family.

Mr Ingham’s philanthropic gifts to the Institute exceed $15 million – ranking him amongst Australia’s most generous supporters of health and medical research.

The Ingham Institute has also been fortunate to receive long-term support from Lady Mary Fairfax AC, OBE, who pledged more than $1 million to allow our researchers to continue their life-changing work.

About our founding benefactors

Bob Ingham AO (1931 – 2020)

Robert “Bob” Walter Ingham AO was a leading Australian businessman and was co-owner of Inghams Enterprises – a poultry business headquartered in Liverpool, Sydney – along with his late brother, Jack Ingham.

The Ingham brothers also co-founded the largest thoroughbred horse racing and breeding operation in Australia, Woodlands Stud, which was sold in 2008.

In 2003, Mr Ingham was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for service to the poultry industry as a pioneer in research and development, and establishment of world best practice standards, and to the community through support for a broad range of charitable organisations and health care facilities.

Bob Ingham passed away on 23 September 2020, leaving a great legacy to the community of south west Sydney, Australia and the world, in the form of the Ingham Institute. Read about Bob’s passing and the many moving tributes at Vale Bob Ingham.

Lady Mary Fairfax AC, OBE (1922 – 2017)

Lady Mary Fairfax AC, OBE is well known for her generous philanthropy, in particular, her support for the arts and medical research. Her late husband, Sir Warwick Fairfax, was a prominent Australian businessman who was the director of newspaper publisher John Fairfax & Sons (now Fairfax Media).

In 1976, Lady Fairfax was appointed an Officer of Order of the British Empire (OBE) for recognition of her service to the community. In 1988, she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM).

In 2005, Lady Fairfax was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for service to the community through support and philanthropy for ongoing medical research initiatives, improved health care opportunities, nurturing artistic talent in young performers, and preservation of diverse cultural heritage.

Lady Fairfax and her estate the Lady (Mary) Fairfax Trust have been loyal supporters of the Ingham Institute, contributing consistently and generously to our success. Most recently Lady (Mary) Fairfax Trust contributed A$100,000 to clinical trials in south west Sydney. In partnership with the South Western Sydney Local Health District, the Ingham Institute is involved in seventeen (17) COVID-19 clinical trials, made possible through the support of our benefactors and community donations. It is only by working together that we can find the answers, understand the impacts and create better health outcomes through applied medical research.